Land ownership has quietly been one of the biggest sources of power in America, and that concentration continues today.

• In the 1800s, Congress handed over 174 million acres of public land to two railroad companies, and insiders in government got cheap or free shares in return for favorable laws and funding.
• Today a small number of mega landlords still control a huge share of the country's land.
• Private owners control about 60% of all U.S. land, giving them outsized influence over tax money, voting districts, and where resources go.
• Owning land has historically been, and still is, a direct path to controlling political and economic power.

Outlook: Expect continued scrutiny of large landowners and their influence over local resources, taxes, and political boundaries.