Title 43, Public LandsRelease 119-102
§858 Grants to Counties for Seats of Justice
Title 43 › CHAPTER 20 — RESERVATIONS AND GRANTS TO STATES FOR PUBLIC PURPOSES › § 858
Summary
Counties and parishes with public land get the right to one quarter section of land in each county at the lowest price the United States charges for public land, held in trust to establish the county seat. Money from selling each quarter must pay for public buildings in that county, after subtracting what was paid. The county seat must be fixed before adjoining public lands are sold.
Full Legal Text
Title 43, §858
Public Lands, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
There shall be granted to the several counties or parishes of each State and Territory, where there are public lands, at the minimum price for which public lands of the United States are sold, the right of preemption to one quarter section of land, in each of the counties or parishes, in trust for such counties or parishes, respectively, for the establishment of seats of justice therein; but the proceeds of the sale of each of such quarter section shall be appropriated for the purpose of erecting public buildings in the county or parish for which it is located, after deducting therefrom the amount originally paid for the same. And the seat of justice for such counties or parishes, respectively, shall be fixed previously to a sale of the adjoining lands within the county or parish for which the same is located.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
Codification R.S. § 2286 derived from act May 26, 1824, ch. 169, § 1, 4 Stat. 50.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
43 U.S.C. § 858
Title 43, Public Lands
Last Updated
Aug 21, 2026
Release point: 119-102