A land grant contract outlines the gift of public property to a lesser government entity or corporation. The land grant is historically reserved for public use of universities, colleges, railroads, airports and farmland. During the early days of the United States, land grants were used to reward Revolutionary War soldiers for their service, support publicly funded schools and to build transportation systems and farmland.
Cash Poor but Land Rich
The newly formed federal government was cash poor and land rich. At least 45 million acres of land are donated by the U. S. government during the 20th century, with the idea to grow the nation by issuing land grants to states and private companies. Giving land to start schools was important to grow a literate republic and good citizens. Land was donated for railroads as towns and cities grew.
States and local governments today issue land grant contracts of public land, like for airports, still with the idea of economic growth for communities.
The Revolutionary War and Land Grants
Land grants were made to Revolutionary War soldiers and to schools to encouraged settlement, expansion and development in the early United States, with a debate centered around the division of western coastal lands.
During the time of the Revolutionary War, anyone who is deemed capable and willing to carry out the plans and agenda of growing the country is gifted a land grant contract. It was a mutual fulfilling agreement.
The Homestead Act
Large tracts of land were issued to settlers who went west to develop towns and cities. The federal government granted land to private industry to develop a national transportation system, in addition to giving land for farming, education and benefits for war veterans. The government acquired this land during numerous wars and trades with Native Americans. This processes was eventually named the Homestead Act. It officially allowed individuals on public land the opportunity to earn the deed to it if they worked the land. Much of this land was developed into rich farmland to feed a growing nation.
Types of Land Grants
There are three types of land grants: private, community and hybrid. A private grant is owned by one or many as private property. The owner can in turn sell this property or parcel it out. Bigger tracts of land given to a large group usually happened with early Southwestern settlers. Hybrid land grants are tracts of land given to a small group with the stipulation to settle the land to create towns and cities.
These land grants have to be requested from state or federal government. There has to be a process where the pros and cons have to be examined before granting or rejecting the land grant.
Modern Day Land Grant Contracts
According to the U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management, the Homestead Act stopped in 1976. The last legal homesteading of public lands by the federal government was more than 10 years ago in Alaska.
A 2006 Southeast Farm Press article said the elimination of land grants is a "death spiral" for farmers and land grant universities. It is fueled by a loss of revenue and interest in agriculture. With the emphasis no longer on agriculture education and research, there is no support system set up to maintain the southern land grant schools or farmers, unless it serves a for profit purpose.
However a CNN Money.com article gives hope.
School districts and economic development groups in rural Kansas, Las Vegas and North Dakota are donating tracts of land and even down payment assistance in the spirit of the original American colonists--to grow their community.
Resource
Reference
- Southeast Farm Press: Land Grant Death Spiral
- CNN Money: Free Land in the Heartland
- Center for Land Grant Studies: Land Grants in a Nutshell
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