South Dakota Land and Property: Difference between revisions

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== '''Federal Land Records''' ==
== '''Federal Land Records''' ==


When the United States acquired South Dakota, most of the land became part of the public domain. The federal government surveyed available land into townships and transferred it to private ownership through local land offices. The first land office was established at Vermillion in 1861. See the United States Research Outline for more information about the land entry process.[[Image:claim%20holders%20in%20Western%20South%20Dakota.jpg|Claim Holders in Western South Dakota]]
When the United States acquired South Dakota, most of the land became part of the public domain. The federal government surveyed available land into townships and transferred it to private ownership through local land offices. The first land office was established at Vermillion in 1861. See the United States Research Outline for more information about the land entry process.[[Image:Claim holders in Western South Dakota.jpg|Claim Holders in Western South Dakota]]


Land could be obtained through cash payment (cash entries), or by homesteading (after 1862). After a settler completed the requirements for land entry, his case file was sent to the General Land Office (GLO) in Washington, DC, where a patent (first-title deed) was issued. The local land offices recorded transactions for each section of land in tract books. They also created township plats, which are maps of land entries for each township.<br />''(Picture to the right: Homesteaders in Western South Dakota)''
Land could be obtained through cash payment (cash entries), or by homesteading (after 1862). After a settler completed the requirements for land entry, his case file was sent to the General Land Office (GLO) in Washington, DC, where a patent (first-title deed) was issued. The local land offices recorded transactions for each section of land in tract books. They also created township plats, which are maps of land entries for each township.<br>''(Picture to the right: Homesteaders in Western South Dakota)''


To locate the land-entry or homestead case file for your ancestor, you will need to know either the patent number or the legal description (range, township, section) of the land. The county recorder of deeds may be able to tell you the legal description of the land, or you may be able to pinpoint the exact location by searching the entries in the tract book covering the approximate area concerned.
To locate the land-entry or homestead case file for your ancestor, you will need to know either the patent number or the legal description (range, township, section) of the land. The county recorder of deeds may be able to tell you the legal description of the land, or you may be able to pinpoint the exact location by searching the entries in the tract book covering the approximate area concerned.
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The original patents and copies of the tract books and township plats are at:
The original patents and copies of the tract books and township plats are at:


'''The Bureau of Land Management (BLM)'''<br />P.O. Box 36800<br />222 North 32nd Street<br />Billings, MT 59101<br />Telephone: 406-255-2940<br />Fax: 406-255-2894<br />Internet: '''http://www.glorecords.blm.gov/'''
'''The Bureau of Land Management (BLM)'''<br>P.O. Box 36800<br>222 North 32nd Street<br>Billings, MT 59101<br>Telephone: 406-255-2940<br>Fax: 406-255-2894<br>Internet: '''http://www.glorecords.blm.gov/'''


The National Archives has the original homestead entry files, cash entry files, tract books, and township plats. Patent records since the 1960s of the BLM districts are also at the National Archives—Rocky Mountain Region at Denver.
The National Archives has the original homestead entry files, cash entry files, tract books, and township plats. Patent records since the 1960s of the BLM districts are also at the National Archives—Rocky Mountain Region at Denver.
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== '''Family History Library Resources''' ==
== '''Family History Library Resources''' ==


=== '''United States<br />''' ===
=== '''United States<br>''' ===


A clear, comprehensive description of public domain lands and the value and use of deeds and other land records is:
A clear, comprehensive description of public domain lands and the value and use of deeds and other land records is:
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SOUTH DAKOTA, [COUNTY]- LAND AND PROPERTY
SOUTH DAKOTA, [COUNTY]- LAND AND PROPERTY
[[Category:South Dakota]]<br>
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