Homestead Acts - How the West Was Settled

Homestead laws helped settle the Western United States and territories. Hundreds of thousands of pioneer farmers poured into the west in the 1800’s and early 1900’s. New communities were built and new wealth was created. The following types of homesteads are on the Flying X.

President Abraham Lincoln signed the Homestead Act on May 20, 1862. This law gave the pioneer freehold title up to 160 acres or one-fourth section of undeveloped federal land west of the Mississippi River. A filing fee was required. Anyone who had never taken up arms against the U. S. government and freed slaves could file for a homestead. The applicant had to be at least 21 years old or the head of a family. The homesteader had to live on the land for 5 years and show that they had made improvements to the land and grown crops. A 12’ by 14’ dwelling was also required. A deed could be applied for after the 5 years if they had met all the requirements. A title deed could also be acquired after 6 months of residency and some improvements, provided the applicant paid $1.25 per acre. After the Civil War, Union soldiers could deduct the time they served in the army from the residency requirement. The Enlarged Homestead Act of 1909 raised the amount of land that could be deeded to 320 acres.

In 1869 the Wyoming Territory was organized. In 1870 the Cheyenne Land Office opened. Congress passed the Desert Land Act on March 3, 1877 to encourage economic development of the arid and semiarid public land in the Western United States. The lands surveyed for the desert land grants had to have limited water available for irrigation. An applicant could apply for up to 640 acres of land. The applicant had to be a citizen of the United States or declare the intention of becoming a citizen. They also had to be 21 years of age or older and be a resident of the state that they were applying in. One eighth of the land applied for had to be irrigated and properly cultivated in three years. The applicant paid 25 cents per acre. The homesteader could also receive title to the land anytime within the three years upon proof of compliance with the law and payment of an additional dollar per acre. This act was amended to 320 acres by the Act of August 30, 1890.

- Vicki Juhl

To learn more about the Homestead Acts, please check these references:

Desert Land Act (2010, Nov.). In Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desert_Land_Act

Homestead Act. (2011m June). In Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homestead_Act

McGill, Owen Family (1990) Facts and History of the McGill Ranch.pp 1-5

National Archives (n.d.). Teaching With Documents: The Homestead Act of 1862. Retrieved from http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/10/

Rogers, Martha & Reiss, David (2000 Feb.). Cultural context of prehistoric and historic sites on Wyoming Army National Guard lands Platte County, Wyoming .pp 47-50. Retrrieved from http://wyoshpo.state.wy.us/pdf/0400klk007.pdf

U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management (2009, Oct. 20). General format. Retrieved from http://www.blm.gov/wo/st/en/prog/more/lands/desert_land_entries.html

U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management General Land Office Records (n.d.). [Land patent documents] Retrieved from http://www.glorecords.blm.gov/search/default.aspx#