College Land Grants

College land grants were large parcels of land granted by the government to states or institutions in the 19th century to promote higher education. These grants provided the resources for states to establish and fund colleges, particularly in agriculture and engineering, helping expand access to education across the United States. The most notable example is the Morrill Act of 1862, which allocated land to states for founding land-grant universities, fostering economic development and innovation. This system significantly contributed to the growth of public higher education and regional development.