Final answer:
Homesteading is not a popular way to get land in the U.S. today. The Homestead Act of 1862 allowed individuals to receive a parcel of 160 acres for improving the land within a period of five years. However, most of the free land available through homestead grants in the 1800s was of marginal value and isolated.
Step-by-step explanation:
Homesteading is not a popular way to get land in the U.S. today.
The Homestead Act of 1862 allowed individuals to receive a parcel of 160 acres for a nominal fee, in exchange for improving the land within a period of five years. However, most of the free land available through homestead grants in the 1800s was of marginal value and isolated. The desirable lands were sold or granted to developers, and the rest were purchased by those who had the financial means to secure fertile lands near a navigable river or railroad.
In the present day, land acquisition in the U.S. typically involves purchasing land or obtaining it through other means, rather than relying on homesteading.