donation land

American  

noun

1. land given free or sold on liberal terms by a state or the federal government, especially to encourage settlement in undeveloped areas.

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Etymology

Origin of donation land

An Americanism dating back to 1775–85

Example Sentences

When Reuben Kiger died around the turn of the century, he and Dollie still owned the original 1,100-acre donation land claim north of Corvallis plus several hundred acres on Kiger Island.

From Washington Times • Sep. 12, 2015

Along with his new wife, Mary, Daniel Morgan homesteaded a donation land claim in 1849 and began the backbreaking work of carving a farm out of the wilderness.

From Washington Times • Sep. 12, 2015

They lived for a time with John Thorpe’s family, and an 1850 census listed the Gormans as members of his household on his donation land claim in Polk County.

From Washington Times • Mar. 28, 2015

Close after him came Captain John H. Couch, who located a donation land claim where is now the northern portion of the city.

From In the Oregon Country Out-Doors in Oregon, Washington, and California Together with some Legendary Lore, and Glimpses of the Modern West in the Making by Putnam, George Palmer

Then Captain John H. Couch in 1845 located a donation land claim on what is now the northern part of the west side city.

From The Columbia River Its History, Its Myths, Its Scenery, Its Commerce by Lyman, William Denison