US Land Office

The U.S. Land Office was a government agency responsible for managing public lands, including selling, granting, and distributing land to settlers, developers, and states. It helped organize land transactions, maintained records, and ensured proper allocation of territory as the nation expanded westward. The Land Office was essential in turning vast areas of wilderness into organized communities, farms, and towns, supporting westward settlement and development. Today, its functions have been absorbed by other agencies like the Bureau of Land Management, but historically, it played a key role in shaping the country’s land policy and settlement patterns.