From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
The Southwest Territory was an incorporated United States territory that existed from May 26, 1790 to June 1, 1796, when Tennessee was established as the 16th U.S. state. It was called the Southwest Territory in contrast to the Northwest Territory--the two regions were divided by the Ohio River. (The remaining, non-Tennessee area south of the Ohio was unavailable to be named a territory for one reason or another--usually another state still laid claim to it, or the Spanish or French still had control.) The strip that became Tennessee was graciously ceded by North Carolina, with the border between the two areas marked by the ridge of the Great Smoky Mountains.
The historic Southwest Territory should not be confused with the Southwestern United States of today.
