List of the Largest Ranches in the USA | UC Ranch Properties (2024)

List of the Largest Ranches in the USA | UC Ranch Properties (2)

List of the Largest Ranches in the USA | UC Ranch Properties (3)

  • August 4, 2022

How do you differentiate between a farm and a ranch?

By definition, afarm is a piece of property that is used for growing crops and a ranch is a large piece of property that is used to raise livestock such as sheep and cattle.

On average, a farm is considered a ranch at about 450 acres although this varies significantly by state and cattle headcount. In the USA you will find small ranches with about 200 acres of land and 2,000+ acre properties which are considered large ranches. The below list features the largest and most recognized ranches in the nation with over 500,000 acres of land.

A list of the largest ranches in the USA:

1. King Ranch

List of the Largest Ranches in the USA | UC Ranch Properties (4)

825,000 acres | TEXAS

Located in the southeastern part of Texas, King Ranch is the largest single ranch property in America. Noted on the National Register of Historic Places, the King Ranch was founded in 1853, when Captain Richard King and Gideon K. Lewis purchased a creek-fed oasis in the Wild Horse Desert of South Texas.

The ranch was devoted to cattle drives and raising cattle, and horses as well as farming, and in 1934 added oil and gas and agribusiness operations.

King Ranch is considered the birthplace of ranching in North America and today it specializes in in ranching, farming, retail, Quarter horses, Thoroughbreds, and more. Visit the website.

2. Singleton Ranches

List of the Largest Ranches in the USA | UC Ranch Properties (5)

1,000,000 acres (divided) | CALIFORNIA & NEW MEXICO

The Singleton Ranches was established 1986 by Dr. Henry Singleton. He purchased the famous San Cristobal Ranch near Santa Fe, New Mexico. The ranch specializes in breeding and raising cows and horses.The purchase of land grants in New Mexico and California over the years have resulted in assembling more than 1,000,000 acres of ranch country.

Today the ranch is operated by Dr. Henry Singleton’s five children who continue his passion and legacy. Through its Foundation, the ranch supports local youth – including FFA and 4-H organizations. Visit the website.

3. Diamond A Ranch

List of the Largest Ranches in the USA | UC Ranch Properties (6)

750,000 acres | ARIZONA

The Diamond A Ranch also known as The Big Boquillas is the largest cattle ranch in Arizona. Established in 1982 by Harvey Dietrich and then partner Richard Rudnick the ranch is a part of an old cowboy tradition to this day.

There are 10 full-time camp cowboys employed by the ranch to look after the 7 ranch camps and additional cowboys are taken on for the spring and fall wagons. The Diamond A currently runs a remuda of 75 working saddle horses, 30 broodmares, 3 stallions, and 35 young geldings and fillies.

4. Babbitt Ranches

List of the Largest Ranches in the USA | UC Ranch Properties (7)

700,000 acres | ARIZONA

Established in 1886 Babbitt Ranches operates on the principles of a lasting legacy and what they define as Cowboy Essence. The Babbitt Ranches raises calves with approximately 8,000 head of grass-fed, open range, hereford cattle. Visit the website.

5. Briscoe Ranches

List of the Largest Ranches in the USA | UC Ranch Properties (8)

660,000 acres | TEXAS

The combined landholdings of the heirs of the former Governor of the state of Texas from 1973 to 1979, the late Dolph Briscoe Jr., total 640,000 acres. Three generations of the Briscoe family have managed the 100,000-acre Catarina Ranch in South Texas.

6. Vermejo

List of the Largest Ranches in the USA | UC Ranch Properties (9)

550,000 acres | NEW MEXICO

Vermejo Park was originally part of the Maxwell Land Grant. After Vermejo Park went through several owners in the late 19th century, William H. Bartlett purchased 205,000 acres from the Maxwell Land Grant Company in 1902. In 1926, Los Angeles Times baron Harry Chandler bought the property from Bartlett. W. J. Gourley, a Fort Worth businessman, began buying property in the Vermejo Park area in 1945 and increased its area to 480,000 acres. Today the Vermejo is a nature reserve and guest ranch with a main focus in conservation and nature-inspired activities. Visit the website.

7. Waggoner Ranch

List of the Largest Ranches in the USA | UC Ranch Properties (10)

535,000 acres | TEXAS

The largest ranch in Texas under one fence was established in 1849 by Dan Waggoner. The W.T. Waggoner Estate stretches into six counties, with headquarters in Vernon, Texas. Main interests of the company are ranching, oil, and approximately 26,000 acres in cultivation. Visit the website.

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List of the Largest Ranches in the USA | UC Ranch Properties (11)

List of the Largest Ranches in the USA | UC Ranch Properties (12)

$10,800,000

Scotlyn Ranch consists of +/-2,800 acres. Besides the dry-land farm acreage, this resort ranch in Idaho boasts a little bit of everything Idaho has to offer. Cottonwood Creek and Red Rock Creek are both year-round creeks.

