Dakota Territory Atlas of Historical County Boundaries
John H. Long, Editor; Peggy Tuck Sinko, Associate Editor; Peggy Tuck Sinko and Deborah Skok, Historical Compilers; Emily Kelley, Research Associate; Laura Rico-Beck, GIS Specialist and Digital Compiler; Peter Siczewicz, ArcIMS Interactive Map Designer; Robert Will, Cartographic Assistant
Copyright The Newberry Library 2006
[For chronologies after 2 November 1889 see North Dakota: Consolidated Chronology and South Dakota: Consolidated Chronology.]
13 April 1803
The United States purchased Louisiana from France, taking formal possession on 20 December 1803; the boundaries were not clearly defined, but included the western half of the Mississippi drainage basin (from the Mississippi River to the Rocky Mountains). The area included much of present North and South Dakota. (Parry, 57:2740; Terr. Papers U.S., 9:138139; Van Zandt, 2326)
1 October 1804
The United States divided the Louisiana Purchase at the parallel of 33 degrees north latitude into the District of Louisiana and Orleans Territory. Almost all of present South Dakota and part of present North Dakota became part of the District of Louisiana; the District was not fully organized and was attached to Indiana Territory for administrative and judicial purposes. ST. CHARLES District (Mo.) was created by the District of Louisiana from non-county area, it included all or part of six present states, including portions of present North and South Dakota. ST. LOUIS District (Mo.) was created by the District of Louisiana from non-county area, it included all or part of eight present states, including portions of present North and South Dakota. (Terr. Papers U.S., 13:5152; U.S. Stat., vol. 2, ch. 38[1804]/pp. 283289)
The boundary from the Lake of the Woods to the Rocky Mountains between the United States and the British possessions was unsettled. The northern boundary of the Louisiana Purchase encompassed the Missouri River drainage basin, and as early as January 1804, the United States regarded the parallel of 49 degrees north latitude as its northern boundary. However, the boundary was not officially established until 20 October 1818. (Paullin, 60, pl. 93; Van Zandt, 2526)
4 July 1805
The District of Louisiana was renamed Louisiana Territory and became fully organized as a separate territory; the area included part of present North Dakota and nearly all of present South Dakota. ST. CHARLES (Mo.) and ST. LOUIS (Mo.) became districts (counties) in Louisiana Territory. (U.S. Stat., vol. 2, ch. 31[1805]/pp. 331332)
7 December 1812
Louisiana Territory was renamed Missouri Territory, and the Territory's five districts were designated counties. ST. CHARLES (Mo.) became a county in Missouri Territory. ST. LOUIS District (Mo.) was eliminated from present North and South Dakota when its boundaries were changed and its area was reduced; the former part of ST. LOUIS (Mo.) in present North and South Dakota became non-county area in Missouri Territory. (Terr. Papers U.S., 14:599601; U.S. Stat., vol. 2, ch. 95[1812]/pp. 743747)
31 December 1813
All of present North and South Dakota south of the Missouri River drainage basin became non-county area in Missouri Territory when the extent of ST. CHARLES (Mo.) was reduced, and ST. CHARLES was eliminated from present North and South Dakota. (Mo. Laws Pub. and Gen., 1:ch. 99/pp. 293295)
20 October 1818
A Convention of Commerce between Great Britain and the United States established the parallel of 49 degrees north latitude, from the Lake of the Woods to the Rocky Mountains, as the northern boundary of the United States and southern boundary of the British possessions. Jurisdiction of Missouri Territory was expanded to include all of present North and South Dakota. (Parry, 69:294297)
10 August 1821
The state of Missouri was created from Missouri Territory; Missouri Territory eliminated. All the former territory north and west of Missouri, including all of present North and South Dakota, became unorganized federal territory. (Terr. Papers U.S., 15:742; U.S. Stat., vol. 3, ch. 22[1820]/pp. 545548 and res. 1[1821]/p. 645)
28 June 1834
Michigan Territory gained unorganized federal territory west of the Mississippi River, north of the state of Missouri, and east of the Missouri and White Earth Rivers; included the eastern parts of present North and South Dakota. (Terr. Papers U.S., 12:778779; U.S. Stat., vol. 4, ch. 98[1834]/p. 701)
1 October 1834
DUBUQUE (Iowa) created by Michigan Territory from non-county area; included parts of present North and South Dakota, Iowa, and Minnesota. (Mich. Terr. Laws, 3:13261327)
3 July 1836
The United States created Wisconsin Territory from Michigan Territory; it included portions of present North and South Dakota east of the Missouri and White Earth Rivers. DUBUQUE (Iowa) became a Wisconsin Territory county. (Terr. Papers U.S., 27:4152; U.S. Stat., vol. 5, ch. 54[1836], sec. 1/p. 10)
21 December 1837
BUCHANAN (Iowa) created by Wisconsin Territory from DUBUQUE (Iowa); included a small corner of present southeastern South Dakota between the Missouri and Big Sioux Rivers. BUCHANAN (Iowa) not fully organized, attached to DUBUQUE (Iowa) "for temporary purposes." (Wis. Terr. Laws 1837, no. 6, secs. 56/p. 134)
FAYETTE (Iowa) created by Wisconsin Territory from DUBUQUE (Iowa); included parts of present North and South Dakota, Iowa, and Minnesota; FAYETTE not fully organized, attached to CLAYTON (Iowa) "for temporary purposes." DUBUQUE (Iowa) was eliminated from present North and South Dakota. (Wis. Terr. Laws 1837, no. 6, sec. 2/p. 133)
3 July 1838
The United States created Iowa Territory from Wisconsin Territory, encompassing all of Wisconsin Territory west of the Mississippi River; included all of present Iowa and parts of present Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota. BUCHANAN (Iowa) and FAYETTE (Iowa) became counties in Iowa Territory. (U.S. Stat., vol. 5, ch. 96[1838]/pp. 235241)
17 February 1843
Most of BUCHANAN (Iowa) reverted to non-county area in Iowa Territory, including the small portion in present South Dakota; BUCHANAN eliminated from present South Dakota. All of FAYETTE (Iowa) in present North and South Dakota reverted to non-county area in Iowa Territory; FAYETTE eliminated from present North and South Dakota. This non-county area in the Dakotas was attached to DELAWARE (Iowa) "for judicial, revenue, and election purposes." (Iowa Terr. Rev. Stat. 1843, ch. 34/pp. 132134)
1 March 1846
The non-county area in Iowa Territory, located in present North and South Dakota, was detached from DELAWARE (Iowa), attached to POLK (Iowa) "for election, revenue, and judicial purposes." (Iowa Terr. Laws 18451846, ch. 101, sec. 12/p. 93)
28 December 1846
The state of Iowa was created from Iowa Territory; Iowa Territory eliminated. The non-county area in present North and South Dakota, located east of the Missouri and White Earth Rivers, became unorganized federal territory. (U.S. Stat., vol. 9, ch. 1[1847]/p. 117)
3 March 1849
The United States created Minnesota Territory from unorganized federal territory and de facto Wisconsin Territory. Minnesota Territory included all of present Minnesota and that part of present North and South Dakota east of the Missouri and White Earth Rivers. All of present North and South Dakota west of the Missouri and White Earth Rivers remained unorganized federal territory. (U.S. Stat., vol. 9, ch. 121[1849]/pp. 403409; Van Zandt, 133)
27 October 1849
The Minnesota Territorial Legislature created five counties that included territory in present North Dakota and South Dakota. (Minn. Terr. Laws 1849, ch. 5/pp. 89; for sections on particular counties, see following citations):
DAKOTA (Minn.) created by Minnesota Territory from non-county area; included parts of present South Dakota and Minnesota. DAKOTA not fully organized, attached to RAMSEY (Minn.) "for judicial purposes." (secs. 6, 19/pp. 89)
MAHKAHTO (Minnesota Territory, extinct) created by Minnesota Territory from non-county area; included parts of present North Dakota and Minnesota. MAHKAHTO not fully organized, attached to RAMSEY (Minn.) "for judicial purposes." (secs. 8, 19/pp. 89)
PEMBINA (now KITTSON, Minn.) created by Minnesota Territory from non-county area; included parts of present North Dakota and Minnesota. PEMBINA not fully organized, attached to BENTON (Minn.) "for judicial purposes." (secs. 9, 19/pp. 89)
WABASHA (Minn.) created by Minnesota Territory from non-county area; included parts of present South Dakota and Minnesota. WABASHA not fully organized, attached to WASHINGTON (Minn.) "for judicial purposes." (secs. 5, 19/pp. 89)
