New Mexico’s Largest Landowner Controls a Ridiculous 24,665,774 Acres

When most people think of large landowners, they automatically picture private landowners. Sometimes they are even wearing large cowboy hats, or even finely pressed suits. The largest landowner in New Mexico though, is actually the federal government, but how much land do they own? Follow along to learn more about New Mexico’s largest landowner, including how much land they control.

About New Mexico’s Largest Landowner

New Mexico’s largest landowner is the federal government. They own an astounding 24,665,774 acres. This means that the federal government owns over 30% of the land in the state! The state is about 77,766,400 acres. The federal government though is a broad landowner. While they own nearly a third of the state, not all the land is managed by the same organization or division.

The federal government divides control/ownership of the land into five different sectors. Firstly, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) manages about 13,500,023 acres of land. They are followed by the U.S. Forest Service, which controls 9,225,354 acres. Next is the Department of Defense which owns 1,139,371 acres. The National Park Service then manages 468,968 acres, while the Fish and Wildlife Service owns 332,058 acres. This isn’t surprising considering New Mexico is home to 15 National Parks and Monuments.

How Much Land Does the Federal Government Own in the U.S.?

The United States government owns a lot of land. According to the Federal Land Ownership: Overview and Data, the federal government owns around 640 million acres. This incredible number equates to 28% of the land in the country. The total federal land that the government manages varies depending on the state. While 24 million sounds like a lot, this is nothing compared to other states.

For instance, the federal government owns and manages about 60.9% of Alaska’s land. Although not as much as Alaska, 45.4% of California’s land belongs to the federal government. In some states though, the federal government owns less than one perfect. A perfect example of this is Iowa where the federal government only owns 97,509, which is 0.3% of the state’s land.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Elisabeth Bender/iStock via Getty Images