This Day in Minnesota History

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Today's Date: March 3

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1849

Minnesota Territory is signed into existence by President James K. Polk. The territory has a population of about 10,000 Native people and 5,000 white settler colonists and includes present-day North and South Dakota east of the Missouri River. The US Postal Service released a commemorative three-cent centennial stamp on this date in 1949.
1853

Fillmore County, honoring President Millard Fillmore, is created.
1855

St. Louis County, the state's largest (6,611 square miles), is established, named for the St. Louis River.
1855

The legislature of Minnesota Territory decides to send an immigration commissioner to New York. Beginning in June, Eugene Burnand of St. Paul represents the territory in Manhattan, where he encourages immigrants to make Minnesota their new home.
1990

A team led by Will Steger of Ely completes the 3,800-mile International Trans-Antarctica Expedition, the first dog-sled traverse of the continent by its widest distance.