| Claimed by France in 1671, forts were established in the Minnesota area from 1686-1762. In 1762, the area was ceded to France, and then to Great Britain in 1763. It was controlled by British fur traders in the Northwest Company from 1763-1819, except a small portion ceded to the United States in 1783, and another part acquired in the Louisiana Purchase in 1803.<ref>Christina K. Schaefer, ''Genealogical encyclopedia of the colonial Americas : a complete digest of the records of all the countries of the Western Hemisphere'' (Baltimore, Maryland : Genealogical Publishing Company, c1998), 601. [http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/39622039 WorldCat (Other Libraries)]; {{FSC|822639|item|disp=FS Library book 929.11812 D26 1998}}</ref> | | Claimed by France in 1671, forts were established in the Minnesota area from 1686-1762. In 1762, the area was ceded to France, and then to Great Britain in 1763. It was controlled by British fur traders in the Northwest Company from 1763-1819, except a small portion ceded to the United States in 1783, and another part acquired in the Louisiana Purchase in 1803.<ref>Christina K. Schaefer, ''Genealogical encyclopedia of the colonial Americas : a complete digest of the records of all the countries of the Western Hemisphere'' (Baltimore, Maryland : Genealogical Publishing Company, c1998), 601. [http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/39622039 WorldCat (Other Libraries)]; {{FSC|822639|item|disp=FS Catalog book 929.11812 D26 1998}}</ref> |