The Homestead Act of 1862 encouraged western settlement in the United States by offering cheap public lands to settlers ('homesteaders') in return for their development of the land. Any adult citizen, or an immigrant who had filed an intention of US citizenship, could file an application for a homestead. They then had 5 years to move onto and settle the land, build a dwelling and improve the land. Upon fulfillment of these requirements, they could file for a patent for title from the federal government.
The vast majority of land grants were made in 16-acre (6.5 ha) squares to individual citizens for settlement. Although the government did not require individuals to cultivate crops on their new land, most homesteaders did so. Some also used their homesteads for livestock grazing and mining in addition.