Editing Homestead Acts (section)

==== Small Tracts Act ====
In 1938 Congress passed a law, called the Small Tract Act (STA) of 1938, by which it is possible for any citizen to obtain certain lands from the Federal Government for residence, recreation, or business purposes. These tracts may not usually be larger than 5 acres. A 5-acre tract would be one which is 660 feet long and 330 feet wide, or its equivalent. The property was to be improved with a building. Starting July 1955, improvement was required to be minimum of 400 sq. feet of space.<ref name="bellesi">{{cite web |url=https://publicland.org/plf-archives/35_archives/documents/doc_1306_bellesi.html |title=BLM and the Small Tract Act in the Southern California Desert – A Brief History |author=Lou Bellesi |access-date=July 29, 2018}}</ref> 4,000 previously classified Small Tracts were offered at public auction at fair market value, circa 1958, by the Los Angeles Office of BLM.<ref name="bellesi" />
<!-- <nowiki><gallery mode=packed-hover>
Frank Sinatra Patent 1959.jpeg|Frank Sinatra's 1959 STA Land Patent
Wonder Valley Homestead Cabin.jpeg|STA “Jackrabbit” homestead cabin, Wonder Valley, California
Small Tracts Act Brochure - 1938.png|1938 BLM Brochure Cover, ''Small Tracts''
</gallery></nowiki> -->
<!-- ==Homesteading requirements==
The Homestead Acts had few qualifying requirements. A ''homesteader''<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thefreedictionary.com/homesteader |title=Homesteader |publisher=The Free Dictionary By Farlex |access-date=2012-06-29}}</ref> had to be the head of the household or at least twenty-one years old. They had to live on the designated land, build a home, make improvements, and farm it for a minimum of five years.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.legendsofamerica.com/ah-homestead.html |title=American History; The Homestead Act – Creating Prosperity in America |publisher=Legends of America |access-date=2012-06-29}}</ref> The filing fee was eighteen dollars (or ten to temporarily hold a claim to the land).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nps.gov/home/historyculture/abouthomesteadactlaw.htm |title=About the Homestead Act |publisher=National Park Service |access-date=2012-06-29}}</ref>  -->