Utah Land and Property: Difference between revisions

In 1847 the area that was to become Utah belonged to Mexico. A year later it was ceded to the United States by treaty but it was not until 1869 that a land office was established. This permitted "legal" ownership of public lands in Utah.  

Instead of federal authority during this period, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) administered the distribution of land. The land was not sold but was allotted to the first owners based on needs. After 1850 title could be obtained from either the Church or the county recorder's office.  

After the initial distribution of land the county recorder or the probate clerk primarily recorded subsequent transfers. A few transactions were recorded in LDS records. Sometimes land was transferred without recording it with any church or government office  

*Morgan, Nicholas G. ''Pioneer Map: Great Salt Lake City, Great Basin, North America.'' N.p.: 1851?. (Family History Library [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&titleno=14165&disp=Pioneer+map%20%20&columns=*,0,0 map 979.225 E7man; fiche 6051237].) This map includes historical data and index to names of original owners and their locations by lot or lots and blocks. The index to this map consists of names of major land owners in various Salt Lake City LDS wards.

*Grundvig, David L.and Sharon Lauritzen. ''Index to Pioneer Map, Great Salt Lake City, for 1850s''. N.p. 1981. (Family History Library [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&titleno=14165&disp=Pioneer+map%20%20&columns=*,0,0 book 979.225 E7man index].)  

*''Pioneer Map: City of St. George, Washington County, Utah''. N.p.: 1982?. (Family History Library [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&titleno=304542&disp=Pioneer+map%2C+city+of+St%2E+George%2C+W%20%20&columns=*,0,0 map 979.248/S1 E7p].) This map lists the names of land owners on the map and the designation of the ward where they lived. The index to this map has St. George wards listed in: Hardesty, Patricia N. ''Pioneer Map, City of St. George, Washington County, Utah Index with LDS Wards''. Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1982. (Family History Library [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&titleno=304753&disp=Pioneer+map+city+of+St%2E+George%2C+Wash%20%20&columns=*,0,0 book 979.248/S1 E7p index, fiche 6031575].)

*Fox, Feramorz Young. ''The Mormon Land System, A Study of the Settlement and Utilization of Land Under the Direction of the Mormon Church''. Logan, Utah: Utah State Agricultural College, 1955. (Family History Library [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&titleno=282348&disp=The+Mormon+land+system%2C+a+study+of+the%20%20&columns=*,0,0 film 237848].) This is an in-depth study of the history of the Mormon land system. There are maps throughout the volume.  

*Linford, Lawrence, L. ''Establishing and Maintaining Land Ownership in Utah Prior to 1869 in Utah Historical Society Quarterly, vol. 42 no. 2, Spring 1974: 126-43''. (Family History Library [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&titleno=1338676&disp=v%2E+42+%281974%29%20%20&columns=*,0,0 book 979.2 H2u].) This is a history describing how lands were divided. It is full of quotations from journals and newspapers. Primarily, it covers Salt Lake City