History of the Records

• Northwest Ordinance (1787)
  • Survey System (Township, Range, Section)
  • Rules for Transference
    • Parcel Size, Price, Description, Entry into Logbook
• Survey begins 1804
• Sales begin in 1814 at Shawneetown
  • 10 land offices open by 1834
  • 1 land office remaining open by end of 1856
  • Last land office (Springfield) closes 1876
• Records sent to Washington, D.C.
• Many records later returned to state agency

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