WAHNAHTA (Minnesota Territory, extinct) created by Minnesota Territory from non-county area; included parts of present North and South Dakota and Minnesota. WAHNAHTA not fully organized, attached to RAMSEY (Minn.) "for judicial purposes." (secs. 7, 20/pp. 89)
1 May 1851
DAKOTA (Minn.) gained from WAHNAHTA (Minnesota Territory, extinct), exchanged with WABASHA (Minn.), and lost to creation of CASS (Minn.). (Minn. Terr. Rev. Stat. 1851, ch. 1, secs. 710, 18/pp. 3132 and ch. 136/p. 577)
PEMBINA (now KITTSON, Minn.) gained from MAHKAHTO (Minnesota Territory, extinct) and WAHNAHTA (Minnesota Territory, extinct), and lost to creation of CASS (Minn.); PEMBINA now included parts of present North Dakota, South Dakota, and Minnesota. (Minn. Terr. Rev. Stat. 1851, ch. 1, secs. 710, 18/pp. 3132 and ch. 136/p. 577)
MAHKAHTO (Minnesota Territory) and WAHNAHTA (Minnesota Territory) also lost to the creation of CASS (Minn.). WABASHA eliminated from present South Dakota; MAHKAHTO and WAHNAHTA eliminated. (Minn. Terr. Rev. Stat. 1851, ch. 1, secs. 710, 18/pp. 3132 and ch. 136/p. 577)
4 March 1852
PEMBINA (now KITTSON, Minn.) fully organized for county government and judicial purposes; detached from BENTON (Minn.). (Minn. Terr. Laws 1852, ch. 20, sec. 1/p. 34)
6 March 1852
DAKOTA (Minn.) lost to creation of HENNEPIN (Minn.); area within present South Dakota was unchanged. (Minn. Terr. Laws 1852, ch. 32/p. 51)
5 March 1853
BLUE EARTH (Minn.) created by Minnesota Territory from DAKOTA (Minn.); included parts of present South Dakota and Minnesota. DAKOTA (Minn.) gained from WABASHA (Minn.) and lost to creation of eight new Minnesota Territory counties, including BLUE EARTH. DAKOTA eliminated from present South Dakota. (Minn. Terr. Laws 1853, ch. 11/pp. 3235)
PEMBINA (now KITTSON, Minn.) re-attached to BENTON (Minn.) "for judicial and other purposes." (Minn. Terr. Laws 1853, ch. 3, sec. 5/p. 9)
7 February 1854
PEMBINA (now KITTSON, Minn.) detached from BENTON (Minn.), attached to NICOLLET (Minn.) "for judicial and other purposes." (Minn. Terr. Laws 1854, ch. 53, sec. 5/p. 176)
30 May 1854
The United States created Nebraska Territory from unorganized federal territory; included all of present Nebraska, and parts of present Colorado, Montana, Wyoming, plus those parts of present North and South Dakota west of the Missouri and White Earth Rivers. (U.S. Stat., vol. 10, ch. 59[1854]/pp. 277290; Van Zandt, 136137)
20 February 1855
BROWN (Minn.) created by Minnesota Territory from BLUE EARTH (Minn.); included parts of present South Dakota and Minnesota. BROWN not fully organized, not attached. BLUE EARTH (Minn.) exchanged with LE SUEUR (Minn.) and lost to creation of the following Minnesota counties: BROWN, FARIBAULT, FREEBORN, and STEELE. BLUE EARTH was eliminated from present South Dakota. (Minn. Terr. Laws 1855, ch. 6, secs. 47, 11, 19/pp. 2326)
11 February 1856
BROWN (Minn.) fully organized. (Minn. Terr. Laws 1856, ch. 62/p. 98)
23 May 1857
The Minnesota Territorial Legislature created four new counties that included parts of present South Dakota. (Minn. Terr. Laws 1857, ext. sess., ch. 14/pp. 6769; for sections on particular counties, see following citations):
BIG SIOUX (Minnesota Territory, extinct) created by Minnesota Territory in present South Dakota from BROWN (Minn.). (secs. 56/p. 67)
MIDWAY (Minnesota Territory, extinct) created by Minnesota Territory in present South Dakota from BROWN (Minn.). (sec. 10/p. 68)
PIPESTONE (now ROCK, Minn.) created by Minnesota Territory from BROWN (Minn.); included parts of present Minnesota and South Dakota. PIPESTONE not fully organized, attached to BIG SIOUX (Minnesota Territory, extinct) "for all judicial and elective purposes." (secs. 4, 14/pp. 67, 69)
ROCK (now PIPESTONE, Minn.) created by Minnesota Territory from BROWN (Minn.); included parts of present Minnesota and South Dakota. ROCK overlapped part of MIDWAY (Minnesota Territory, extinct). ROCK not fully organized, attached to MURRAY (Minn.) "for all judicial and elective purposes." (secs. 9, 14/pp. 6869)
BROWN (Minn.) lost to creation of nine Minnesota Territory counties, including BIG SIOUX, MIDWAY, PIPESTONE, and ROCK, all of which included parts of present South Dakota. (Minn. Terr. Laws 1857, ext. sess., ch. 14/pp. 6669)
25 February 1858
PEMBINA's (now KITTSON, Minn.) organization for county government was repealed. (Minn. Laws 18571858, spec., ch. 44/p. 155)
8 March 1858
PEMBINA (now KITTSON, Minn.) lost to creation of DOUGLAS (Minn.); area within present North and South Dakota was unchanged. (Minn. Laws 18571858, spec., ch. 74, secs. 12/p. 215)
18 March 1858
PEMBINA (now KITTSON, Minn.) lost to creation of BECKER (Minn.), BRECKENBRIDGE (now CLAY, Minn.), OTTER TAIL (Minn.), and TOOMBS (now WILKIN, Minn.); area within present North and South Dakota was unchanged. (Minn. Laws 18571858, spec., ch. 34, secs. 14/pp. 144145 and ch. 64, secs. 12/p. 180)
11 May 1858
The state of Minnesota was created from Minnesota Territory; Minnesota Territory eliminated. That part of present North and South Dakota east of the Missouri and White Earth Rivers became unorganized federal territory. BROWN (Minn.), PIPESTONE (now ROCK, Minn.), and ROCK (now PIPESTONE, Minn.) were eliminated from present South Dakota; PEMBINA (now KITTSON, Minn.) was eliminated from present North and South Dakota. BIG SIOUX (Minnesota Territory), MIDWAY (Minnesota Territory), and the area overlapped by MIDWAY and ROCK were eliminated. (U.S. Stat., vol. 11, ch. 60[1857]/pp. 166167 and ch. 31[1858]/p. 285; Schell, History of South Dakota, 7277; Van Zandt, 133)
2 March 1861
The United States created Dakota Territory from Nebraska Territory and unorganized federal territory; included all of present North Dakota, all of present South Dakota, and parts of present Montana, Nebraska, and Wyoming. (Dak. Terr. Laws 1862, 1st sess., pp. 2128; U.S. Stat., vol. 12, ch. 86[1861]/pp. 239244; Van Zandt, 134, 136)
5 April 1862
BON HOMME created by Dakota Territory in present South Dakota from non-county area; BON HOMME not fully organized, not attached. (Dak. Terr. Laws 1862, 1st sess., ch. 12/p. 242)
BROOKINGS created by Dakota Territory in present South Dakota from non-county area; BROOKINGS not fully organized, attached to MINNEHAHA "for judicial and election purposes." (Dak. Terr. Laws 1862, 1st sess., ch. 16, sec. 3/p. 245)
DEUEL created by Dakota Territory in present South Dakota from non-county area; DEUEL not fully organized, attached to MINNEHAHA "for judicial and election purposes." (Dak. Terr. Laws 1862, 1st sess., ch. 16, sec. 4/p. 246)
LINCOLN created by Dakota Territory in present South Dakota from non-county area; LINCOLN not fully organized, attached to MINNEHAHA "for judicial and election purposes." (Dak. Terr. Laws 1862, 1st sess., ch. 16, sec. 1/p. 245)
MINNEHAHA created by Dakota Territory in present South Dakota from non-county area. (Dak. Terr. Laws 1862, 1st sess., ch. 16, sec. 2/p. 245)
10 April 1862
CLAY created by Dakota Territory in present South Dakota from non-county area; CLAY not fully organized, not attached. (Dak. Terr. Laws 1862, 1st sess., ch. 13/p. 242)
COLE (Dakota Territory, extinct) created by Dakota Territory in present South Dakota from non-county area; COLE also included a small piece of present Nebraska. COLE not fully organized, not attached. (Dak. Terr. Laws 1862, 1st sess., ch. 14/p. 243)
YANKTON created by Dakota Territory in present South Dakota from non-county area; YANKTON fully organized. (Dak. Terr. Laws 1862, 1st sess., ch. 19/p. 250)
24 April 1862
CHIPPEWA (Dakota Territory, extinct), KITTSON (Dakota Territory, extinct), SHEYENNE (Dakota Territory, extinct), and STEVENS (Dakota Territory, original, extinct) created by Dakota Territory from non-county area. CHIPPEWA, KITTSON, and STEVENS (original) were located in present North Dakota; SHEYENNE was in parts of present North Dakota and South Dakota. CHIPPEWA, KITTSON, SHEYENNE, and STEVENS (original) were not fully organized, not attached. (Dak. Terr. Laws 1862, 1st sess., ch. 17/pp. 246247; History of Pembina County, 56)
8 May 1862
BRUGUIER (Dakota Territory, extinct) created by Dakota Territory in present South Dakota from non-county area; BRUGUIER not fully organized, attached to CHARLES MIX "for election, judicial, and revenue purposes." (Dak. Terr. Laws 1862, 1st sess., ch. 18, secs. 78/p. 249)
CHARLES MIX created by Dakota Territory in present South Dakota from non-county area; CHARLES MIX fully organized. (Dak. Terr. Laws 1862, 1st sess., ch. 18, secs. 5, 78/p. 249)
