State Historical Society of Iowa

Iowa Public Television's "Iowa Land for Sale," 1977

Courtesy of Iowa Public Television, "Iowa Land for Sale," The Prairie Pioneers - Iowa Public Television, 1977

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Description

This video from Iowa Public Television describes how settlers purchased their land from the government, speculators and the railroads in the early 1800s. In brief, the government land was first sold for $1.25 an acre to speculators. In the 1850s, over 10 percent of all land in Iowa was given to the railroads. As settlers began to enter the state, they bought land from the speculators, directly from the government or the railroads.

Source Dependent Questions

  • When coming to Iowa, who could settlers buy land from?
  • In the mid-1800s, how much Iowa land did the U.S. government give to the railroads? What does that tell us about the importance of railroads in the mid-1800s?

Citation Information

"Iowa Land for Sale," The Prairie Pioneers - Iowa Public Television, 1977. Courtesy of Iowa Public Television Courtesy of Library of Congress

State Historical Society of Iowa

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