U.S. General Land Office

The U.S. General Land Office was a government agency established in 1812 responsible for managing the distribution and sale of public lands in the United States. It oversaw surveying, mapping, and recording land titles, helping settlers and developers acquire land legally. The GLO played a key role in westward expansion by facilitating organized land sales and settlement. Its records later became part of the Bureau of Land Management. Essentially, it served as the federal system for organizing and keeping track of land ownership as the country expanded westward.