GREGORY created by Dakota Territory in present South Dakota from non-county area; GREGORY not fully organized, attached to TODD (original, extinct) "for revenue, election, and judicial purposes." (Dak. Terr. Laws 1862, 1st sess., ch. 18, secs. 34/pp. 248249)
TODD (original, extinct) created by Dakota Territory in present South Dakota and Nebraska from non-county area; TODD fully organized. (Dak. Terr. Laws 1862, 1st sess., ch. 18, secs. 1, 34/pp. 248249)
Fort Randall Military Reserve and Yankton Indian Reservation were non-county areas in Dakota Territory; Fort Randall Reserve included parts of present South Dakota and Nebraska. (Dak. Terr. Laws 1862, 1st sess., ch. 18/pp. 248250)
HUTCHINSON created by Dakota Territory in present South Dakota from non-county area; HUTCHINSON not fully organized, attached to BON HOMME "for election, judicial, and revenue purposes." (Dak. Terr. Laws 1862, 1st sess., ch. 15/p. 244)
JAYNE (Dakota Territory, extinct) created by Dakota Territory in present South Dakota from non-county area; created an overlap with MINNEHAHA. JAYNE not fully organized, attached to YANKTON "for election, judicial, and revenue purposes." (Dak. Terr. Laws 1862, 1st sess., ch. 15/p. 244)
2 June 1862
BON HOMME and CLAY fully organized. (Andreas, 133, 148)
3 January 1863
CLAY boundaries redefined [no change]. (Dak. Terr. Laws 1862, 2d sess., ch. 39/p. 217)
3 March 1863
The United States created Idaho Territory from Dakota, Nebraska, and Washington Territories. Dakota Territory was reduced to the area of present North Dakota and South Dakota, plus a small area of present Nebraska. (U.S. Stat., vol. 12, ch. 117[1863], sec. 1/p. 808; Van Zandt, 134136, 156157)
17 December 1863
CHIPPEWA (Dakota Territory), KITTSON (Dakota Territory), SHEYENNE (Dakota Territory), and STEVENS (Dakota Territory, original) were eliminated when the act that created them was repealed. (Dak. Terr. Laws 1863, 3d sess., ch. 4, sec. 2/p. 3)
6 January 1864
BUFFALO created by Dakota Territory in present South Dakota from BRUGUIER (Dakota Territory, extinct), CHARLES MIX, and non-county area; BUFFALO not fully organized, attached to BON HOMME "for judicial purposes" and to CHARLES MIX "for election and revenue purposes." (Dak. Terr. Laws 1863, 3d sess., ch. 12/p. 14)
CHARLES MIX gained from BRUGUIER (Dakota Territory); BRUGUIER eliminated, ending its attachment to CHARLES MIX. CHARLES MIX gained the Yankton Indian Reservation. CHARLES MIX became unorganized, attached to BON HOMME "for judicial purposes." (Dak. Terr. Laws 1863, 3d sess., ch. 12/p. 14)
7 January 1864
UNION created by Dakota Territory in present South Dakota from LINCOLN and all of COLE; COLE eliminated. UNION included a small piece of present Nebraska. UNION fully organized. (Dak. Terr. Laws 1863, 3d sess., ch. 14/p. 16)
15 January 1864
Ponca Indian Reserve and Fort Randall Military Reserve were attached to TODD (original, extinct) for administrative, election, and judicial purposes. (Dak. Terr. Laws 1863, 3d sess., ch. 13/p. 15)
LINCOLN detached from MINNEHAHA, attached to UNION "for election and judicial purposes." MINNEHAHA attached to UNION "for election and judicial purposes." (Dak. Terr. Laws 1863, 3d sess., ch. 11/p. 13)
26 May 1864
Dakota Territory gained from Idaho Territory; included most of present Wyoming and a small piece of present Montana. (U.S. Stat., vol. 13, ch. 95[1864], sec. 18/p. 92; Van Zandt, 134136, 156157)
9 January 1867
LARAMIE (Wyo.) created by Dakota Territory from non-county area; LARAMIE covered all that part of present Wyoming, and a small piece of present Montana included in the 26 May 1864 addition to Dakota Territory. (Dak. Terr. Laws 1866, 6th sess., ch. 14/p. 43)
PEMBINA created by Dakota Territory in present North Dakota from non-county area; PEMBINA not fully organized, not attached. (Dak. Terr. Laws 1866, 6th sess., ch. 15/p. 44; Royce, 828829, pl. 120)
12 August 1867
PEMBINA fully organized. (History of Pembina County, 3; History of the Red River Valley, 2:587, 657)
27 December 1867
CARTER (now SWEETWATER, Wyo.) created by Dakota Territory from LARAMIE (Wyo.); included part of present Wyoming plus a small area of present Montana. CARTER not fully organized, attached to LARAMIE "for representative and judicial purposes." (Dak. Terr. Laws 1867, 7th sess., ch. 7/p. 122)
30 December 1867
LINCOLN boundaries redefined [no change]; LINCOLN fully organized, detached from UNION. (Dak. Terr. Laws 1867, 7th sess., ch. 9/p. 125; "Dakota's Counties," 13)
3 January 1868
LARAMIE (Wyo.) boundaries redefined [no change]. (Dak. Terr. Laws 1867, 7th sess., ch. 8/p. 123)
4 January 1868
MINNEHAHA fully organized, detached from UNION. (Dak. Terr. Laws 1867, 7th sess., ch. 10/p. 126; Bailey, 3638)
January 1868
In early 1868, CARTER (now SWEETWATER, Wyo.) was fully organized, detached from LARAMIE (Wyo.). (Trenholm, 1:331)
25 July 1868
The United States created Wyoming Territory from Dakota, Idaho, and Utah Territories. No further change occurred in the western boundary of Dakota Territory. An area of approximately one and one-half square miles, west of the boundary of Wyoming Territory, inadvertently remained part of Dakota Territory until 17 February 1873 when it was added to Montana Territory. CARTER (now SWEETWATER, Wyo.) lost this small area in present Montana. Wyoming Territorial Legislature did not meet until October 1869, and Dakota Territory continued to govern Wyoming until 19 May 1869. [This small area in Montana is not mapped here. For a map, see Montana Historical Counties.] (Trenholm, 1:8384; U.S. Stat., vol. 15, ch. 235[1868], secs. 1, 17/pp. 178, 183; Van Zandt, 136, 144)
16 December 1868
ALBANY (Wyo.) created by Dakota Territory in present Wyoming from LARAMIE (Wyo.). Although Wyoming Territory had been created on 25 July 1868, Dakota Territory retained jurisdiction until 19 May 1869 when Wyoming Territory was officially organized. Error in the definition of ALBANY's western boundary was corrected 13 December 1869 by the Wyoming Territorial Legislature. (Dak. Terr. Laws 1868, 8th sess., ch. 28/p. 311; Trenholm, 1:84, 334; Whitehead, 198)
CARBON (Wyo.) created by Dakota Territory in present Wyoming from LARAMIE (Wyo.). Error in the definition of CARBON's southern boundary was corrected 1 January 1870 by the Wyoming Territorial Legislature. (Dak. Terr. Laws 1868, 8th sess., ch. 35/p. 321; Trenholm, 1:84, 334; Whitehead, 197)
19 May 1869
Wyoming Territory became fully organized. ALBANY (Wyo.), CARBON (Wyo.), CARTER (now SWEETWATER, Wyo.), and LARAMIE (Wyo.) became counties in Wyoming Territory and were eliminated from Dakota Territory. (Trenholm, 1:84, 334)
13 January 1871
HANSON created by Dakota Territory in present South Dakota, and a small area of North Dakota, from BROOKINGS, BUFFALO, CHARLES MIX, DEUEL, HUTCHINSON, JAYNE (Dakota Territory, extinct), MINNEHAHA, and non-county area. HANSON included the overlap area between JAYNE (Dakota Territory, extinct) and MINNEHAHA. HANSON not fully organized, not attached. (Dak. Terr. Laws 1870, 9th sess., ch. 10/p. 404409)
TURNER created by Dakota Territory in present South Dakota from JAYNE (Dakota Territory, extinct) and LINCOLN. TURNER fully organized. (Dak. Terr. Laws 1870, 9th sess., ch. 10, sec. 8/p. 406)
Non-County Area 1 was created in western Dakota Territory. (Dak. Terr. Laws 1870, 9th sess., ch. 10/pp. 404409)
BROOKINGS fully organized, detached from MINNEHAHA. (Dak. Terr. Laws 1870, 9th sess., ch. 10, sec. 14/p. 407 and ch. 2/p. 559; Andreas, 160)
BUFFALO gained from CHARLES MIX and non-county area; BUFFALO included territory in present North and South Dakota. BUFFALO fully organized, detached from BON HOMME and CHARLES MIX. CHARLES MIX gained from HUTCHINSON. DEUEL gained non-county area; DEUEL included parts of present North and South Dakota. HUTCHINSON gained from JAYNE (Dakota Territory, extinct). HUTCHINSON fully organized, detached from BON HOMME. PEMBINA gained non-county area. BON HOMME, CLAY, UNION, and YANKTON boundaries were redefined [no change]. JAYNE (Dakota Territory) was eliminated, ending its attachment to YANKTON and ending the overlap with MINNEHAHA. (Dak. Terr. Laws 1870, 9th sess., ch. 10/pp. 404409)
9 February 1871
UNION lost small area to the state of Nebraska when the Missouri River changed course. (Neb. Laws 1871, 8th reg. sess., pp. 131132; U.S. Stat., vol. 16, ch. 64[1870]/p. 93; Van Zandt, 137)
4 January 1873