2,800 AC

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List of the Largest Ranches in the USA | UC Ranch Properties (13)

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MORE RANCH REAL ESTATE UPDATES

List of the Largest Ranches in the USA | UC Ranch Properties (15)

History of the Legendary 6666 Ranch

May 18, 2023

The 6666 is one of the most iconic ranches in the United States. Known for its rich history, legendary quarter horses, and superior angus cattle,

List of the Largest Ranches in the USA | UC Ranch Properties (2024)

FAQs

What is the largest privately owned ranch in the United States? ›

King Ranch is the largest ranch in the United States. At some 825,000 acres (3,340 km2; 1,289 sq mi) it is larger than both the land area of Rhode Island and the area of the European country Luxembourg. It is mainly a cattle ranch, but also produced the racehorse Assault, who won the Triple Crown in 1946.

What is the largest ranch in Canada? ›

Douglas Lake is the largest Ranch in Canada, and one of the largest in the world.

Who owns the largest private ranch in Montana? ›

113,000 acres

Beaverhead Ranch is a 113,000-acre working ranch in southwest Montana, with grazing rights on another 226,000 acres. The property was purchased by Rupert Murdoch in 2021 from the founder of Koch Industries, making it the biggest ranch sale in the state's history.

How many acres is the 6666 ranch? ›

Being one of the largest ranches in Texas, the 6666's Ranch comprises 142,372 acres, more or less. To put this massive ranch in perspective, the ranch encompasses almost 225 square miles of land. The ranch generally measures approximately 20 miles long from north to south and around 12 miles wide from east to west.

Who owns 6666 Ranch? ›

In May 2021, a buyer group represented by screenwriter Taylor Sheridan purchased the ranch. Paintings depicting portions of the ranch have been painted by Tom Ryan and Mondel Rogers. A barn from the ranch has been moved to the National Ranching Heritage Center in Lubbock, Texas.

Who owns the most land in Canada? ›

The majority of all lands in Canada are held by governments as public land and are known as Crown lands. About 89% of Canada's land area (8,886,356 km2) is Crown land, which may either be federal (41%) or provincial (48%); the remaining 11% is privately owned.

What single person owns the most land? ›

Who Owns the Most Land in the World? The largest landowner in the world currently is King Charles III of England. How much land does the Royal Family own? He and the British Royal Family own more than 6,600,000,000 acres of land around the world.

How much is the 6666 Ranch worth? ›

Known as the 6666 Ranch, or Four Sixes Ranch, it first hit the market in December 2021, and was later purchased by Sheridan's investment group for over $320 million. Up until Sheridan owned it, the ranch, which encompasses three separate properties, had stayed in the same family for over 150 years, since 1870.

What is the most expensive ranch in Canada? ›

Text: CALGARY -- A sprawling cattle ranch south of Calgary has set a record for the most expensive residential property ever listed on Alberta's MLS system, according to Sotheby's Canada Inc. Sotheby's has listed the 6,000-hectare Bar-N Ghost Pine Ranch for a hefty US$42.5 million, or $54 million Canadian.

Who is the largest farmer in Canada? ›

Robert Andjelic owns more farmland than anyone else in Canada.

What is the largest ranch in the world? ›

In terms of land size, King Ranch out of Texas may take the title. Australian Ranches are also some of the largest by landmass size, but may not be as diverse as other ranches found throughout the globe.

How big is Dutton Yellowstone Ranch? ›

In the first season it's mentioned that it is bigger than Rhode Island, which is 775,900 acres.

Does Rupert Murdoch own a ranch in Montana? ›

Rupert Murdoch has paid $200 million for the sprawling Koch family ranch in Montana. Media tycoon Rupert Murdoch and his wife, Jerry, have acquired a Montana cattle ranch totaling around 340,000 acres from Matador Cattle Co., a Koch Industries affiliate, according to reports.

Who owns the largest contiguous ranch in the United States? ›

The nation's largest private landowners are the Emmerson family in California who own over 2.4 million acres. The bulk of that land is dedicated to timber in Northern California. But the most headline-worthy transaction of 2022 was the Four Sixes Ranch in Texas.

Is King Ranch still the largest ranch in the world? ›

Today, King Ranch sprawls across 825,000 acres of South Texas land, an area larger than the state of Rhode Island. As the home of 35,000 cattle and over 200 Quarter Horses, King Ranch is one of the largest ranches in the world today.

Who owns King Ranch in Texas today? ›

Jay Kleberg, an Austin-based conservationist whose family owns the sprawling King Ranch in Kingsville, said in an interview with The Texas Tribune on Wednesday that his campaign will focus on fighting climate change, managing the state's disaster recovery and improving benefits for veterans.

What is the largest privately owned ranch in Wyoming? ›

Though the purchase of the mega-sized Texas ranch made splashy national and international news, Kroenke's biggest land holding is his Q Creek Land & Livestock Co. in south-central Wyoming, which has grown to more than 550,000 acres.

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