The Largest Landowner In Nebraska Owns A Ridiculous 549,346 Acres

Nebraska, also known as the Great Plains state, is very large. In fact, it is just over 77,000 square miles. However, while it is large in size, it is small in population. Although it is the 15th-largest state in the United States, its population is 1.96 million people. That may seem like many people, but that population places it as the 37th state in population. With all that land and so few people, who does the land belong to? Let’s find out.

The Largest Landowner in Nebraska

The largest landowner in Nebraska is, in fact, not an individual person. The largest landowner in Nebraska is the federal government. The entire state has 49.03 million acres, and the federal government oversees 549,346 acres of it. Four separate agencies work together to manage the land. 64.2% of the acres are managed by the U.S. Forest Service. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service owns the next highest amount at 31.9%. Third, the Department of Defense owns 1.8% of the acres, and the National Park Service owns 1%. 

What Is The Land Used For? 

Federal lands are lands that are owned or administered by the federal government. The federal government uses parts of the land for national parks and state recreation areas. Nebraska has three national forests, two wilderness areas, and five national historic trails. Additionally, federal land is managed for other purposes, such as conservation and development of natural resources and recreation. 

Why Is Federal Land Necessary?  

While some people may feel it is unnecessary to have federal land, it does serve great purposes. As stated above, it serves as recreational areas for people to enjoy and helps with wildlife conservation. Additionally, it assists with developing natural resources such as limited oil and natural gas. The idea and management of federal land was originally created to help protect lands and wildlife, protect public goods and services, and provide areas of recreation while constraining commercial activities. 

Federal Land by State

The federal government holds a lot of land in all 50 states. Below is a table that showcases the acres and land percentage owned by the federal government in each state.

The Second Largest Landowner in Nebraska 

While the federal government is the largest landowner, they are not a set individual. Ted Turner is the largest private landowner in Nebraska. Ted Turner owns 445,000 acres. Mr. Turner is one of the state’s largest and most prominent farmland owners. He has seven holdings in Nebraska and has continued to buy more and more acreage over the years. 

Who Is Ted Turner? 

Ted Turner is a philanthropist, environmentalist, and founder of CNN and Turner Broadcasting System. He is also the founder of Turner Enterprises, a private company that manages the two million acres in eight states and 45,000 bison that Ted owns, among other things. Ted and his enterprises feel we are responsible for caring for our planet, its people, and its wildlife. 

Ted’s Nebraska Ranches 

Ted Turner has multiple ranches on his acres in Nebraska. Those ranches include Blue Creek Ranch, Spikebox Ranch, McGinley Ranch, Fawn Lake Ranch, and Deer Creek Ranch. Below, you can find details about each ranch in Nebraska and its size.