Spanish Land Grants Made in Iowa Territory
During the period when the present state of Iowa was part of Spanish Louisiana, Spanish authorities made several land grants and claims that the United States later had to address. These grants included significant tracts of land for mining and settlement. Julien Dubuque, a Frenchman, secured a large mining area from the Foxes in 1788 and subsequently received a formal grant from the Spanish government. Other notable grants include the Girard and Honori tracts, which also underwent complex legal challenges and transfers of ownership. These historical land grants provide insight into the early legal and territorial complexities of Iowa before it became part of the United States.
