The Oregon Donation Land Act

The Oregon Donation Land Act of 1850 was U.S. legislation that encouraged settlement in the Oregon Territory by granting free land, typically 320 acres to male settlers and an additional 320 acres if they were married. To qualify, settlers had to be U.S. citizens or prospective citizens, and they had to cultivate the land for four years. This law aimed to attract American settlers and promote economic development in the region, significantly shaping Oregon’s early settlement pattern and land ownership. It remained in effect until 1855, influencing migration and settlement in the Pacific Northwest.