Editing Washington Territory (section)

{{Short description|Organized incorporated territory of the United States from 1853 to 1889}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2012}}
{{Use American English|date=February 2023}}
{{Infobox former subdivision
|conventional_long_name = Territory of Washington
|common_name       = Washington Territory
|nation            = [[United States|the United States]]
|subdivision       = [[Organized incorporated territories of the United States|Organized incorporated territory]]
|year_start        = 1853
|event_pre         = 
|date_pre          = 
|year_pre          = 
|event_start       = Split from [[Oregon Territory]]
|date_start        = March 2,<ref>{{USStat|10|172}}</ref>
|event1            = [[Idaho Territory]] split off
|date_event1       = March 4, 1863
|event_end         = [[Washington (state)|Statehood]]
|date_end          = November 11,
|year_end          = 1889
|p1                = Oregon Territory
|flag_p1           = U.S. flag, 31 stars.svg
|s1                = Nebraska Territory
|flag_s1           = US flag 34 stars.svg
|s2                = Idaho Territory
|flag_s2           = US flag 34 stars.svg
|s3                = Washington (state)
|flag_s3           = Flag of the United States (1891–1896).svg
|image_flag        = 
|image_coat        = Seal of the Washington Territory.png
|symbol_type       = [[Seal of Washington|Seal]]
|image_map         = 
|image_map_caption =
|capital         = [[Olympia, Washington|Olympia]]
|government_type = Organized incorporated territory
|title_leader    = Governor
|leader1         = ''[[List of Governors of Washington#Governors of the Territory of Washington|List]]''
|legislature     = 
}}

The '''Washington Territory''' was an [[organized incorporated territory of the United States]] that existed from March 2, 1853, until November 11, 1889, when the territory was admitted to the [[United States|Union]] as the [[Washington (state)|State of Washington]]. It was created from the portion of the [[Oregon Territory]] north of the lower [[Columbia River]] and north of the [[46th parallel north|46th parallel]] east of the Columbia. At its largest extent, it also included the entirety of modern [[Idaho]] and parts of [[Montana]] and [[Wyoming]], before attaining its final boundaries in 1863.