The
Territory of Wisconsin was an
organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from July 3, 1836, until May 29, 1848, when an eastern portion of the territory was admitted to the
Union as the
State of Wisconsin.
Belmont was initially chosen as the capital of the territory. In 1837, the territorial legislature met in
Burlington, just north of the
Skunk River on the Mississippi, which became part of the Iowa Territory in 1838. In that year, 1838, the territorial capitol of Wisconsin was moved to Madison.