U.S. DEPT. OF Ag 
ERA 
NATIONA) argos. 
SRARY 
‘Gs S. FOREST §5RVICE- 
PESEARCH NOTE 1S-44 
LAKE STATES FOREST EXPERIMENT STATION?) U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
Lou 
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_ Ownership of Commercial Forest Land in Minnesota, 1962 ° 
The relative amounts of Minnesota’s com- 
mercial forest land held by public and private 
owners has remained stable during the last 10 
years (table 1). In both 1953 and 1962 public 
agencies controlled 56 percent of the commercial 
forest acreage and private owners 44 percent. 
Within this generalization are many undercurrents 
of change — mostly of a minor nature. Exchanges 
between Federal and State, and between counties 
and the forest industry have tended to consolidate 
holdings somewhat. Land purchases have resulted 
in a few of the larger ownerships increasing in 
size. Fragmentation of parcels has been minor in 
Minnesota despite the development of recreational 
use. 
These are some of the conclusions drawn from 
the Third Forest Survey of Minnesota which was 
made from 1960 to 1963 by the Office of Iron 
Range Resources and Rehabilitation and this sta- 
tion in cooperation with other public and private 
agencies. In 18 northern counties, a 100-percent 
tally of ownership was made, and county owner- 
Table 1.--Area of commercial forest lands2/ py survey units and ownership, 
Minnesota, 1962 
(In thousand acres) 
Farmer and 
Survey All National ’ Forest 
‘ : NON: 9 5 4/? miscellaneous 
unit ownership . Forest public? industry privates’ 
Lake Superior 5,844.7 1,570.9 2,298.0 345.9 1,629.9 
Rainy River 2,103.2 8 1,572.4 207.8 322.2 
Central Pine 6,033.1 569.7 3,049.2 157.8 2,256.4 
Southeastern 1,900.9 - 179.8 2.9 1,718.6 
Western 1,180.1 = 298.4 8 880.9 
Total in 1962 17,062.0 2,141.4 7,397.8 714.8 6,808.0 
Total in 1953 18,098 .0 2,195.0 7,963.0 7,940.0 
Percent in 1962 100 12.5 43.4 4.2 39.9 
Percent in 1953 100 12.1 44.0 43.9 
1/ Forest land which is producing or capable of producing crops of industrial 
wood and not withdrawn from timber utilization. 
2/. Federal commercial forest land which has been designated by Executive Order 
or statute as National Forests or purchase units, and other lands under the 
administration of the Forest Service. 
Public lands other than National Forest lands, 
by Federal, State, or local public agencies, 
4/ Lands owned by companies or individuals operating wood-using plants, 
5/ Land privately owned by other than forest industry. 
6/ Privately owned lands other than forest industry or farmer-owned lands, 
including lands administered 
MAINTAINED AT ST. PAUL#4/A, MINNESOTA, IN COOPERATiON WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA 
