United States. General Land Office. Florida District

Dates:
Active 1824
Active 1890

Biographical notes:

The United States General Land Office was established in 1812. Its function was to survey and manage the public lands of the federal government. In 1824, the post of Surveyor General of the United States for the Territory of Florida was established to survey the public lands in Florida, using a township and range system with the base and meridian lines beginning at Tallahassee.

The selling of the surveyed federal lands began in 1825 in Florida. The Florida District General Land Offices were responsible for the handling of claims made for virgin and unsettled federal public lands.

The federal land offices in Florida were closed in 1907 and their records transferred to the State Land Office and the Commissioner of Agriculture (1907, Ch. 5611, Laws).

From the description of Survey field notes, 1824-1890. (Florida State Archive). WorldCat record id: 32414183

The United States General Land Office was established in 1812. Its duties were to survey and manage the public lands of the federal government. In 1824, the post of Surveyor General of the United States for the Territory of Florida was established to survey the public lands in Florida using a township and range system with the base and meridian lines beginning at Tallahassee.

The selling of the surveyed public lands in 1825. The Florida District General Land Offices were responsible for the handling of claims made for virgin and unsettled federal public lands in Florida.

In 1850, federal legislation for swampland selection (Ch. 84, 9 U.S. Statutes 519) was passed that granted to the State of Florida all of the unsold swamp and overflowed lands in the state. The state received patents to more than 20,000,000 acres of swampland to be sold to private individuals or appropriated by grant to railroad and canal companies or for internal improvements.

The federal land offices in Florida were closed in 1907 and its records transferred to the State Land Office and the Commissioner of Agriculture (1907, Ch. 5611, Laws).

From the description of Swampland selection records, 1851-1906. (Florida State Archive). WorldCat record id: 32413691

The United States General Land Office was established in 1812. Its duties were to survey and manage the public lands of the federal government. In 1824, the post of Surveyor General of the United States for the Territory of Florida was established to survey the public lands in Florida using a township and range system.

Florida is divided into nearly 1,700 townships, each of which is a square six miles by six miles. Township is also the name of the east-west axes (similar to latitude) which forms the northern and southern boundaries of any township. Range is the name of the north-south axes (similar to longitude) which forms the eastern and western boundaries. Each township is subdivided into square mile sections, numbered consecutively from 1 to 36.

A township is identified by its relationship to the intersection of the Tallahassee Meridian (the central north-south axis) and the Base Line (the central east-west axis). All townships are either Northwest, Southwest, Northeast, or Southeast of the intersection in Tallahassee.

The selling of the surveyed public lands began in 1825. The Florida District General Land Offices were responsible for the handling of claims made for virgin and unsettled federal public lands in Florida. The federal land offices in Florida were closed in 1907 and its records transferred to the State Land Office and the Commissioner of Agriculture (1907, Ch. 5611, Laws).

From the description of Township survey plats, ca.1823-1933. (Florida State Archive). WorldCat record id: 32414201

The United States General Land Office was established in 1812. Its function was to survey and manage the public lands of the federal government. In 1824, the post of Surveyor General of the United States for the Territory of Florida was established to survey the public lands in Florida, using a township and range system with the base and meridian lines beginning at Tallahassee.

The selling of the surveyed federal lands began in 1825 in Florida. The Florida District General Land Offices were responsible for the handling of claims made for virgin and unsettled federal public lands.

The federal land offices in Florida were closed in 1907 and their records transferred to the State Land Office and the Commissioner of Agriculture (1907, Ch. 5611, Laws).

From the description of Surveys of private claims, 1827-1853. (Florida State Archive). WorldCat record id: 32413505

The United States General Land Office was established in 1812. Its function was to survey and manage the public lands of the federal government. In 1824, the post of Surveyor General of the United States for the Territory of Florida was established to survey the public lands in Florida, using a township and range system with the base and meridian lines beginning at Tallahassee.

The selling of the surveyed federal lands began in 1825 in Florida. The Florida District General Land Offices were responsible for the handling of claims made for virgin and unsettled federal public lands.

The federal land offices in Florida were closed in 1907 and their records transferred to the State Land Office and the Commissioner of Agriculture (1907, Ch. 5611, Laws).

From the description of Florida tract books, ca.1824-1890. (Florida State Archive). WorldCat record id: 32414204

The United States General Land Office was established in 1812. Its function was to survey and manage the public lands of the federal government. In 1824, the post of Surveyor General of the United States for the Territory of Florida was established to survey the public lands in Florida, using a township and range system with the base and meridian lines beginning at Tallahassee.

The selling of the surveyed federal lands began in 1825 in Florida. The Florida District General Land Offices were responsible for the handling of claims made for virgin and unsettled federal public lands.

The federal land offices in Florida were closed in 1907 and their records transferred to the State Land Office and the Commissioner of Agriculture (1907, Ch. 5611, Laws).

From the description of Register of tracts purchased, 1825-1833. (Florida State Archive). WorldCat record id: 32414186

The United States General Land Office was established in 1812. Its duties were to survey and manage the public lands of the federal government. In 1824, the post of Surveyor General of the United States for the Territory of Florida was established to survey the public lands in Florida using a township and range system. Florida is divided into nearly 1,700 townships, each of which is a square six miles by six miles. The selling of the surveyed public lands in 1825.

The Florida Armed Occupation Act of 1842 (5 U.S. Statutes 502) was passed to encourage the settlement of Florida. The Florida District General Land Offices were responsible for the handling of claims made under this Act. The Act granted 160 acres of unsettled land south of the line separating townships 9 and 10 South (a line running East/West about three miles north of Palatka and about ten miles south of Newnansville) to any head of a family under three conditions: (1) the land selected could not be within two miles of a military post; (2) the settler must be able to bear arms and live on the land for five years; and (3) the settler must clear five acres and build a house.

The federal land offices in Florida were closed in 1907 and its records transferred to the State Land Office and the Commissioner of Agriculture (1907, Ch. 5611, Laws).

From the description of Armed Occupation Act permit files, 1842-1843. (Florida State Archive). WorldCat record id: 32413944

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Subjects:

  • Homestead law
  • Land grants
  • Public land sales
  • Spanish Florida claims

Occupations:

not available for this record

Places:

  • Florida (as recorded)
  • Newnansville (Fla.) (as recorded)
  • Palatka (Fla.) (as recorded)
  • Florida (as recorded)
  • Florida (as recorded)
  • Florida (as recorded)
  • Florida (as recorded)
  • Saint Augustine (Fla.) (as recorded)