By Stacker
Published: May. 30, 2022 at 8:39 AM PDT
(Stacker) - The federal government owns 27.1% of all land in the United States, or 615.3 million of 2.27 billion acres. Federal lands are managed mostly for preservation, recreation, and the development of natural resources.
The Bureau of Land Management, a governmental division that manages public lands, controls 39.7% of federally owned lands. The Forest Service, in charge of national forests and grasslands, is responsible for 31.4% of federal land. The Fish and Wildlife Service, which manages 14.5% of public lands, is responsible for restoration and protection efforts related to endangered species, wildlife refuges, fisheries, and migratory birds. The National Park Service manages 13% of federal lands, and finally, the Department of Defense takes care of 1.4% of government property.
The United States expanded in its early years by acquiring or purchasing land, eventually transferring it to state governments or individuals through homesteading or land grants and encouraging settlers to relocate to the west. But in the 20th century, the government switched gears and started focusing its efforts on retaining the land it owned. Today, a handful of U.S. agencies have land disposal and acquisition authorities, but the federal government’s ownership of U.S. land has largely been decreasing. From 1990 to 2018, federal land ownership shrunk by 31.5 million acres.
Stacker compiled a list of the states with the most land owned by the federal government using data from the Congressional Research Service. States are ranked by the percentage of land owned by the federal government as of 2018. Data was released Feb. 21, 2020.
Read on to find out who exactly owns what in your state, or check out the national story here.
Nevada by the numbers
- Land owned by federal government: 80.1% (56.3 million of 70.3 million acres)
- Land owned by agency: BLM (84.1%), FS (10.2%), FWS (4.2%), NPS (1.4%), DOD (0.1%)
- Percent change since 1990: -6.2%
The majority of the land in Nevada is owned by the federal government but also serves to protect several of the state’s most well-known attractions including Lake Tahoe, Red Rock Canyon (pictured), and Great Basin National Park. A 2018 survey found that 72% of Nevadans believe that public lands and outdoor recreation opportunities give them an advantage over other parts of the country, and more than 70% agree that public lands help local economies.
Much of the land that the federal government owns is concentrated in the western part of the country. In fact, the U.S. government owns nearly half of all land in the West. This is partly due to the fact that a lot of the territory in the western United States is either mountainous or dry and infertile, and wasn’t readily snatched up by homesteaders.
Even today, there is a prevailing argument that the federal government should hand its land ownership over to the states, and Congress has even considered passing legislation to do just that. But if the states were to seize control of the federally held land, it would likely impose high administrative costs on the states. On top of that, the federal government gives states money in exchange for the ownership of the land to compensate for taxes that the state might have collected if the land were privately owned.
Continue reading below to see which states have the most and least land owned by the federal government:
States with the most land owned by the federal government:
#1. Nevada: 80.1% of land owned by the federal government
#2. Utah: 63.1% of land
#3. Idaho: 61.9% of land
States with the least land owned by the federal government:
#1. Connecticut: 0.3% of land owned by the federal government
#2. Iowa: 0.3% of land
#3. Kansas: 0.5% of land
Copyright 2022 Stacker via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
This article delves into the intricate ownership and management of federal lands in the United States. As someone well-versed in this domain, the breakdown of agencies overseeing federal lands—such as the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Forest Service (FS), Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), National Park Service (NPS), and the Department of Defense (DOD)—aligns with my understanding.
The figures presented, such as the federal government owning 27.1% of U.S. land and the specific percentages managed by each agency, corroborate established statistics regarding federal land ownership. The nuanced explanation of land distribution across states, like Nevada's federal ownership of 80.1% of its land, underscores the varied landscape management strategies across the nation.
Furthermore, the historical context provided regarding the acquisition and retention of federal land, dating back to the country's expansion and land transfer to state governments, reflects the evolving narrative of land management policies.
To delve deeper into the concepts mentioned:
- Federal Land Ownership: Understanding the extent (27.1% of total land) and purposes (preservation, recreation, resource development) of federal land management.
- Federal Land Management Agencies: Insights into the roles of agencies like BLM, FS, FWS, NPS, and DOD in overseeing public lands, each with distinct responsibilities and areas of focus.
- Land Ownership by State: Recognizing the significant disparities in federal land ownership across states, with Nevada, Utah, and Idaho topping the list, while Connecticut, Iowa, and Kansas possess minimal federal land.
- Historical Land Transfer: The evolution of federal land ownership policies from expansion-era acquisitions to the modern emphasis on retention.
- Public Perception and Economic Impact: Acknowledgment of the public's perception regarding the advantages of public lands for recreation and economic benefits to localities.
The ongoing debate about federal versus state land control, including discussions in Congress about potential land transfers, reflects the contemporary political and administrative considerations entwined with land ownership and management policies.
This topic intersects with various fields, including environmental science, public policy, economics, and political science. Discussions surrounding the allocation and management of federal lands continue to shape both local and national landscapes, necessitating informed conversations and strategic decision-making.
