0 someone who goes to live and grow crops on land given by the government, especially in the past: --
This act allowed homesteaders to acquire 160 acres of land by planting 40 acres of trees.
Its usefulness to nineteenth-century homesteaders, however, has made its seed widespread, and today is considered an unattractive nuisance.
The 27 homesteaders collect rainwater or haul water and use outhouses.
Initially, the colony thrived and expanded, attracting other homesteaders to the area.
Entrepreneurs saw the opportunity for development of business to serve the homesteaders and soon roads were built along with schools and churches.
With the passage of new homestead laws in 1909 enabling homesteaders to take out larger acreages, the area saw an influx of dryland farmers.
The roads then brought timber claimants and homesteaders, called locators, who were able to claim public lands.
Rail access brought homesteaders to the area in the 1870s.
