Records of the Bureau of Land Management [BLM] 
(Record Group 49) 1685-1989 (bulk 1770-1982) 59,666 cu. ft.
gopher://gopher.nara.gov:70/00/inform/guide/10s/rg049.txt

49.9 RECORDS OF DISTRICT LAND OFFICES 1800-1964 3,255 lin. ft.

History: For most of the active period of public land settlement, district land
offices were the basic operating units that conducted the business of
transferring title. All transactions relative to the disposal of public land
within a declared land district were handled through its land office by
officials designated as registers, who recorded land applications, and
receivers, who accepted payments for land and issued receipts. The position of
receiver was abolished, July 1, 1925, and the functions devolved upon the
register, whose title was changed to "manager" by Reorganization Plan No. III of
1946, effective July 16, 1946.

The first of 362 land offices was opened at Steubenville, OH, on July 2, 1800;
the last at Newcastle, WY, on March 1, 1920. The peak year for land offices was
1890, with 123 in operation. The subsequent closing of the public domain
gradually reduced the number of land offices, until, in 1933, only 25 offices
remained. Under BLM, the district land offices and their functions were
integrated into regional administrative structures, becoming, variously,
elements (sometimes styled land offices) in the regional office hierarchies or
components of multifunction district offices. The process was concluded by BLM
Circular 2342, May 2, 1973, which formally discontinued use of the term "land
offices." Records described below include some created by successor
organizational units, but assigned by GLO and BLM to series begun by district
land offices.

49.9.1 Records of Alabama land offices

Textual Records (in Atlanta): Records of the Cahaba land office (1819-56),
consisting of receipt stubs for land sales, 1851-54. Records of the Mobile land
office (1869-79), consisting of press copies of letters sent, 1880-83, 1890-92.
Records of the Huntsville land office (1811-61, 1867-1905) and its predecessor
at Nashville, TN (1809-11), consisting of record of Creek reservations under the
Treaty of 1832, 1840-54. Records of the St. Stephens land office (1806-61),
consisting of record of preemption rights confirmed by the old Board of
Commissioners, 1805-33.

49.9.2 Records of Alaska land offices

Textual Records (in Anchorage): Records of the Rampart land office (1900-1) and
its predecessor at Circle City (1898-1900), consisting of register and tract
books, 1899-1901. Records of the Juneau land office (1902-23), consisting of
register and tract books, 1902-19. Records of the St. Michael land office
(1900-1) and its predecessors at Nukalo (1898), Weare (1898), and Rampart
(1898-1900), consisting of register and tract books, 1898-1902. Records of the
Sitka land office (1885-1902), consisting of register and tract books,
1885-1909. Records of the Anchorage land office (1923-73), consisting of
register and tract books, 1914-64. Records of the Fairbanks land office
(1907-73), consisting of register and tract books, 1911-64.

49.9.3 Records of Arizona land offices

Textual Records (in Los Angeles): Records of the Phoenix land office (1905-50)
and its predecessors at Florence (1873-81) and Tucson (1881-1905), including
correspondence with the Commissioner, 1880-1943 (88 ft.); rights-of-way case
files, 1882- 1958; tract books, 1873-1908; records of the receiver, 1873-1942;
and records of land entries, 1870-1930, including serialized land entry case
files, 1908-22 (48 ft.). Records of the Prescott land office (1868-1905),
consisting of land entry records, 1870-1908.

49.9.4 Records of Arkansas land offices

Textual Records (in Fort Worth): Records of the Dardanelle land office
(1871-1909) and its predecessor at Clarkesville (1839-61, 1867-71), consisting
of letters sent, 1857-59. Records of the Champagnolle land office (1845-61),
consisting of record of lands located with military bounty land warrants and
fees collected, 1857-61. Records of the Little Rock land office (1821-60, 1866-
1933), including contest dockets and records of the proceedings of the United
States Commission for the Disposal of the Hot Springs Reservation of Arkansas,
1877-79.

