On May 20, 1862 President Lincoln signed the Homestead Act of 1862. It was part of the nation’s westward expansion and made filing on government lands easier. A great deal of the American West was settled in this manner, this region was no exception.
For a small registration fee, one could file on 160 acres of government land. After making improvements, and making it your primary residence one could acquire the title to the land at a cost of $1.25 per acre. By 1934, 270 million acres of government land had been transferred through this act. It remained on the books until it was finally repealed in 1976.
