President Abraham Lincoln signed the Homestead Act on May 20, 1862, and it went into effect on Jan. 1, 1863. It was officially repealed in 1976, although a 10-year extension allowed homesteading in Alaska until 1986.

Ten percent of the United States, or 275 million acres of land in 30 states, was transferred from federal to private ownership under the Homestead Act.

On the eve of statehood, in November 1889, 21 million acres were still available for homesteading in Dakota Territory.

Immigrants were required to become U.S. citizens, renouncing all foreign allegiances, in order to claim land under the Homestead Act.

To claim 160 acres of free land, a man or woman had to be the head of a household and at least 21 years of age.

Homesteaders had to pay an $18 filing fee and live on the claim for five years.

The law required a house (at least 10 by 12 feet) be built on the claim, and a minimum of 10 acres of land cultivated. A homesteader also could claim a quarter section (160 acres) by "timber culture," which required the planting and cultivation of 10 acres of timber.