49.9.5 Records of California land offices

Textual Records: Records (in San Francisco) of the Eureka land office
(1899-1925) and its predecessor at Humboldt (1858-99), including registers of
applications for mineral lands, 1858-1907; records of the receiver, 1873-1907;
register of patents delivered, 1884-1914; schedules of Indian allotments for the
Hoopa, Klamath, and Round Valley Indian Reservations, 1883-1913; and unpatented
land entry case files, 1908-24. Records (in San Francisco, except as noted) of
the Independence land office (1887-1925) and its predecessors at Aurora, NV
(1869-73), Independence (1873-78), and Bodie (1878-87), including registers of
applications for mining patents, 1871-1908; records of the receiver, 1873-1907;
records of land entries, 1905-24; and (in Los Angeles) rights-of-way case files,
1903-29. Records (in Los Angeles) of the Los Angeles land office (1853-65,
1869-1961), including letters sent, 1853-80, letters received, 1853-1919, and
correspondence of the register, 1883-1928; tract books, 1881- 1936; decision
letters from the Commissioner, 1931-48 (34 ft.); records of the receiver,
1863-1938; consolidated file of letters received by the register and receiver
From the Commissioner and Assistant Commissioner, 1885-1964; records relating to
rights-of- way, 1878-1959; and records relating to land entries, 1859-1964,
including case files of the Interior Department's Division of Investigation,
1928-52. Records (in San Francisco) of the Marysville land office (1855-1925),
including registers of applications for mineral patents, 1867-1905; registers of
mineral entries, 1867-1911; registers of mineral lands sold, 1883-1907; and
record of patents delivered, 1884-1925. Records (in San Francisco) of the
Redding land office (1890-1925) and its predecessor at Shasta (1870-90),
including registers of mineral applications and mineral entries, 1871-1908;
records of patents delivered, 1860-1914; and records of land entries, 1906-24.
Records (in San Francisco) of the Sacramento land office (1867- 1945), including
registers of mineral entries, mineral applications, and mining claims,
1867-1908. Records (in San Francisco) of the San Francisco land office (1911-27)
and its predecessors at Benicia (1853-57), San Francisco (1857-1906), and
Oakland (1906-11), including correspondence of the register, 1908-13, and
receiver, 1908-14; and land entry case files, 1908- 27. Records (in San
Francisco) of the Stockton land office (1858- 1906), including registers of
mineral applications and entries, 1866-1906; record of delivered patents,
1861-1906; record of canceled applications, 1905-45; and township survey plat
book with amended survey plats, Mount Diablo Meridian, 1856-1908. Records (in
San Francisco) of the Susanville land office (1871- 1925), including registers
of mineral applications and entries, 1871-1908; a timber trespass docket that
includes entries for WI, 1903-4, and CA, 1904-6; and land entry case files,
1908-26. Records (in San Francisco, except as noted) of the Visalia land office
(1858-1927), including a register of school land locations, 1861-94; records
relating to mining land entries and patents, 1873-1906; land entry case files,
1908-28; and (in Los Angeles) rights-of-way case files, 1925-28.

Maps (504 items, in San Francisco): Mount Diablo Meridian mining entry survey
plats, 1873-84 (25 items); Humboldt Meridian township maps, 1856-94 (35 items);
and forest homestead survey plats, 1904-6 (48 items), maintained by the Eureka
land office. Power project survey maps, 1916-27 (50 items), maintained by the
Independence land office. Homestead survey plats and accompanying field notes,
1912-35 (250 items); and Indian allotment plats, Hoopa Valley, 1915-25 (6
items), and Klamath National Forest, 1928-36 (40 items), maintained by the
Sacramento land office. Amended survey plats, 1856-1908 (50 items), maintained
by the Stockton land office. SEE ALSO 49.16.

49.9.6 Records of Colorado land offices

Textual Records (in Denver): Records of the Akron land office (1890-1905),
consisting of a register of homestead entries, 1890- 1905. Records of the
Central City land office (1868-94), including tract books, 1868-94; and
registers of homestead entries, coal land cash entries, mineral entries, and
timber culture entries, 1868-94. Records of the Del Norte land office
(1875-1925), including tract books, 1875-1925; registers of homestead entries
and mineral entries, 1875-1915; abstracts of desert land entries and final
certificates, 1891-1908; and canceled serialized land entry case files,
1890-1924. Records of the Denver land office (1864-1949) and its predecessor at
Golden City (1863-64), including Commissioner's letters, 1934-47; miscellaneous
correspondence, 1942-52; tract books, 1863-1949; serial register books, 1908-49;
registers of homestead entries, mineral entries, and timber culture entries,
1863-1908; and canceled serialized land entry case files, 1912-15. Records of
the Durango land office (1882-1925), including registers of letters received
From the Commissioner, 1889-1908; tract books, 1882-1925; serial register books,
1908-25; registers of homestead entries, mineral entries, and timber culture
entries, 1882-93; and abstracts of desert land entries, 1892-1908. Records of
the Glenwood Springs land office (1884-1927), including Commissioner's letters,
1922-48; serial register books, 1908-27; and registers of homestead entries,
mineral entries, timber culture entries, and desert land entries, 1884-1908.
Records of the Gunnison land office (1883-1907), including registers of cash
entries, homestead entries, mineral entries, timber culture entries, and desert
land entries, 1883-1907. Records of the Hugo land office (1890-1922), including
tract books, 1890-1922; serial register books, 1908-22; and registers of cash
entries, homestead entries, timber culture entries, and desert land entries,
1880- 1908. Records of the Lamar land office (1887-1925), including registers of
letters received from the Commissioner, 1894-1908; tract books, 1887-1925;
serial register books, 1908-25; registers of homestead entries, timber culture
entries, and desert land entries, 1887-1908; and canceled serialized land entry
case files, 1913-24. Records of the Leadville land office (1879-1925) and its
predecessor at Fair Play (1867-79), including Commissioner's letters, 1920-25;
correspondence relating to national forests, 1907-23; serial register books,
1908-25; registers of cash entries, mineral entries, and timber culture entries,
1869-1909; and canceled serialized land entry case files, 1908-25. Records of
the Montrose land office (1888-1925) and its predecessor at Lake City (1877-88),
including Commissioner's letters, 1922-25; tract books, 1877-1925; serial
register books, 1908-25; and registers of homestead entries, mineral entries,
timber culture entries, and desert land entries, 1875-1908. Records of the
Pueblo land office (1871-1950), including Commissioner's letters, 1930-48; tract
books, 1871- 1949; serial register books, 1908-49; registers of cash entries,
homestead entries, mineral entries, and timber culture entries, 1871-1908; and
registers of entrymen, 1885-1908. Records of the Sterling land office
(1890-1925), consisting of serial register books, 1908-25; registers of patents
delivered, n.d.; and abstracts of homestead and desert land entries, 1890-1908.

