Land Run of 1891
| Date | September 22, 1891 |
|---|---|
| Location | Tecumseh, Oklahoma |
| Also known as | 1891 Oklahoma Land Rush |
The Land Run of 1891 was a set of horse races to settle land acquired by the federal government through the opening of several small Indian reservations in Oklahoma Territory. The race involved approximately 20,000 homesteaders, who gathered to stake their claims on 6,097 plots, of 160 acres (0.65 km2) each, of former reservation land.[1]
The settlement that took place in September 1891 included three land runs. On September 22, 1891, a land run was held to settle Iowa, Sac and Fox, Potawatomi, and Shawnee lands. A September 23, 1891 land run was held to settle Tecumseh, the predesignated location of the county seat of County B, later renamed as Pottawatomie County. Finally, on September 28, 1891, a land run was held to settle Chandler, the predesignated location of the county seat of County A, later renamed as Lincoln County.
These land runs also expanded Payne, Logan, Oklahoma and Cleveland counties.[1]
Background
The Indian reservation land was broken up through allotment following a proclamation by President Benjamin Harrison. Members of the tribe each received 160 acres (0.65 km2) of land.[2] The Iowa tribe settled for eighty-acre allotments for each of its 86 members.[3] The other tribes were awarded allotments of 160 acres per member. Once tribe members had each received an allotment, the remaining land was declared surplus, purchased from those tribes and put on the block for sale to settlers who took part in the land run at $1.25 per acre.[2] The Kickapoo tribe did not agree, so their land was not opened until 1895.[3]
References
- 1 2 Oklahoma Land Run Openings 1889-1907 (accessed June 10, 2010).
- 1 2 Green, Donald E., "Settlement Patterns," Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture (accessed June 10, 2010).
- 1 2 "Sac & Fox Opening." Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture. Wilson, Linda D. Retrieved September 10, 2014.