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Homestead Act of 1862

2 amendmentstracked · Side-by-side comparison of previous and amended text

February 19, 1909

Enlarged Homestead Act increased allotments to 320 acres for dryland farming in western states.

Previous

Any citizen or intended citizen may claim 160 acres of public land and receive title after five years of continuous residence and improvement.

Amended

Homestead claims in certain western states are increased to 320 acres for land designated as non-irrigable and suitable for dryland farming, provided the claimant continuously cultivates at least one-eighth of the land.

December 29, 1916

Stock-Raising Homestead Act allowed claims of 640 acres for grazing land not suitable for farming.

Previous

Homestead claims are available for up to 320 acres of land suitable for farming or dryland cultivation.

Amended

Homestead claims of up to 640 acres are authorized for land designated by the Secretary of the Interior as chiefly valuable for grazing and raising forage crops, with the surface estate separated from the mineral estate.