49.9.7 Records of Florida land offices

Textual Records (in Atlanta): Records of the Gainesville land office
(1873-1933), consisting of lists of offered lands, 1879; and letters received by
registers and receivers, 1932-33.

49.9.8 Records of Idaho land offices

Textual Records (in Seattle): Records of the Boise land office (1867-1927),
consisting of registers of cash sales, 1897-1908; and registers of land entries,
1869-1908. Records of the Blackfoot land office (1886-1948) and its predecessor
at Oxford (1879-86), consisting of registers of cash sales, 1899-1906; and
registers of land entries, 1888-1908. Records of the Hailey land office
(1883-1925), consisting of registers of cash sales, 1883- 1909; and registers of
land entries, 1883-1908. Records of the Coeur d'Alene land office (1885-1948),
consisting of registers of cash sales and land entries, 1885-1908. Records of
the Lewiston land office (1867-1925), consisting of registers of cash sales,
1877-1906; and registers of land entries, 1874-1908.

49.9.9 Records of Illinois land offices

Textual Records (in Chicago): Records of the Chicago land office (1835-55),
consisting of abstracts of cash entries, 1835-55; and abstracts of warrant
locations, 1847. Records of the Danville land office (1831-56), consisting of
cash certificates, 1833-56. Records of the Dixon land office (1840-55),
consisting of cash certificates, 1841-55. Records of the Edwardsville land
office (1816-55), including cash certificates, 1816-49; declarations, 1821-22;
and relinquishments, 1821-29. Records of the Dixon land office (1840-55) and its
predecessor at Galena (1835-40), consisting of cash certificates, 1835-41.
Records of the Kaskaskia land office (1809-55), including applications to
purchase, 1814-18; cash certificates, 1820-55; credit system receipts, 1814-20;
and relinquishments, 1828-29. Records of the Palestine land office (1821-55),
consisting of cash certificates, 1821-51. Records of the Quincy land office
(1831-55), consisting of cash certificates, 1831-55. Records of the Shawneetown
land office (1814-55), consisting of cash certificates, 1820-55. Records of the
Springfield land office (1823-76), consisting of cash certificates, 1823-76.
Records of the Vandalia land office (1821-55), consisting of cash certificates,
1821-55.

49.9.10 Records of Indiana land offices

Textual Records (in Chicago): Records of the Crawfordsville land office
(1823-53) and its predecessor at Terre Haute (1820-23), consisting of cash
certificates, 1820-53. Records of the Fort Wayne land office (1823-52),
consisting of cash certificates, 1823-53. Records of the Indianapolis land
office (1825-76) and its predecessor at Brookville (1820-25), consisting of cash
certificates, 1820-76; and abstracts of warrant locations, 1847- 69. Records of
the land office at Jeffersonville (1808-55), consisting of cash certificates,
1820-54; credit certificates, 1808-11; and abstracts of warrant locations,
1847-55. Records of the land office at Winamac (1840-55) and its predecessor at
Laporte (1833-39), consisting of cash certificates, 1836-55; and cash
certificates and warrant locations, 1833-54. Records of the Vincennes land
office (1807-61), consisting of cash certificates, 1820-59; credit applications,
1808-11; receivers returns, 1807- 17; and abstracts of warrant locations,
1847-55.

