Texas is the only public-land state with complete control over its public lands and over the proceeds resulting from the administration and sale of lands.
I was curious about what the the term public land state referred to and the following link to the Bureau of Land Management's manual of surveying instructions popped up.
- Click here for it.
It doesn't mention Texas, but it does provide thumbnail info about how the lands for 30 state were acquired and where the official records related to the land acquisition are held. Here are a few samples related to Texas:
Colorado. Acquired largely under the Louisiana Purchase in 1808, but including additional land, title to which was quieted through treaty with Spain, in 1819, with other lands annexed with Texas in 1845, and lands ceded by Mexico in 1848; admitted into the Union August 1, 1876 (18 Stat. 474; 19 Stat. 665); records in the State Office of the Bureau of Land Management in Denver.
New Mexico. Included in the lands annexed with Texas in 1845, with lands ceded by Mexico in 1848, and the Gadsden Purchase in 1853; admitted into the Union January 6, 1912 (36 Stat. 557, 37 Stat. 1723); records in the State Office of the Bureau of Land Management at Santa Fe.
Wyoming. Included with lands acquired under the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, with lands annexed with Texas in 1845, with lands included in the Oregon Territory, title to which was established in 1846, and with lands ceded by Mexico in 1848; admitted into the Union July 10, 1890 (26 Stat. 222); records in the State Office of the Bureau of Land Management at Cheyenne.
For a link to the entire document click here.
For the Bureau of Land Management click here.
And here's the BLM's Wikipedia Page.
In a previous post I pointed out that the national government owns all of the land in red below:
