Public Trust Dossier · Illinois
The $38,000 Square Mile: Chicago's School Section
Section 16, Township 39 North, Range 14 East, Third Principal Meridian · The Chicago Loop (State St., Halsted St., Madison St., Roosevelt Rd.)
Loading the BLM survey grid…
Split-estate stack
| Surface | Sold: 140 of 144 blocks went at auction in 1833. |
|---|---|
| Retained | A few blocks, chiefly Block 142 at Madison and Dearborn, kept as school ground leases. |
| Today | Willis Tower, the LaSalle Street financial district and Union Station stand on the section. |
Custody timeline
| 1818 | Illinois Enabling Act grants Section 16 for schools. |
|---|---|
| 1821 | GLO survey plat of the Chicago River portage. |
| October 1833 | 95 citizens petition for sale; 140 blocks auctioned for $38,619.47 (about $60 an acre). |
| 1833–today | Block 142 pays ground rent to Chicago schools for about 190 years. |
Fiduciary ledger
| Sold in 1833 | 140 blocks for $38,619.47 |
|---|---|
| Kept | Block 142 and a few others, earning ground rent for schools |
| Modern value of the square mile | Over $100 billion (our brief's estimate; to be checked against Cook County records) |
Evidence vault
- 1821 GLO survey plat TO PULL
- 1833 School Commissioner's subdivision plat (144 blocks) TO PULL
- Illinois State Archives tract sales ledger, October 1833 TO PULL
- Cook County Assessor land valuation TO PULL
- BLM CadNSDI section outline LIVE ON THE MAP
Work in progress: the story above comes from our research brief. The original records in the vault are being pulled and checked now, and each line will link to its scan.
Look it up yourself: BLM General Land Office Records · BLM CadNSDI