Railroad Land Grants

Railroad land grants were allocations of land given by the federal government to railroad companies in the 19th and early 20th centuries. These grants aimed to encourage the construction of railroads across the country, especially in sparsely populated or unsettled areas. Companies received large stretches of land along their routes, which they could sell or develop to fund building the railroads. This policy helped expand rail networks, facilitate westward expansion, and boost economic growth, but also led to controversies over land rights and management.