Many small towns are experiencing a decline in population as people move from rural areas to urban areas. However, some economic development groups and governments in these struggling areas have decided to stay and work towards improvement. The Homestead Act of 1862 is no longer active, but there is still free land available in open areas, sometimes in literal open spaces. The town of Beatrice, Nebraska has passed a law called the Homestead Act of 2010.
Just like the homesteaders in the 1800s, the new pioneers need to be brave and willing to face challenges. They shouldn’t be afraid of building a home from scratch, living in a place without a Starbucks on every corner, or dealing with unpaved roads. In fact, the remote location and lack of infrastructure in Anderson, AK contributed to a failed land giveaway. If you’re not feeling restless after looking at the Google Maps aerial view of the large open areas around the small street layouts of these towns, then keep reading – these plots of land are available for anyone to claim.
Towns Where Land is Free
Marne, Iowa
Marne is a small town in southwestern Iowa. It has a population of around 149 people. The town is located about 60 miles away from Omaha and 80 miles away from Des Moines. The town was never large, with a population of 617 in 1875. However, the number of residents started to decrease significantly around the beginning of the last century, continuing through the 1910s and 1920s. “According to Mayor Randy Baxter, the decrease in family farms has a negative impact on rural areas like this.” “In the 1960s and 1970s, there were more small farms, and small towns provided support for people living in rural areas. However, those homes no longer exist.”
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New Richland, MN
New Richland is a small town in southern Minnesota with a population of about 1200. It is located 75 miles away from the outskirts of the Twin Cities. The town is known for its lake recreation opportunities and has several churches. If you feel like this is the kind of place you would call home, then you might want to consider a free lot that measures 86 feet by 133 feet. This lot is located in the Homestake subdivision on the northwest side of town. If someone wins a lot, they have to construct a house on the property within one year.
Kansas
Kansas offers a lot of free land that is made available by local governments and development groups. To help organize all the information, there is an online hub called Kansas Free Land.
“Many rural areas in Kansas have been losing population since 1900, so rural Kansas communities either struggle or disappear,” explains Jenny Russell, who works as the Republic County Economic Development Coordinator for Republic County in northern Kansas.
Also read: Discovered the Most Conservative Cities in North Carolina for 2024
Beatrice, NE
There is a city in southeastern Nebraska that benefited from the original Homesteading Act of 1862. Now, they have created a new version of what worked well in the past. The Homestead Act of 2010 allows people to claim free parcels of land on a first-come, first-served basis. Just like before, applicants need to live on their land for five years.
Muskegon, MI
The city and county of Muskegon, Michigan, with a population of 174,344, launched Muskegon 25 in the hopes of attracting industrial employers.Under this program, companies that create 25 or more full-time jobs will be given free industrial park property to build on, along with all necessary services. Furthermore, the industrial parks are located in low tax areas known as “Renaissance Zones.”
Curtis, NE
Curtis is called Nebraska’s Easter City because it has a famous Easter Pageant tradition that has been going on for 40 years. This community is located in southern Nebraska’s Medicine Valley and covers an area of 3.266 square kilometers. It has a population of approximately 832 people. The community is home to the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture and is only three minutes away from an airport.
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