Meet the #1 Largest Landowner in All of Indiana

When it comes down to who the largest landowner in Indiana is, the answer may be a bit elusive. In fact, it’s unclear who specifically owns the most land in this state for a number of reasons. With only 36,000 square miles to own in all of Indiana, who considers the Hoosier State one of their largest investments? Besides federal and local government-controlled land, what type of land in Indiana is privately owned by this secretive investor?

Let’s uncover the answers surrounding the largest landowner in Indiana today. Not only will we address who this entity might be, but we will also discuss the types of land purchased by this landowner as well as their location. Plus, we’ll even address how much land the largest Indiana landowner owns! Let’s get started now.

The Largest Landowner in Indiana: Foreign Investors

With 345,000 acres owned from afar, foreign investors are technically the largest landowners in Indiana. However, these acres are spread across multiple foreign countries, investors, and locations. Some of these locations include Germany, the Netherlands, and even Canada. 

Indiana is known for its farmland, most of which is privately owned by residents within the United States and the state of Indiana itself. When we compare private, locally held agricultural land in Indiana to the amount of Indiana farmland owned abroad, the figure for investments from foreign entities is less than 2%. This means that the majority of land in Indiana isn’t owned by foreign investors, though the state has been noticing increases in that respect.

Interestingly, Indiana passed a law prohibiting foreign entities from purchasing more than 300-350 acres of farmland. However, the bill that was passed only applies to land designed for growing crops. Foreign investors can own however much land they like if it is for another purpose, such as real estate, animals, fruit, grazing land, and land dedicated to scientific research.

Where is the Largest Landowner in Indiana Located?

When it comes to the physical location of the largest landowner in Indiana, the answer grows unclear. Many figures suggest that unknown countries and locations own the most agricultural land in Indiana– nearly 200,000 acres. This means that it is unlikely that the “largest landowner in Indiana” is any single person. 

Germany is a foreign investor listed as the owner of over 80,000 acres within the state of Indiana. Italy is next on the list, owning a little more than 30,000 acres. The Netherlands follows closely behind, with Canada owning a small amount of Indiana acreage. However, unknown foreign investors still own more land than all of these other countries combined!

Here is the specific breakdown of foreign investor landownership acreage in Indiana:

345,000 Agricultural Acres: Type and Location of Investments Made By the Largest Indiana Landowner

Given the fact that foreign entities can only own so much land in the state of Indiana, there aren’t very many options for where these investors can purchase land. However, many agricultural acres in Indiana must’ve been purchased prior to the most recent bill passed in the state. 

For example, there are roughly 246,000 acres of Indiana cropland owned by foreign investors currently. The next largest amount owned abroad is pastureland, at 66,000 acres. Cropland is technically the type of land that is now restricted when it comes to foreign investors.

When it comes to the locations of agricultural land owned by foreign investors, there are a few standout counties. White County seems to be the top county when it comes to foreign-owned agricultural land. Nearly 75,000 acres within this county are owned by unknown entities.

Other counties with major foreign land investments include Randolph (48,000 acres), Tipton (44,000 acres), and Madison (25,000 acres). Interestingly, Germany owns the majority of the acres listed in both Tipton and Madison.

Kip Tom: the Largest Single-Person Landowner in Indiana

It’s worth noting that Kip Tom is the largest single-person landowner in Indiana. Tom is also a resident of the United States, having worked alongside the United Nations as a U.S. Ambassador for the Food and Agriculture Agency. 

Kip Tom currently owns nearly 20,000 acres of Indiana farmland. He is the owner and CEO of Tom Farms, a powerful force in Indiana’s agricultural community. However, some sources suggest that Kip Tom operates his farms on leased land. This may mean that Tom isn’t even the largest single individual landowner in the state of Indiana!

Despite so much mystery surrounding the topic, it’s clear that Indiana is a state full of agricultural opportunities. As the eighth largest agricultural exporter in the United States, generating over $35 billion from such a business, Indiana land is certainly an important investment!

The photo featured at the top of this post is © rarrarorro/ via Getty Images