Land records · Parcel maps · October 7, 2026
Section 16 School Land: Why It Was Set Aside
What section 16 school land is: the section in each township reserved for public schools under early federal land laws, and how it is managed today.
Section 16 school land refers to the section numbered 16 in each township of the Public Land Survey System, which the Land Ordinance of 1785 reserved for the support of public schools. As new states were admitted, Congress granted them section 16 in each township, and in many later western states also section 36, and in some states sections 2 and 32 as well. States either sold these lands to fund schools or kept them as school trust lands, leasing them for grazing, farming, minerals, or development. School sections still appear on maps and in chains of title. This page is general land-records background, not legal advice.
Grants by era
| Era | Typical grant |
|---|---|
| Early states | Section 16 in each township |
| From mid-1800s | Sections 16 and 36 |
| Some southwestern states | Sections 2, 16, 32, and 36 |
Why section 16
Section 16 sits near the center of a township’s numbering grid, making a school site accessible to residents. See what is a section township and range.
In lieu selections
When a school section was already claimed, reserved, or not surveyed, states could select other land in lieu. These selections show up in land records as indemnity or in lieu lands.
Sale vs trust management
Many eastern and midwestern states sold school lands early, and proceeds went into school funds. Many western states kept large amounts as state trust land, managed to produce revenue for schools.
Records
State land offices keep records of school land sales and leases. County records include deeds from the state. Federal records show the grants and in lieu selections. See what is a land patent.
Section 16 today
In some states, section 16 lands are leased to private parties for long terms, sometimes with homes or businesses built on them. Mississippi, for example, has extensive section 16 leasing that funds local school districts.
Irregular townships
Near correction lines and fractional townships, section 16 may be smaller or missing, triggering in lieu selections.
Example
A rancher in a western state notices that sections 16 and 36 in the township are state land. The rancher leases section 16 for grazing from the state land board, while section 36 is leased for oil and gas development, with revenue going to the school trust.
Research tips
Check state land office maps, county GIS layers for state ownership, and old township plats marked with school sections.
Long-term section 16 leases
Where school land is leased for decades, homeowners may own their house but lease the land beneath it from the state or school district. Lease terms, rent reviews, and renewal rules affect value and financing. Buyers should get a copy of the lease and confirm how many years remain.
Bottom line
Section 16 school land was reserved for schools in each township under early federal law, with later states receiving additional sections. States sold some school lands and manage others as trust lands producing school revenue. Check state land office records and maps. Explore section grids via the Platbookmapper map.
Section 16 school land FAQ
What is section 16 school land?
A section reserved for schools in each township.
Did every state get section 16?
Most public land states did, with some getting more sections.
Can I lease section 16 land?
Often, through state land offices.
What are in lieu lands?
Substitute lands selected when school sections were unavailable.
Who manages school lands today?
State land boards or trust land offices.