49.9.11 Records of Iowa land offices

Textual Records (in Kansas City): Records of the Burlington- Fairfield land
office (1838-55), including receipt registers, 1840-57; registers of
certificates, 1836-55; and abstracts of military warrants, 1847-55. Records of
the Chariton land office (1853-59), including abstracts of military warrant
locations, abstracts of land sold, and registers of certificates, 1853-59.
Records of the Council Bluffs land office (1855-73) and its predecessor at
Kanesville (1853-55), including abstracts and registers of receipts, 1853-73;
abstracts of military warrant locations, 1853-71; and a register of homestead
entries, 1853-63. Records of the Osage land office (1856-59) and its predecessor
at Decorrah (1855-56), including abstracts of military warrant locations,
1855-59. Records of the (Fort) Des Moines land office (1852-1910), including
registers of certificates issued to cash purchasers, 1853-1909; abstracts of
military warrants, 1853-80; and registers of entries, receipts, and final
certificates for homesteads, 1863-1908, and timber culture, 1874-1902. Records
of the Dubuque land office (1843-59) and its predecessors at Dubuque (1838-43)
and Marion (1843), including registers of certificates issued to land
purchasers, 1838-54; abstracts of land sold, 1854- 55; abstracts of military
warrant locations, 1848-59; and town lot appraisals, Peru (Dubuque County), IA,
December 1886. Records of the Fort Dodge land office (1855-73), including
abstracts of land sold, 1855-72; registers of receipts, 1857-73; and registers
of homestead entries, receipts, and certificates, 1863-73. Records of the Iowa
City land office (1846-56), including abstracts of land sold, 1846-56; and
registers of receipts, 1846- 56, and final certificates, 1853-56, issued to cash
purchasers. Records of the Sioux City land office (1849-78), including abstracts
of military warrant locations, 1849-74; registers of homestead entries,
receipts, certificates, and declarations, 1863-78; and registers of timber
culture entries and receipts, 1873-78.

49.9.12 Records of Kansas land offices

Textual Records (in Kansas City): Records of the Colby land office (1893-1908)
and its predecessor at Oberlin (1880-93), including homestead entry papers,
1881-98; records relating to contested claims, 1885-97; declaratory statements,
1884-90; and records relating to rejected homestead entries, 1894-99. Records of
the Concordia land office (1870-89), including correspondence, 1871-87;
declaratory statements and filing receipts, 1871-74; homestead entry papers,
1871; and agricultural college scrip records, October 1871. Records of the Dodge
City land office (1893-1919) and its predecessor at Garden City (1881-93),
including declaratory statements, 1885-91; and papers relating to homestead
contests, cancellations, and relinquishments, ca. 1900- 19. Records of the
Independence land office (1872-89) and its predecessors at Fort Scott (1857-61),
Humboldt (1861), Mapleton (1861-62), Humboldt (1862-71), and Neodesha (1871-72),
including letters received, 1857-89; correspondence relating to Osage ceded
lands, 1867-89, cash entries, 1870-89, and military bounty land warrant claims,
1872-88; declaratory statements, 1857-86, and filing receipts, 1868-75; purchase
applications, 1862-88; cash entry register, 1857-65; and homestead entry papers,
1865-89. Records of the Kirwin land office (1875-93) and its predecessor at
Cawker City (1872-75), including declaratory statements, 1872- 88, and filing
receipts, 1872-84; and homestead entry papers, 1872-87. Records of the Larned
land office (1874-93), including canceled checks, 1880; and cash entry papers,
1884-87. Records of the Salina land office (1871-93), and its predecessors at
Ogden (1857-59) and Junction City (1859-71), including a register of homesteads,
1863-70; and homestead entry papers, 1872-89. Records of the Topeka land office
(1861-1925) and its predecessor at Lecompton (1854-61), including letters
received, 1866-1901; correspondence relating to Osage ceded lands, 1882-91;
circulars received, 1853-89; financial records, 1861-85; declaratory statements,
1874-89, and filing receipts, 1867-72; homestead entry papers, 1865-90; military
bounty land papers, 1863-92; timber culture claims, 1883-89; and papers relating
to homestead contests, cancellations, and relinquishments, ca. 1900-25. Records
of the Wichita land office (1872-89) and its predecessor at Augusta (1870-72),
including letters received, 1872-89; correspondence relating to Osage ceded
lands, 1872-89; declaratory statements, 1872-86, and a filing receipt, 1871;
records relating to contested claims, 1872-89, and preemption claims, 1872-86;
papers relating to cash entry, 1872-89, homestead entry, 1872-88, and timber
culture claims, 1876-89; and Oklahoma land rush affidavits, 1892. Records of the
Wakeeny land office (1879-1905) and its predecessor at Hays City (1874-79),
consisting of a single declaratory statement, 1878; a contest affidavit, 1890; a
contested claim case docket sheet, 1891; and a tract book entry, 1890.

Maps (7 items, in Kansas City): Plat maps of Pawnee, Ford, Comanche, Pratt,
Barber, Barton, and Rice Counties, published in the 1874 annual report of the
Kansas Board of Agriculture, and used by the Larned land office, 1875. SEE ALSO
49.16.

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