“Actually, one of the largest potato farms in the U.S. is a fifth-generation family farm that started with one of these Idaho homesteads.”

By the early 1900s, homesteading had become a major part of Idaho’s land history. Under the Homestead Act, settlers could claim federal land by living on it, working it and making the required improvements. More than 60,000 successful claims eventually covered nearly 9.7 million acres, or about 18 percent of the state.

Besides a significant portion of Idaho’s property history ultimately tracing back to these homestead patents, there was another result from the abundance of homesteading.

When first settled, Idaho was very dry. As more settlers cultivated their land, the need for irrigation grew. Canals, dams and irrigation systems helped turn large stretches of Idaho into productive farmland. Today, Idaho is an agricultural powerhouse and the nation’s leading producer of potatoes, along with being a major producer of crops such as barley, sugarbeets and alfalfa. Actually, one of the largest potato farms in the U.S. is a fifth-generation family farm that started with one of these Idaho homesteads.

From a title perspective, it’s an interesting chain to follow. A modern property record may be the latest chapter in a story that started with someone claiming a piece of land and trying to make a life on it. Or, you might know who to thank for your potato chips!

Angela Sharp

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