History of the Roseburg Forest District and the O&C

The O&C lands in Western Oregon have been aptly described as Oregons forest checkerboard. The checkerboard pattern was created in 1866 when Congress granted to the Oregon and California Railroad Company all the odd numbered sections, non-mineral in character, in a strip extending 20 miles on each side of the railroad right-of-way. Because much of the land within the 40 mile strip was previously patented through sale or homesteading, the company was granted additional odd numbered sections in a strip extending 10 miles farther on each side of the original grant.