Antique Maps and Prints of the Historic Territory of Dakota.

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This short REFERENCE PAGE is designed to provide no more than a 'glimpse' of the history of Dakota,
with a couple of examples of antiquarian maps and engravings of the State and some interesting Links.

Genuine original antiquarian maps and authentic historical engravings, printed at the dates stated.
We do NOT deal in modern reproductions.

We supply genuine historical maps and prints by mail order - all are eminently suitable for framing and are offered On Approval, which
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Topography: Dakota has an average extent north and south of 450 miles; a breadth of 350 miles, with an area of 149,100 square mites, or 95,424,000 acres.

There are still 27,550 Indians in the Territory, seven-eighths of the whole number being Sioux. These are divided into numerous bands, and are mostly on reservations west of the Missouri and north of the Nebraska frontier. The amount of land held by them is 41,999,456 acres, of which over 5,000,000 acres is good farming land. Only 10,500 acres is cultivated.

The Territory forms a vast elevated plateau, crossed by several minor ranges of hills, which in the southwest almost deserve the name of mountains. The general elevation of the country is from 1,000 to 2,500 feet above the sea, and the highest peaks of the Black Hills are nearly 7,000 feet above sea level.

The Missouri river crosses Dakota from the northwest to the southeast corner, and is navigable throughout the Territory. It receives the Yellowstone on the Montana border, in latitude 48° north, and has also as tributaries the Little Missouri, White, Big Cheyenne and Niobrara rivers, the latter having most of its course in Nebraska.

The Dakota rises in Devil's Lake, in the northeast, and has a length of 400 miles to its junction with the Missouri near Yankton. The Red River of the North, flowing north into British America, forms the eastern boundary for about 250 miles, and receives no less than eight considerable streams from Dakota. The Vermillion and Big Sioux in the southeast are each more than 150 miles long.

There are a large number of lakes and ponds, mostly in the east and north. Devil's Lake, the water of which is brackish, is forty miles long and from four to twelve miles wide. Other important lakes are Albert, Poinsett, Tchanchicaha, Traverse, Whitewood and Big Stone.

Climate: The temperature varies during the year from 20° below zero to 100° Fahrenheit; July and August being the warmest months, and December, January and February the coldest.

In the north the winters are severe and much snow falls, but the climate of the south is mild and pleasant. The atmosphere is clear and dry, and owing to the elevation, malarial diseases are unknown, while pulmonary complaints are rare.

Spring opens earlier than in Eastern States in the same latitude. The annual rainfall averages twenty inches and occurs at the best time for agriculture.

History: The Territory of Dakota was organized March 2, 1861, and included the present Territories of Wyoming and Montana. Several important changes were made in the boundaries when Idaho, Wyoming and Montana were organized. The earliest settlements were made at Pembina in 1812, by Lord Selkirk, who supposed it to be British territory.

The first permanent settlements were made in 1859, between Sioux City and Yankton, on the banks of the Missouri, but Indian troubles and the Civil war checked immigration until 1866. The first legislature met in March, 1862, at Yankton, then the seat of government. In 1883 the capital was changed to Bismarck, where a State house is in process of erection.

The most important settlements are in the valleys of the Missouri and the Red River of the North, and along the line of the Northern Pacific railroad. Within the past five years a great impetus has been given to settlements by the extension of the railroad system in Central Dakota, and the discoveries of great mineral wealth in the Black Hills country in the extreme southwest.

In view of the enormous area of the Territory and the rapidity of its growth, several propositions have been made for its division, but as yet nothing definite for the accomplishment of such a purpose has been undertaken.

The fertile lands of this Territory are being rapidly settled by emigrants from other parts of the United States and Europe. Large colonies of Mennonites, from Russia, and of Scandinavians, have settled there, while the more liberal homestead laws of the United States have attracted from Manitoba thousands who had gone there from Canada with the intention of making it their home.

During the twelve months ending June 30, 1880, there were 8,819 entries at the land offices at Fargo, Bismarck and Grand Fork, amounting to 1,321,682 acres. During the same time the Northern Pacific sold 224,842 acres. At the present time no portion of the West offers greater inducements to immigrants than Dakota.

Population: Census of 1880: Males, 82,296; Females, 52,881; Native, 83,382; Foreign, 51,795; White, 133,147; Colored, 20,030, including 238 Chinese and 1,391 Indians.

POSTAPRINT, supplied picture framers and antiquarian map & print dealers for many years, before I retired. These web pages contain some 1000's of examples of the cartographer's art from the 16th to the 19th century, along with engravings, lithographs and etchings by leading artists of their generation. Historical maps, views, and engravings on virtually every subject, including Vanity Fair (Spy) Cartoons. Postaprint also supplied antique prints and maps to Art Galleries, Shops and Fine Art Retailers.

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Published in the Illustrated London News in 1881.	Published in The Graphic in 1890.