The following important dates in the history of Minnesota affected political jurisdictions, record keeping, and family movements.

1686– 1762	The French established a chain of forts and small settlements in the area of Minnesota.
1763–1819	The area was controlled by British fur traders of the Northwest Company.
1783	Great Britain grants eastern portions of Minnesota to the United States.
1787–1800	Part of Northwest Territory
1800– 1809	Part of Indiana Territory
1803	The United States obtains the western portion of the area through the Louisiana Purchase.
1809–1818	Part of Illinois Territory
1820	The U.S. Army establishes Fort Snelling at its permanent location near the future site of St. Paul. It becomes a nucleus of settlement. Mississippi River steamboats reach Fort Snelling in 1823.
1818–1836	The area that is now Minnesota is in Michigan Territory.
1836	All of Minnesota is in Wisconsin Territory.
1837	Sioux and Chippewa Indians sell their claim to the St. Croix Valley, opening the way to major white settlements in eastern Minnesota.
1840	Some Minnesota residents are listed in the 1840 territorial censuses of Wisconsin and Iowa.
1849	Congress creates Minnesota Territory.
1851–1855	The Indians give up their rights to millions of acres of land west of the Mississippi River.
1854	Large scale immigration begins when the railroad reaches the Mississippi River.
1858	Minnesota gains statehood.
1861–1865	The Civil War and Indian wars involve 22,000 men.
1862	Dakota Conflict (See the “Military Records” section of this outline for details.)
1870–1890	Rapid settlement as homesteaders— many immigrants from Germany, Sweden, and Norway—move into western and southwestern Minnesota.
1917–1918	More than half a million men between age 18 and 45 register with the Selective Service; about 75,000 enter the service in World War I
1930s	Many Mexican Americans arrive.
1941–1945	More than 6,000 Minnesota soldiers lose their lives in World War II.
1970s	Arrival of refugees from southeast Asia