Territorial Legislature passed a single act creating seven new counties in Dakota Territory; new counties were not fully organized, not attached. (Dak. Terr. Laws 1872, 10th sess., ch. 20/pp. 4852; for sections on particular counties, see following citations):
BURBANK (now BARNES) created in present North Dakota from PEMBINA. (sec. 5/p. 51)
CASS created in present North Dakota from PEMBINA. (sec. 3/p. 49)
GRAND FORKS created in present North Dakota from PEMBINA. (sec. 2/p. 49)
LA MOURE created in present North Dakota from PEMBINA. Non-County Area 4 was created from PEMBINA, attached to LA MOURE for administrative and judicial purposes. (sec. 7/p. 51 and ch. 18, sec. 18/p. 44)
RANSOM created in present North Dakota from PEMBINA. Non-County Area 5 was created from PEMBINA, attached to RANSOM for administrative and judicial purposes. (sec. 8/p. 52 and ch. 18, sec. 18/p. 44)
RICHLAND created in present North Dakota from PEMBINA. Non-County Area 6 was created from PEMBINA, attached to RICHLAND for administrative and judicial purposes. (sec. 4/p. 50 and ch. 18, sec. 18/p. 44)
STUTSMAN created in present North Dakota from BUFFALO and PEMBINA. (sec. 6/p. 51)
Territorial Legislature passed a single act creating sixteen new counties in Dakota Territory; new counties were not fully organized, not attached. (Dak. Terr. Laws 1872, 10th sess., ch. 18/pp. 3944; Hall, 183184; for sections on particular counties, see following citations):
BOTTINEAU created in present North Dakota from BUFFALO. (sec. 3/p. 40)
BURLEIGH created in present North Dakota from BUFFALO. Non-County Area 2 was created from BUFFALO, attached to BURLEIGH for administrative and judicial purposes. (secs. 16, 18/p. 44)
CAVALIER created in present North Dakota from PEMBINA. (sec. 1/p. 39)
FOSTER created in present North Dakota from PEMBINA. (sec. 11/p. 42)
FRENCH (later DE SMET, Dakota Territory, extinct) created in present North Dakota from BUFFALO. (sec. 9/p. 42)
GINGRAS (now WELLS) created in present North Dakota from BUFFALO. (sec. 12/p. 43)
KIDDER created in present North Dakota from BUFFALO. (sec. 15/p. 43)
LOGAN created in present North Dakota from BUFFALO. Non-County Area 3 was created from BUFFALO, attached to LOGAN for administrative and judicial purposes. (secs. 14, 18/pp. 4344)
McHENRY created in present North Dakota from BUFFALO. (sec. 8/p. 41)
MOUNTRAIL created in present North Dakota from BUFFALO. (sec. 5/p. 40)
RAMSEY created in present North Dakota from PEMBINA. (sec. 10/p. 42)
RENVILLE created in present North Dakota from BUFFALO. (sec. 4/p. 40)
ROLETTE created in present North Dakota from BUFFALO. (sec. 2/p. 40)
SHERIDAN created in present North Dakota from BUFFALO. (sec. 13/p. 43)
STEVENS (extinct) created in present North Dakota from BUFFALO. STEVENS (extinct) was located in a different part of Dakota Territory from STEVENS (Dakota Territory, original, extinct). (sec. 7/p. 41)
WALLETTE (Dakota Territory, extinct) created in present North Dakota from BUFFALO. (sec. 6/p. 41)
8 January 1873
Territorial Legislature passed a single act creating thirty-one new counties in Dakota Territory; new counties were not fully organized, not attached. (Dak. Terr. Laws 1872, 10th sess., ch. 16/pp. 3038; for sections on particular counties, see following citations):
ARMSTRONG (Dakota Territory, original, extinct) created in present South Dakota from CHARLES MIX and HUTCHINSON. (sec. 9/p. 32)
ASHMORE (now POTTER) created in present South Dakota from BUFFALO. (sec. 34/p. 37)
BEADLE (Dakota Territory, original, extinct) created in present South Dakota, plus a small area of North Dakota, from HANSON. This BEADLE County was located in a different part of the territory from the present BEADLE County, South Dakota created 1 October 1879. (sec. 25/p. 35)
BRAMBLE (Dakota Territory, extinct) created in present South Dakota from HANSON. (sec. 12/p. 33)
BURCHARD (Dakota Territory, extinct) created in present South Dakota from HANSON. (sec. 20/p. 35)
CAMPBELL created in present South Dakota, plus a small part of North Dakota, from BUFFALO. (sec. 36/p. 37)
CLARK created in present South Dakota from HANSON. (sec. 16/p. 34)
CRAGIN (Dakota Territory, extinct) created in present South Dakota from HANSON. (sec. 17/p. 34)
DAVISON created in present South Dakota from HANSON. (sec. 11/p. 33)
EDMUNDS created in present South Dakota from BUFFALO. (sec. 30/p. 36)
FAULK created in present South Dakota from BUFFALO. (sec. 29/p. 36)
GRANT created in present South Dakota from DEUEL and HANSON. (sec. 7/p. 32)
GREELEY (Dakota Territory, extinct) created in present South Dakota from HANSON. (sec. 21/p. 35)
HAMLIN created in present South Dakota from DEUEL and HANSON. (sec. 6/p. 32)
HAND created in present South Dakota from BUFFALO. (sec. 28/p. 36)
HUGHES created in present South Dakota from BUFFALO. (sec. 32/p. 37)
HYDE created in present South Dakota from BUFFALO. (sec. 27/p. 36)
KINGSBURY created in present South Dakota from HANSON. (sec. 19/p. 34)
LAKE created in present South Dakota from BROOKINGS, HANSON, and MINNEHAHA. (sec. 3/p. 31)
McCOOK created in present South Dakota from HANSON. (sec. 15/p. 34)
McPHERSON created in present South Dakota, plus part of North Dakota, from BUFFALO. (sec. 31/p. 36)
MILLS (Dakota Territory, extinct) created in present South Dakota from HANSON. (sec. 24/p. 35)
MINER created in present South Dakota from HANSON. (sec. 13/p. 33)
MOODY created in present South Dakota from BROOKINGS and MINNEHAHA. (sec. 2/p. 31)
SPINK created in present South Dakota from HANSON. (sec. 22/p. 35)
STONE (Dakota Territory, extinct) created in present South Dakota, plus part
of North Dakota, from HANSON. (sec. 37/p. 38)
SULLY created in present South Dakota from BUFFALO. (sec. 33/p. 37)
THOMPSON (Dakota Territory, extinct) created in present South Dakota from HANSON. (sec. 23/p. 35)
WALWORTH created in present South Dakota from BUFFALO. (sec. 35/p. 37)
WETMORE (Dakota Territory, extinct) created in present South Dakota from HANSON. (sec. 14/p. 33)
WOOD (Dakota Territory, extinct) created in present South Dakota from HANSON. (sec. 18/p. 34)
HUTCHINSON gained from CHARLES MIX. (secs. 89/p. 32)
The Wahpeton and Sisseton Indian Reserve became a non-county area in Dakota Territory; it had previously been within the boundaries of DEUEL and HANSON. (ch. 16/pp. 3038)
Territorial Legislature passed a single act creating twelve new counties in Dakota Territory west of the Missouri River; new counties were not fully organized, not attached. (Dak. Terr. Laws 1872, 10th sess., ch. 19/pp. 4548; for sections on particular counties, see following citations):
BOREMAN (extinct) created in present North and South Dakota from Non-County Area 1. (sec. 8/p. 46)
HOWARD (Dakota Territory, extinct) created in present North Dakota from Non-County Area 1. (sec. 11/p. 47)
LYMAN created in present South Dakota from GREGORY and Non-County Area 1. (sec. 3/p. 45)
MEYER (extinct) created in present South Dakota from Non-County Area 1. (sec. 13/p. 47)
MORTON created in present North Dakota from Non-County Area 1. (sec. 9/p. 47)
PRATT (extinct) created in present South Dakota from Non-County Area 1. (sec 14/p. 47)
PRESHO (extinct) created in present South Dakota from Non-County Area 1. (sec. 5/p. 46)
RUSK (now DEWEY) created in present South Dakota from Non-County Area 1. (sec. 7/p. 46)
STANLEY created in present South Dakota from Non-County Area 1. (sec. 6/p. 46)
TRIPP created in present South Dakota from GREGORY, TODD (original, extinct), and Non-County Area 1; TRIPP included a small piece of present Nebraska. (sec. 4/p. 45)
WILLIAMS (original, extinct) created in present North Dakota from Non-County Area 1. (sec. 10/p. 47)
Territorial legislature authorized creation of a county named MERCER, with boundaries identical to those of PRATT; creation did not take effect (act repealed 14 January 1875). (sec. 12/p. 47)
GREGORY gained from TODD (original, extinct), including territory in present Nebraska, and gained part of Fort Randall Military Reserve, attached to TODD. (secs. 24/p. 45)
TODD (original, extinct) gained Ponca Indian Reserve in present Nebraska. (secs. 12, 4/p. 45)
Non-County Area 7 was created between PRATT (extinct) and PRESHO (extinct). (secs. 5, 12, 14/pp. 4647)
10 January 1873
DOUGLAS created by Dakota Territory in present South Dakota from CHARLES MIX; DOUGLAS not fully organized, not attached. CHARLES MIX gained from BUFFALO, and gained small area from HUTCHINSON. (Dak. Terr. Laws 1872, 10th sess., ch. 17/p. 38)
17 February 1873
