August 29, 1814 - Census Authorized by Territorial Assembly Shows 63,897
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The Northwest Ordinance of 1787 had established the Northwest Territory and established rudimentary boundaries between the five to seven proposed states that would be formed in the territory. Congress had decreed that when a region reached a population of 63,000 people, it could apply for statehood on an equal basis with existing states. Ohio had become a state in 1803, the first state formed in the Northwest Territory. Congress had created the Indiana Territory in 1800. William Henry Harrison had been appointed governor of the vast region, governing from the old French town of Vincennes. By 1811, the Indiana territory had reached 24,000. In December 1811, the Territorial assembly petitioned Congress for statehood, requesting that the population requirement be lowered. On March 31, 1812, Congress, after studying the matter, recommended that the territory wait until the population reached 35,000. A census conducted was completed on August 29, 1814 showed a population of 63,897. The territory was ready to petition for Statehood.
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