Is most land in the US owned by somebody? What % is not owned (excluding national parks etc)?

Answer 1

The land surface of the United States covers 2.3 billion acres. Private owners held 61 percent in 2002, the Federal Government 28 percent, State and local governments 9 percent, and Indian reservations 3 percent (fig. 1.3.1).

Virtually all cropland is privately owned, as is three-fifths of grassland pasture and range and over half of forestland.

Federal, State, and local government holdings consist primarily of forestland, rangeland, and other land. Most land in Federal ownership—largely in the West—is managed by the Department of the Interior (68 percent) and the Department of Agriculture (28 percent).

Answer 2

I shoud not be susprised if vast stretches of land in the midwest was owned by corporate farms or ranchers, or even large real esate companies holding on to them. In some places the government does own large amounts of land but they are also willing to sell it. At the Backwoods Home magazine website you can find articles about government land sales if your looking for a unique spot or slightly discounted land to build on.

Answer 3

As a practical matter, none. The government used to have a program where people could "homestead" unowned land. Much used in the 1800s to settle the West. It ended about 40 years ago because there wasn't any land left to homestead.

Answer 4

i dont know about the percentage that is un owned but it seems to me that it is probably all "owned" by someone or the government, but on the other hand do we really own it? doesn't mother nature really own all of it?

if you really want to own a piece of land check out this website:

Answer 5

None of it isn't owned by anyone. The government owns everything that's not privately owned already.

Answer 6

I am guessing that there isn't any land that isn't owned by someone or another