Montana Territory gained the small remnant of Dakota Territory that remained between Montana and Wyoming Territories [Not mapped here. For a map of the area see Montana Historical Counties. See also 25 July 1868]. (U.S. Stat., vol. 17, ch. 147[1873]/p. 464; Van Zandt, 136, 145, 150)
10 June 1873
STUTSMAN fully organized. (Andreas, 189)
16 July 1873
BURLEIGH fully organized. (Andreas, 191, Bauman and Jackman, 2)
16 August 1873
HANSON fully organized. (Andreas, 170)
30 August 1873
MOODY fully organized. ("Dakota's Counties," 13)
6 October 1873
LAKE fully organized. (Andreas, 175)
27 October 1873
CASS fully organized. (Rural Cass County, 8)
25 November 1873
RICHLAND fully organized. (North Dakota Blue Book, 451)
July 1874
In July 1874, DAVISON was fully organized. ("Dakota's Counties," 13; Mitchell 75th Anniversary Association, 7)
11 January 1875
Territorial Legislature passed a single act creating ten new counties in Dakota Territory, west of the Missouri River. New counties were not fully organized, not attached. (Dak. Terr. Laws 1874, 11th sess., ch. 29/pp 6670; for sections on particular counties, see following citations):
CHEYENNE (Dakota Territory, extinct) created in present South Dakota from PRATT (extinct), RUSK (now DEWEY), STANLEY, and Non-County Area 1. (sec. 7/p. 68)
CUSTER created in present South Dakota from Non-County Area 1. (sec. 4/p. 67)
DELANO (extinct) created in present South Dakota from Non-County Area 1. (sec. 8/p. 69)
FORSYTHE (Dakota Territory, extinct) created in present South Dakota from Non-County Area 1. (sec. 3/p. 67)
LAWRENCE created in present South Dakota from Non-County Area 1. (sec. 5/p. 68)
LUGENBEEL (extinct) created in present South Dakota from MEYER (extinct), PRATT (extinct), and Non-County Area 1. (sec. 1/p. 66)
MANDAN (Dakota Territory, extinct) created in present South Dakota from Non-County Area 1. (sec. 9/p. 69)
PENNINGTON created in present South Dakota from Non-County Area 1. (sec. 6/p. 68)
SHANNON created in present South Dakota from Non-County Area 1. (sec. 2/p. 66)
WHITE RIVER (Dakota Territory, extinct) created in present South Dakota from PRATT (extinct) and Non-County Area 1. (sec. 10/p. 70)
STANLEY gained from PRATT (extinct), exchanged with PRESHO (extinct), lost to Non-County Area 7. (secs. 7, 11/pp. 68, 70)
12 January 1875
TRAILL created by Dakota Territory in present North Dakota from BURBANK (now BARNES), CASS, and GRAND FORKS; TRAILL not fully organized, not attached. (Dak. Terr. Laws 1874, 11th sess., ch. 32, sec. 1/p. 74)
14 January 1875
BRULE created by Dakota Territory in present South Dakota from CHARLES MIX. BRULE was fully organized, but in May 1875 the land was withdrawn from settlement by executive order of President Grant. (Dak. Terr. Laws 1874, 11th sess., ch. 31/p. 73)
MERCER created by Dakota Territory in present North Dakota from Non-County Area 1; MERCER not fully organized, not attached. The Act that created MERCER on 8 January 1873, with boundaries identical to PRATT (extinct), was nullified. (Dak. Terr. Laws 1874, 11th sess., ch. 30, sec. 1/p. 71)
ASHMORE renamed POTTER, BURBANK renamed BARNES, FRENCH (Dakota Territory, extinct) renamed DE SMET (Dakota Territory, extinct). (Dak. Terr. Laws 1874, 11th sess., ch. 30/p. 71)
23 February 1875
TRAILL fully organized. (North Dakota Blue Book, 452)
2 March 1875
GRAND FORKS fully organized. (Andreas, 196; History of the Red River Valley, 2:588)
10 February 1877
ZIEBACH (original, extinct) created by Dakota Territory in present South Dakota from PENNINGTON; ZIEBACH not fully organized, not attached. This ZIEBACH County was in a different part of the territory from the current ZIEBACH County, South Dakota created 1 February 1911. PENNINGTON exchanged with CUSTER and LAWRENCE. Non-County Area 8 was created from LAWRENCE between the Belle Fourche and Redwater Rivers. (Dak. Terr. Laws 1877, 12th sess., ch. 42/pp. 215216 in Rev. Codes Dak. 1877)
15 February 1877
CODINGTON created by Dakota Territory in present South Dakota from CLARK, GRANT, HAMLIN, and non-county area in the Wahpeton and Sisseton Indian Reserve; CODINGTON not fully organized, not attached. HAMLIN gained from CLARK. (Dak. Terr. Laws 1877, 12th sess., ch. 42/pp. 217218 in Rev. Codes Dak. 1877)
19 April 1877
PENNINGTON fully organized. (Andreas, 119; "Dakota's Counties," 13)
26 April 1877
CUSTER fully organized. (Andreas, 116; Eastern Custer County Historical Society, vii)
April 1877
In April 1877, LAWRENCE was fully organized. (Andreas, 122; Early History of South Dakota Counties, 68)
20 May 1878
DEUEL fully organized, detached from MINNEHAHA. (Andreas, 182; Cochrane, 1: [7])
15 June 1878
McCOOK fully organized. (Within These Borders, [5])
17 June 1878
GRANT fully organized. (Andreas, 172)
5 August 1878
BARNES fully organized. (History of the Red River Valley, 2:700)
7 August 1878
CODINGTON fully organized. (Andreas, 158; Codington County History Book Committee, 3)
10 September 1878
HAMLIN fully organized. (Andreas, 171)
5 November 1878
MORTON fully organized. (Peterson, Marion P., 2)
10 February 1879
BILLINGS created by Dakota Territory in present North Dakota from HOWARD (Dakota Territory, extinct) and Non-County Area 1; BILLINGS not fully organized, not attached. (Dak. Terr. Laws 1879, 13th sess., ch. 11, sec. 5/p. 19)
EMMONS created by Dakota Territory in present North Dakota from BURLEIGH, CAMPBELL, and Non-County Area 2 attached to BURLEIGH; Non-County Area 2 eliminated. EMMONS not fully organized, not attached. (Dak. Terr. Laws 1879, 13th sess., ch. 11, sec. 2/p. 18)
STARK created by Dakota Territory in present North Dakota from HOWARD (Dakota Territory, extinct), WILLIAMS (original, extinct), and Non-County Area 1; STARK not fully organized, not attached. (Dak. Terr. Laws 1879, 13th sess., ch. 11, sec. 4/p. 19)
Non-County Area 9 created from MORTON. (Dak. Terr. Laws 1879, 13th sess., ch. 11/pp. 1819; Peterson, Marion P., 2)
Non-County Area 10 created from Non-County Area 1; it was located between MERCER and MORTON. (Dak. Terr. Laws 1879, 13th sess., ch. 11/pp. 1819)
BURLEIGH gained from KIDDER, MERCER, MORTON, and Non-County Area 1. MORTON gained from BOREMAN (extinct) and Non-County Area 1. MORTON no longer fully organized, not attached. (Dak. Terr. Laws 1879, 13th sess., ch. 11/pp. 18-19; Peterson, Marion P., 2)
7 August 1879
SPINK fully organized. (Andreas, 141; Harlow, 16)
15 September 1879
CHARLES MIX fully organized, detached from BON HOMME. (Andreas, 174; "Dakota's Counties," 13)
September 1879
In September 1879, BRULE was fully organized. (Early History of South Dakota Counties, 10)
1 October 1879
Dakota Territorial Legislature passed an act that created four new counties, changed other county boundaries, and eliminated a number of counties. (Dak. Terr. Laws 1879, 13th sess., ch. 12/pp. 2027; for sections on particular counties, see the following citations):
AURORA created by Dakota Territory in present South Dakota from CRAGIN (Dakota Territory, extinct) and WETMORE (Dakota Territory, extinct); AURORA not fully organized, not attached. (sec. 10/p. 24)
BEADLE created by Dakota Territory in present South Dakota from BURCHARD (Dakota Territory, extinct), CLARK, KINGSBURY, and SPINK; BEADLE not fully organized, not attached. This BEADLE County was located in a different part of the territory from BEADLE (Dakota Territory, original, extinct), which was eliminated on this date. (sec. 12/p. 24)
BROWN created by Dakota Territory in present South Dakota from BEADLE (Dakota Territory, original, extinct) and MILLS (Dakota Territory, extinct); BROWN not fully organized, not attached. (sec. 15/p. 26)
DAY created by Dakota Territory in present South Dakota from STONE (Dakota Territory) and all of GREELEY (Dakota Territory); DAY not fully organized, not attached. (sec. 14/p. 25)
Non-County Area 11 created from HAND. Non-County Area 12 created from parts of BEADLE (original), MILLS, STONE, and THOMPSON. Non-County Area 13 created from part of CRAGIN. (pp. 20-27)
Territorial legislature authorized the combining of DAVISON and HANSON, plus Non-County Area 13, into a single county named HANSON; consolidation did not take place [no change].
HAND gained from BURCHARD (Dakota Territory, extinct), HYDE, and SPINK.
McCOOK gained from DAVISON and HANSON.
HUTCHINSON gained all of ARMSTRONG (Dakota Territory, original).
KINGSBURY gained all of WOOD (Dakota Territory).
LAKE boundaries redefined [no change]; mistake in description corrected in chapter 63/page 180. (chs. 12, 63/pp. 2027, 180)
MINER gained from WETMORE (Dakota Territory, extinct) and gained all of BRAMBLE (Dakota Territory).
SPINK gained most of THOMPSON (Dakota Territory, extinct).
ARMSTRONG (original), BEADLE (original), BRAMBLE, CRAGIN, BURCHARD, GREELEY, MILLS, STONE, THOMPSON, WETMORE, and WOOD eliminated. (ch. 12/pp. 2027)
18 February 1880
KINGSBURY fully organized. (Andreas, 151)
26 July 1880
BEADLE fully organized. (Andreas, 145)
14 September 1880
BROWN fully organized. (Andreas, 138; Brown County Territorial Pioneers, 8)
26 November 1880
HUGHES fully organized. (Andreas, 152)
2 December 1880
MINER fully organized. (Andreas, 168; HRS S. Dak., Miner, 3)
8 February 1881
MORTON gained from BURLEIGH. (Dak. Terr. Laws 1881, 14th sess., ch. 50/p. 57)
18 February 1881
GRIGGS created by Dakota Territory in present North Dakota from BARNES, FOSTER, and TRAILL; GRIGGS not fully organized, not attached. (Dak. Terr. Laws 1881, 14th sess., ch. 41/p. 44)
19 February 1881
CUSTER gained all of FORSYTHE (Dakota Territory); FORSYTHE eliminated. (Dak. Terr. Laws 1881, 14th sess., ch. 39/p. 43)
LAWRENCE gained all of Non-County Area 8; Non-County Area 8 eliminated. (Dak. Terr. Laws 1881, 14th sess., ch. 45/p. 53)
23 February 1881
MERCER gained from BURLEIGH and gained all of Non-County Area 10; Non-County Area 10 eliminated. (Dak. Terr. Laws 1881, 14th sess., ch. 49/p. 56)
24 February 1881
LA MOURE gained from RANSOM. Part of LA MOURE reverted to Non-County Area 4. Non-County Area 4 was detached from LA MOURE, not attached elsewhere. Most of Non-County Area 4 became part of DICKEY on 5 March 1881. (Dak. Terr. Laws 1881, 14th sess., ch. 44/p. 51)
DAVISON and HANSON gained all of Non-County Area 13; Non-County Area 13 eliminated. McCOOK boundaries redefined [no change]. (Dak. Terr. Laws 1881, 14th sess., ch. 46/p. 54)
26 February 1881
GINGRAS renamed WELLS. (Dak. Terr. Laws 1881, 14th sess., ch. 53/p. 63)
28 February 1881
MORTON fully organized. (Andreas, 193; Peterson, Marion P., 2)
3 March 1881
MINER boundaries redefined [no change]. (Dak. Terr. Laws 1881, 14th sess., ch. 47/p. 55)
5 March 1881
DICKEY created by Dakota Territory in present North Dakota from McPHERSON, RANSOM, part of Non-County Area 4, part of Non-County Area 12, and part of Non-County Area 5 attached to RANSOM; included territory that was part of LA MOURE before 24 February 1881. DICKEY not fully organized, not attached. Non-County Area 14 was created from Non-County Area 12; it was located north of DAY. (Dak. Terr. Laws 1881, 14th sess., ch. 40/p. 44)
HARDING created by Dakota Territory in present South Dakota, plus part of present North Dakota, from Non-County Area 1; HARDING not fully organized, not attached. (Dak. Terr. Laws 1881, 14th sess., ch. 43/p. 51)
MARTIN (extinct) created by Dakota Territory in present South Dakota, plus part of present North Dakota, from Non-County Area 1; MARTIN not fully organized, not attached. (Dak. Terr. Laws 1881, 14th sess., ch. 48/p. 56)
22 March 1881
KIDDER fully organized. (North Dakota Blue Book, 449)
4 April 1881
RANSOM fully organized. (Andreas, 202; Arnold, 58; History of the Red River Valley, 2:721)
2 May 1881
WALSH created by Dakota Territory in present North Dakota from GRAND FORKS and PEMBINA; WALSH not fully organized, not attached. (Dak. Terr. Laws 1881, 14th sess., ch. 51, secs. 12/pp. 5960 and ch. 52/p. 61)
23 May 1881
CLARK fully organized. (Andreas, 175; HRS S. Dak., Clark, 3)
29 August 1881
AURORA fully organized. (Andreas, 183)
30 August 1881
WALSH fully organized. (Andreas, 198; Berg, 1:26)
11 October 1881
DAVISON exchanged with HANSON. Territorial legislature authorized a vote on the future of DAVISON and HANSON, either to remain as two separate counties with the newly reconfigured boundaries described in this act, or to combine as a single county named HANSON. Vote taken on 11 October 1881 was in favor of retaining two separate counties with the new configuration. (Dak. Terr. Laws 1881, 14th sess., ch. 42/pp. 4650; Andreas, 170171)
27 October 1881
LA MOURE fully organized. (Andreas, 201)
2 January 1882
DAY fully organized. (Andreas, 177)
23 May 1882
GREGORY lost to the state of Nebraska, and TRIPP lost small area to the state of Nebraska. TODD (original, extinct) lost to the state of Nebraska; implicitly gained part of Fort Randall Military Reserve. Remaining part of the Military Reserve became part of the state of Nebraska; Fort Randall Military Reserve was eliminated as a non-county area in Dakota Territory. TODD became unorganized, ending the attachment of GREGORY and the Fort Randall Military Reserve to TODD; GREGORY remained unorganized, not attached. (Neb. Laws 1882, 17th sess., ch. 4/p. 56; U.S. Stat., vol. 22, ch. 52[1882]/p. 35; Van Zandt, 136138)
16 June 1882
GRIGGS fully organized. (Andreas, 210)
24 July 1882
DOUGLAS fully organized. (Douglas County History, 30; Early History of South Dakota Counties, 31)
18 August 1882
DICKEY fully organized. (Andreas, 178; Black, R. M., 34)
1 September 1882
HAND fully organized. ("Dakota's Counties," 13)
25 January 1883
RAMSEY fully organized. (Andreas, 205)
14 February 1883
FOSTER gained from WELLS, lost to creation of Non-County Area 15. (Dak. Terr. Laws 1883, 15th sess., ch. 20/p. 32)
27 February 1883
Territorial legislature authorized creation of three new counties in present South Dakota, dependent on local referendum: EDGERTON to be created from BROWN and DAY; INMAN to be created from BROWN, McPHERSON, and part of Non-County Area 12; and McCAULEY to be created from BROWN, EDMUNDS, and part of Non-County Area 12. BROWN was also authorized to gain from DAY. Referendum failed at election held 1 May 1883 [no change]. (Dak. Terr. Laws 1883, 15th sess., ch. 13/pp. 2124; Brown County Territorial Pioneers, 11)
HYDE gained all of Non-County Area 11; Non-County Area 11 eliminated. (Dak. Terr. Laws 1883, 15th sess., ch. 21/p. 33)
2 March 1883
NELSON created by Dakota Territory in present North Dakota from FOSTER, GRAND FORKS, RAMSEY, and all of Non-County Area 15; Non-County Area 15 eliminated. NELSON not fully organized, attached to GRAND FORKS "for judicial purposes." (Dak. Terr. Laws 1883, 15th sess., ch. 28/p. 41)
6 March 1883
BUTTE created by Dakota Territory in present South Dakota from LAWRENCE and MANDAN (Dakota Territory, extinct); BUTTE not fully organized, not attached. Non-County Area 16 was created from the remainder of MANDAN (Dakota Territory) when MANDAN was eliminated. (Dak. Terr. Laws 1883, 15th sess., ch. 15, secs. 1, 6/pp. 2527)
8 March 1883
Territorial Legislature passed a single act creating five new counties in Dakota Territory. (Dak. Terr. Laws 1883, 15th sess., ch. 16/pp. 2829; for sections on particular counties, see following citations):
JACKSON created in present South Dakota from CHEYENNE (Dakota Territory, extinct), LUGENBEEL (extinct), and WHITE RIVER (Dakota Territory, extinct); JACKSON not fully organized, attached to PENNINGTON. (secs. 6, 8/p. 29)
NOWLIN (extinct) created in present South Dakota from CHEYENNE (Dakota Territory, extinct) and WHITE RIVER (Dakota Territory, extinct); WHITE RIVER eliminated. NOWLIN not fully organized, attached to PENNINGTON. (secs. 5, 8/pp. 2829)
PYATT (later ARMSTRONG, extinct) created in present South Dakota from CHEYENNE (Dakota Territory, extinct), RUSK (now DEWEY), and STANLEY; PYATT not fully organized, attached to LAWRENCE. (secs. 3, 7/pp. 2829)
SCOBEY (extinct) created in present South Dakota from DELANO (extinct); SCOBEY not fully organized, attached to LAWRENCE. (secs. 2, 7/pp. 2829)
STERLING (extinct) created in present South Dakota from CHEYENNE (Dakota Territory, extinct); CHEYENNE eliminated. STERLING not fully organized, attached to LAWRENCE. (secs. 4, 7/pp. 2829)
DELANO attached to LAWRENCE, and ZIEBACH (original, extinct) attached to PENNINGTON. All attachments were "for judicial and revenue purposes." (sec. 7/p. 2829).
Territorial Legislature passed a single act creating four new counties in Dakota Territory; new counties were not fully organized, not attached. (Dak. Terr. Laws 1883, 15th sess., ch. 138/p. 56):
BOWMAN created by Dakota Territory in present North Dakota from BILLINGS.
BURDICK (Dakota Territory, extinct) created by Dakota Territory in present South Dakota from HARDING.
EWING (extinct) created by Dakota Territory in present South Dakota, and a small part of North Dakota, from HARDING.
VILLARD (Dakota Territory, extinct) created by Dakota Territory in present North Dakota from BILLINGS.
