How come BLM land is checkerboard with private land on mile square plots.

[johnnysau]

How come BLM land is checkerboarded with private land on mile square plots. Not sure how else to say it. BLM PRIVATE BLM PRIVATE
PRIVATE BLM PRIVATE BLM
Thanks johnnysau

 

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[Jim in Idaho]

When the transcontinental railroad was built, the government gave the railroads every other square mile within 10 miles of the tracks. it was a way to encourage the companies to make the investment and cost the government little. Later it was expanded to 20 miles in some places. The railroads sold some of the ground. There are still railroad-owned parcels you can buy pretty cheap, depending on location. Thus, you get alternating government land with private land, in a checkerboard pattern.
Jim

 

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