1862 Land Grant Universities - Map

[SDSUFAN]

Re: 1862 Land Grant Universities - Map

Poke,
SDSUFAN, could explain this better, But I'll give my very short version. The Morrill Act established one land grant school in each state. They were established to promote agriculture (extension) among several other purposes, and interact more closely with the citizens of their respective states. The Govt. at that time established OSU in Stillwater as Oklahoma's land grant school. That is why OSU has the vet school, and ag programs. Again this is very general info. and could be elaborated on by several of our posters.

There is not much I can add except that SDSU has a unique story in that the power of the Dakota Territorial Legislature had shifted from Yankton in 1862 to Sioux Falls in 1880. Mr. Scobey the representative from the Brookings area had went to Yankton the territoral capital for the purpose of getting the state prison for Brookings area, but the Sioux Falls powers said no and gave him the land grant school instead.  I believe it was the original intent to have the land grant school located in Vermillion.  We have to be thankful for the Dakota Boom and incoming population for that not happening. Both USD and SDSU started classes around 1881 so apparently the legislature took their time in appropriating funds to start classes. (There probably is much more to this story)  Sometimes we don't know what we have until we give it away. ;D

Also many of the historically black colleges such as Southern are considered Land Grant Schools and were so designated with subsequent legislation. I dont know exactly how that came about, but it did.