McLEAN created by Dakota Territory in present North Dakota from BURLEIGH, SHERIDAN, and STEVENS (extinct); McLEAN not fully organized, not attached. (Dak. Terr. Laws 1883, 15th sess., ch. 25/p. 38)
ROBERTS created by Dakota Territory in present South Dakota, and part of North Dakota, from GRANT and part of the Wahpeton and Sisseton Indian Reserve; ROBERTS not fully organized, not attached. DAY and GRANT gained non-county area in the Wahpeton and Sisseton Indian Reserve. RICHLAND gained all of Non-County Area 6 that had been attached to RICHLAND; Non-County Area 6 eliminated. (Dak. Terr. Laws 1883, 15th sess., ch. 30/p. 44)
TOWNER created by Dakota Territory in present North Dakota from CAVALIER and ROLETTE; TOWNER not fully organized, attached to PEMBINA "for judicial purposes." (Dak. Terr. Laws 1883, 15th sess., ch. 37/p. 54)
Territorial legislature authorized creation of HARVEY in present North Dakota from CAVALIER and PEMBINA; creation did not take effect [no change]. (Dak. Terr. Laws 1883, 15th sess., ch. 22/p. 34)
Territorial legislature authorized creation of NICKEUS in present North Dakota from CAVALIER, PEMBINA, RAMSEY, and WALSH; creation did not take effect [no change]. (Dak. Terr. Laws 1883, 15th sess., ch. 29/pp. 4243)
FAULK gained part of Non-County Area 12, lost to POTTER. (Dak. Terr. Laws 1883, 15th sess., ch. 19/p. 31)
9 March 1883
Territorial legislature passed a single act creating seven new counties in Dakota Territory; new counties were not fully organized, not attached. (Dak. Terr. Laws 1883, 15th sess., ch. 39/pp. 5859; for sections on particular counties, see following citations):
ALLRED (extinct) created in present North Dakota from HOWARD (Dakota Territory, extinct). (sec. 4/p. 58)
BUFORD (extinct) created in present North Dakota from WALLETTE (Dakota Territory, extinct). (sec. 6/p. 59)
DUNN created in present North Dakota from HOWARD (Dakota Territory, extinct). (sec. 1/p. 58)
FLANNERY (extinct) created in present North Dakota from WALLETTE (Dakota Territory, extinct); WALLETTE eliminated. (sec. 5/p. 58)
HETTINGER created in present North Dakota from STARK. (sec. 7/p. 59)
McKENZIE created in present North Dakota from HOWARD (Dakota Territory, extinct). (sec. 2/p. 58)
WALLACE (extinct) created present North Dakota from HOWARD (Dakota Territory, extinct); HOWARD eliminated. (sec. 3/p. 58)
Territorial legislature passed a single act creating five new counties in Dakota Territory. (Dak. Terr. Laws 1883, 15th sess., ch. 40/pp. 5961; for sections on particular counties, see following citations):
CHOTEAU (extinct) created in present South Dakota from MARTIN (extinct); CHOTEAU not fully organized, attached to LAWRENCE "for judicial and revenue purposes." (secs. 67/pp. 6061)
RINEHART (extinct) created in present South Dakota from MARTIN (extinct); RINEHART not fully organized, attached to LAWRENCE "for judicial and revenue purposes." (secs. 5, 7/pp. 6061)
WAGNER (extinct) created in present South Dakota, and part of North Dakota, from MARTIN (extinct); WAGNER not fully organized, attached to LAWRENCE "for judicial and revenue purposes." (secs. 4, 7/pp. 6061)
WASHABAUGH (extinct) created in present South Dakota from LUGENBEEL (extinct); WASHABAUGH not fully organized, attached to CUSTER "for revenue purposes." (secs. 2, 7/pp. 6061)
WASHINGTON (extinct) created in present South Dakota from LUGENBEEL (extinct) and SHANNON; WASHINGTON not fully organized, attached to CUSTER "for revenue purposes." (secs. 1, 7/pp. 5961)
MARTIN not fully organized, attached to LAWRENCE "for judicial and revenue purposes." (sec. 7/p. 61)
BENSON created by Dakota Territory in present North Dakota from DE SMET (Dakota Territory, extinct) and RAMSEY; BENSON not fully organized, attached to GRAND FORKS "for judicial purposes." NELSON gained from RAMSEY. (Dak. Terr. Laws 1883, 15th sess., ch. 12/p. 19)
McINTOSH created by Dakota Territory in present North Dakota from CAMPBELL, LOGAN, McPHERSON, and Non-County Area 3 attached to LOGAN; McINTOSH not fully organized, not attached. Non-County Area 3 eliminated. (Dak. Terr. Laws 1883, 15th sess., ch. 26/p. 39)
SCHNASSE (extinct) created by Dakota Territory in present South Dakota, and part of North Dakota, from Non-County Area 1 and a small part of BOREMAN (extinct); SCHNASSE not fully organized, not attached. (Dak. Terr. Laws 1883, 15th sess., ch. 34/p. 51)
WYNN (Dakota Territory, extinct) created by Dakota Territory in present North Dakota from BOTTINEAU and RENVILLE; WYNN not fully organized, not attached. (Dak. Terr. Laws 1883, 15th sess., ch. 41/p. 61)
BRULE gained from BUFFALO. (Dak. Terr. Laws 1883, 15th sess., ch. 14/p. 24)
RUSK renamed DEWEY. (Dak. Terr. Laws 1883, 15th sess., ch. 17/p. 29)
LA MOURE gained all of Non-County Area 4; Non-County Area 4 eliminated. (Dak. Terr. Laws 1883, 15th sess., ch. 24/p. 37)
NELSON boundaries redefined [no change]. (Dak. Terr. Laws 1883, 15th sess., ch. 27/p. 40)
STANLEY gained from PRESHO (extinct) and gained part of Non-County Area 7; lost to PRATT (extinct). (Dak. Terr. Laws 1883, 15th sess., ch. 35/p. 52; "Collins v. Lyman County," in S. Dak. Rpts., 30:104118)
3 April 1883
FALL RIVER created by Dakota Territory in present South Dakota from CUSTER; FALL RIVER not fully organized, not attached. (Dak. Terr. Laws 1883, 15th sess., ch. 18/p. 30)
9 April 1883
SARGENT created by Dakota Territory in present North Dakota from RANSOM, Non-County Area 5 attached to RANSOM, Non-County Area 14, and non-county area in the Wahpeton and Sisseton Indian Reserve; Non-County Area 5 and Non-County Area 14 eliminated. SARGENT not fully organized, attached to RICHLAND "for judicial purposes" and to RANSOM "for recording purposes." (Dak. Terr. Laws 1883, 15th sess., chs. 3233/pp. 4850)
17 April 1883
JERAULD created by Dakota Territory in present South Dakota from AURORA and BUFFALO; JERAULD not fully organized, not attached. (Dak. Terr. Laws 1883, 15th sess., ch. 23/p. 36)
19 April 1883
SULLY fully organized. ("Dakota's Counties," 13)
1 May 1883
SANBORN created by Dakota Territory in present South Dakota from MINER; SANBORN not fully organized, not attached. (Dak. Terr. Laws 1883, 15th sess., ch. 31/p. 46; Andreas, 169; History of Pioneer Sanborn County, 63)
12 May 1883
WALWORTH fully organized. (Minutes of Walworth County Board of Commissioners, 12 May 1883, p. 1)
25 May 1883
STARK fully organized. (Andreas, 194)
2 June 1883
STEELE created by Dakota Territory in present North Dakota from GRIGGS and TRAILL; STEELE not fully organized, attached to TRAILL "for judicial purposes." (Dak. Terr. Laws 1883, 15th sess., ch. 36/p. 52)
9 June 1883
NELSON fully organized, detached from GRAND FORKS. (Andreas, 204; History of the Red River Valley, 2:669; North Dakota Blue Book, 450)
13 June 1883
STEELE fully organized, detached from TRAILL. (Andreas, 207)
18 July 1883
SANBORN fully organized. (Reminiscing: A Centennial History of Sanborn County, 13; Supplement to History of Pioneer Sanborn County, 51)
23 July 1883
BUTTE fully organized. (Andreas, 128)
26 July 1883
EDMUNDS fully organized. (Andreas, 181; Bowdle Centennial, 9)
6 August 1883
ROBERTS fully organized. (Andreas, 171; Roberts County Centennial Committee, 25)
8 October 1883
SARGENT fully organized, detached from RANSOM and RICHLAND. (North Dakota Blue Book, 451)
11 October 1883
FOSTER fully organized. (Foster County History Book Committee, 3)
1 November 1883
McLEAN fully organized. (Andreas, 195; Williams, Mary Ann, 40)
5 November 1883
FAULK fully organized. (Ellis, 2627; HRS S. Dak., Faulk, 5)
HYDE fully organized. (Hyde County Historical and Genealogical Society, 34; Perkins, 815)
6 November 1883
MERCER fully organized. (HRS N. Dak., Mercer, 7)
9 November 1883
EMMONS fully organized. (North Dakota Blue Book, 448)
JERAULD fully organized. (Andreas, 177; Dunham, 7374)
7 November 1883
FALL RIVER fully organized. ("Dakota's Counties," 13)
27 December 1883
POTTER fully organized. (Stilgebouer, 20; "Dakota's Counties," 13)
24 January 1884
TOWNER fully organized, detached from PEMBINA. (Andreas, 207)
6 March 1884
McPHERSON fully organized. (Early History of South Dakota Counties, 78; Leola Centennial Anniversary Book, 385386)
17 April 1884
CAMPBELL fully organized. (Early History of South Dakota Counties, 14)
4 June 1884
BENSON fully organized, detached from GRAND FORKS. (North Dakota Blue Book, 446)
8 July 1884
CAVALIER fully organized. (History of the Red River Valley, 2:658)
17 July 1884
BOTTINEAU fully organized. (North Dakota Blue Book, 447)
28 August 1884
WELLS fully organized. (Spokesfield, 69)
1 September 1884
LOGAN fully organized. (North Dakota Blue Book, 449)
4 October 1884
McINTOSH fully organized. (Minutes of McIntosh County Commissioners, 4 October 1884, p. 1)
14 October 1884
ROLETTE fully organized. (North Dakota Blue Book, 451)
15 October 1884
McHENRY fully organized. (North Dakota Blue Book, 449)
2 February 1885
Boundary between GRANT and ROBERTS clarified [no change]. (Dak. Terr. Laws 1885, 16th sess., ch. 22/p. 254)
6 February 1885
EDMUNDS and McPHERSON gained all of Non-County Area 12; Non-County Area 12 eliminated. (Dak. Terr. Laws 1885, 16th sess., ch. 14/p. 239)
9 March 1885
RICHLAND gained from ROBERTS. (Dak. Terr. Laws 1885, 16th sess., ch. 34/p. 272)
10 March 1885
BILLINGS gained from BOWMAN, exchanged with DUNN and VILLARD (Dakota Territory, extinct).
DUNN gained from McKENZIE, STARK, and WILLIAMS (original, extinct), lost to VILLARD (Dakota Territory, extinct).
VILLARD (Dakota Territory, extinct) gained from BOWMAN, HETTINGER, and STARK. WALLACE (extinct) gained from ALLRED (extinct) and WILLIAMS (original, extinct).
