The following is an index of all the Homestead Applications on file with the Bureau of Land Management from 1820-1908, in accordance with the Homestead Act passed by Congress in 1820.  Although the records that I have seen do not offer much genealogical information, they do offer a unique insight into part of your ancestors life. They will usually give you the date on which the property was settled and what improvements were made to said property in order to obtain the land patent.

To obtain a copy of these records, follow the link to the BLM.  You must have the accession number to obtain a copy of these records which can be ordered on-line. Please check all possible spellings of your ancestors names as these records are arranged by the spelling found on the original document( i.e., Anderson, Andersen).

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