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=== Homestead Requirements and Results === | === Homestead Requirements and Results === | ||
In 1862 the United States enacted a homestead law to encourage development of | In 1862 the United States enacted a homestead law to encourage development of mostly-empty western federal lands and promote the yeoman farmer ideal. The original homestead law gave an applicant up to 160 acres (1/4 of a section) of undeveloped land in any federal-land state or territory. To obtain the land a settler had to: | ||
:#file application papers, and pay a filing fees, total $18, | :#file application papers, and pay a filing fees, total $18, | ||
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Between 1862 and 1986 about 10 percent of all land in the United States, 270,000,000 acres (420,000 sq mi), were transferred from federal to private control through 1.6 million granted homesteads.<ref>United States, Department of the Interior, National Park Service, “About the Homestead Act” in ''Homestead National Monument of America'' at http://www.nps.gov/home/historyculture/abouthomesteadactlaw.htm (accessed 5 February 2010).</ref> | Between 1862 and 1986 about 10 percent of all land in the United States, 270,000,000 acres (420,000 sq mi), were transferred from federal to private control through 1.6 million granted homesteads.<ref>United States, Department of the Interior, National Park Service, “About the Homestead Act” in ''Homestead National Monument of America'' at http://www.nps.gov/home/historyculture/abouthomesteadactlaw.htm (accessed 5 February 2010).</ref> | ||
Only about 40 percent of the applicants who started the process were able to complete it and obtain title to their homestead land.<ref>United States, Department of the Interior, National Park Service, “Homesteading by the Numbers” in ''Homestead National Monument of America'' at http://www.nps.gov/home/historyculture/bynumbers.htm (accessed 5 February 2010).</ref> | Only about 40 percent of the applicants who started the process were able to complete it and obtain title to their homestead land.<ref>United States, Department of the Interior, National Park Service, “Homesteading by the Numbers” in ''Homestead National Monument of America'' at http://www.nps.gov/home/historyculture/bynumbers.htm (accessed 5 February 2010).</ref> | ||
=== Value of the Records === | === Value of the Records === | ||