(Dak. Terr. Laws 1885, 16th sess., ch. 3/p. 226)
KIDDER gained from BURLEIGH. (Dak. Terr. Laws 1885, 16th sess., ch. 23/p. 255)
12 March 1885
Territorial legislature authorized creation of WINONA in present North Dakota from EMMONS; creation did not take effect [no change]. (Dak. Terr. Laws 1885, 16th sess., ch. 16/p. 243)
by 13 March 1885
RAMSEY gained from CAVALIER, lost to BENSON, and lost to creation of Non-County Area 18 [territory that was to become part of BLAINE; see 13 March 1885]. BENSON gained from DE SMET (Dakota Territory, extinct). (Dak. Terr. Laws 1885, 16th sess., chs. 4, 32/pp. 227, 269)
13 March 1885
GARFIELD (extinct) created by Dakota Territory in present North Dakota from MOUNTRAIL and STEVENS (extinct); GARFIELD not fully organized, not attached. Non-County Area 17 created from STEVENS (extinct). (Dak. Terr. Laws 1885, 16th sess., ch. 21/p. 253)
Territorial legislature authorized creation of ADAMS in present South Dakota from BROWN; creation did not take effect [no change]. (Dak. Terr. Laws 1885, 16th sess., ch. 1, secs. 1, 12, 16/pp. 221224)
Territorial legislature authorized creation of BLAINE in present North Dakota from CAVALIER, RAMSEY, and WALSH; creation did not take effect [no change]. (Dak. Terr. Laws 1885, 16th sess., ch. 4/p. 227)
Territorial legislature authorized creation of STANTON in present North Dakota from KIDDER and STUTSMAN; creation did not take effect [no change]. (Dak. Terr. Laws 1885, 16th sess., ch. 38/p. 276)
McHENRY gained from STEVENS (extinct). (Dak. Terr. Laws 1885, 16th sess., ch. 28/p. 263)
31 March 1885
EDDY created by Dakota Territory in present North Dakota from FOSTER; EDDY not fully organized, not attached. (Dak. Terr. Laws 1885, 16th sess., ch. 15, secs. 12, 46/pp. 240241)
WELLS gained from FOSTER. (Dak. Terr. Laws 1885, 16th sess., ch. 43/p. 282)
6 April 1885
McLEAN gained from BURLEIGH and STEVENS (extinct). (Dak. Terr. Laws 1885, 16th sess., ch. 30/p. 264; Hall, 209210)
14 April 1885
OLIVER created by Dakota Territory in present North Dakota from MERCER; OLIVER not fully organized, attached to MORTON "for judicial purposes." MERCER gained from WILLIAMS (original, extinct). (Dak. Terr. Laws 1885, 16th sess., ch. 31, secs. 17/pp. 266267; Hall, 207208)
WARD created by Dakota Territory in present North Dakota from RENVILLE, STEVENS (extinct), and WYNN (Dakota Territory, extinct); WARD not fully organized, not attached. (Dak. Terr. Laws 1885, 16th sess., ch. 42/p. 280; Hall, 210)
27 April 1885
EDDY fully organized. ("Eddy County," 1)
28 April 1885
RAMSEY gained from BENSON. (Dak. Terr. Laws 1885, 16th sess., ch. 32, sec. 3/p. 270; Hall, 213214)
2 May 1885
MARSHALL created by Dakota Territory in present South Dakota from DAY; MARSHALL not fully organized, attached to DAY "for judicial purposes." DAY gained from CLARK. Non-County Area 19 created from DAY. (Dak. Terr. Laws 1885, 16th sess., ch. 12, secs. 12, 1011/pp. 235237)
by 12 May 1885
CAVALIER lost to Non-County Area 18 [territory that was to become part of BLAINE; see 13 March 1885]. Territorial legislature authorized CAVALIER to gain from PEMBINA, and lose to non-county area, dependent on local referendum. Results are unknown, but it appeared to fail [no change]. (Dak. Terr. Laws 1885, 16th sess., ch. 11/p. 233)
18 May 1885
OLIVER fully organized, detached from MORTON. (Hall, 208; North Dakota Blue Book, 450)
23 July 1885
MARSHALL fully organized, detached from DAY. (Marshall County Historical Society, 9)
23 November 1885
WARD fully organized. (North Dakota Blue Book, 452)
4 May 1886
BILLINGS fully organized. (North Dakota Blue Book, 447)
26 January 1887
NOWLIN (extinct) detached from PENNINGTON, attached to HUGHES; STERLING (extinct) detached from LAWRENCE, attached to HUGHES; STANLEY attached to HUGHES. All attachments were "for judicial purposes." (Dak. Terr. Laws 1887, 17th sess., ch. 175/p. 372)
18 February 1887
MORTON gained from HETTINGER and STARK. (Dak. Terr. Laws 1887, 17th sess., ch. 183/p. 380)
11 March 1887
CHURCH (extinct) created by Dakota Territory in present North Dakota from McHENRY and SHERIDAN. PIERCE created by Dakota Territory in present North Dakota from BOTTINEAU, McHENRY, ROLETTE, and all of DE SMET (Dakota Territory); DE SMET eliminated. CHURCH and PIERCE not fully organized, not attached. BOTTINEAU gained from WYNN (Dakota Territory, extinct). McHENRY gained from BOTTINEAU and WYNN (Dakota Territory, extinct). Non-County Area 20 created from McHENRY. (Dak. Terr. Laws 1887, 17th sess., ch. 180/p. 376)
RENVILLE gained from WYNN (Dakota Territory, extinct), lost to WARD. WARD gained from WYNN; WYNN eliminated. (Dak. Terr. Laws 1887, 17th sess., ch. 181/p. 378)
CAVALIER gained from PEMBINA. (Dak. Terr. Laws 1887, 17th sess., ch. 182/p. 380)
13 March 1887
BILLINGS and STARK gained all of VILLARD (Dakota Territory, extinct); VILLARD eliminated. Non-County Area 21 created from STARK. LAWRENCE gained all of Non-County Area 16; Non-County Area 16 eliminated. (Dak. Terr. Laws 1887, 17th sess., ch. 179, secs. 13/pp. 374375)
1 May 1887
WARD gained part of Non-County Area 20 [part of McHENRY before 11 March 1887]. (Dak. Terr. Laws 1887, 17th sess., ch. 181, sec. 6/p. 379)
26 January 1889
TOWNER attached to RAMSEY "for judicial purposes." (Dak. Terr. Laws 1889, 18th sess., ch. 73/p. 108)
4 February 1889
PIERCE attached to McHENRY "for judicial purposes." (Dak. Terr. Laws 1889, 18th sess., ch. 74, sec. 3/p. 109)
7 February 1889
RAMSEY boundaries redefined [no change]. (Dak. Terr. Laws 1889, 18th sess., ch. 58/p. 89)
28 February 1889
HARDING gained all of BURDICK (Dakota Territory); BURDICK eliminated. HARDING lost to BUTTE. (Dak. Terr. Laws 1889, 18th sess., ch. 47/p.73)
8 March 1889
Territorial legislature authorized CAMPBELL to gain from McPHERSON; gain did not take effect [no change]. (Dak. Terr. Laws 1889, 18th sess., ch. 54/p. 79)
DAY gained from GRANT and gained all of Non-County Area 19; Non-County Area 19 eliminated. (Dak. Terr. Laws 1889, 18th sess., ch. 55/p. 81)
by 9 March 1889
MEADE was created by Dakota Territory in present South Dakota from LAWRENCE; MEADE not fully organized, not attached. (Dak. Terr. Laws 1889, 18th sess., ch. 57, sec. 1/p. 83)
25 March 1889
MEADE fully organized. ("Dakota's Counties," 13)
6 April 1889
PIERCE fully organized, detached from McHENRY. (North Dakota Blue Book, 450)
by 2 November 1889
TOWNER was fully organized, detached from RAMSEY. Exact date is unknown, but TOWNER appears to have been organized by the time statehood was declared, and Civil Court records exist in TOWNER beginning in 1889. (Everton, 191; Swindler, 7:497, 517518)
2 November 1889
The states of North Dakota and South Dakota were created from Dakota Territory; Dakota Territory eliminated. The boundary between North Dakota and South Dakota was set at the seventh standard parallel. The new South Dakota counties of BOREMAN (extinct), EWING (extinct), MARTIN (extinct), SCHNASSE (extinct), and WAGNER (extinct) lost to Non-County Area 9 in North Dakota. (U.S. Stat., vol. 25, ch. 180[1889]/pp. 676684 and vol. 26, no. 5/pp. 15481549; Swindler, 7:526527; Swindler, 9:107109; Van Zandt, 134)
The following fifty-three counties became part of the new state of North Dakota:
ALLRED (extinct), BARNES, BENSON, BILLINGS, BOTTINEAU, BOWMAN, BUFORD (extinct), BURLEIGH, CASS, CAVALIER, CHURCH (extinct), DICKEY, DUNN, EDDY, EMMONS, FLANNERY (extinct), FOSTER, GARFIELD (extinct), GRAND FORKS, GRIGGS, HETTINGER, KIDDER, LA MOURE, LOGAN, McHENRY, McINTOSH, McKENZIE, McLEAN, MERCER, MORTON, MOUNTRAIL, NELSON, OLIVER, PEMBINA, PIERCE, RAMSEY, RANSOM, RENVILLE, RICHLAND, ROLETTE, SARGENT, SHERIDAN, STARK, STEELE, STEVENS (extinct), STUTSMAN, TOWNER, TRAILL, WALLACE (extinct), WALSH, WARD, WELLS, WILLIAMS (original, extinct). Non-County Area 9, Non-County Area 17, Non-County Area 18, Non-County Area 20, and Non-County Area 21 became part of North Dakota.
The following seventy-eight counties became part of the new state of South Dakota:
AURORA, BEADLE, BON HOMME, BOREMAN (extinct), BROOKINGS, BROWN, BRULE, BUFFALO, BUTTE, CAMPBELL, CHARLES MIX, CHOTEAU (extinct), CLARK, CLAY, CODINGTON, CUSTER, DAVISON, DAY, DELANO (extinct), DEUEL, DEWEY, DOUGLAS, EDMUNDS, EWING (extinct), FALL RIVER, FAULK, GRANT, GREGORY, HAMLIN, HAND, HANSON, HARDING, HUGHES, HUTCHINSON, HYDE, JACKSON, JERAULD, KINGSBURY, LAKE, LAWRENCE, LINCOLN, LUGENBEEL (extinct), LYMAN, McCOOK, McPHERSON, MARSHALL, MARTIN (extinct), MEADE, MEYER (extinct), MINER, MINNEHAHA, MOODY, NOWLIN (extinct), PENNINGTON, POTTER, PRATT (extinct), PRESHO (extinct), PYATT (later ARMSTRONG, extinct), RINEHART (extinct), ROBERTS, SANBORN, SCHNASSE (extinct), SCOBEY (extinct), SHANNON, SPINK, STANLEY, STERLING (extinct), SULLY, TODD (original, extinct), TRIPP, TURNER, UNION, WAGNER (extinct), WALWORTH, WASHABAUGH (extinct), WASHINGTON (extinct), YANKTON, ZIEBACH (original, extinct). Non-County Area 1 and Non-County Area 7 became part of South Dakota.