The British in South Puget Sound-
Who owned Oregon Country when the Tumwater pioneers arrived?

In 1845, when the Tumwater pioneers arrived at their new home, Puget Sound was still a part of Oregon Country.  Washington Territory would not be created from Oregon Country until 1853. American Indians, British, French-Canadians, Scottish, American pioneers and missionaries were all living there, but no one officially owned the land. Indian people regarded the land as theirs and, at first, were happy to share because of the enticing trade goods the white people brought with them. Non-Indians had a different viewpoint. They wanted to know if the land would go to the British or the United States. 

In 1846 the U.S. and Great Britain agreed to draw the international boundary at the 49th parallel.  The United States would get the land south of the 49th parallel, and Great Britain would get the land to the north.  Today, the 49th parallel still serves as a boundary between the U.S. and Great Britain.   The treaty of 1846 put Fort Nisqually on American soil. The treaty allowed the British to stay intact until they were paid for improvements they had make to the land.

Oregon Country included the future states of present-day Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and parts of Montana, Wyoming, and British Columbia.
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