The United States is home to some of the world’s largest ranches and they span from coast to coast. From Montana to Texas, there are some incredible ranches that span hundreds of thousands of acres, and are home to a variety of different livestock. Here are the 10 biggest ranches in the USA, ranked by their acreage.
1. King Ranch – Texas. At 825,000 acres, King Ranch is the largest ranch in the US and one of the largest ranches in the world. It was originally founded in 1853 and is now owned by a family trust. It is divided into four divisions and is home to a variety of different livestock, including cattle, horses, and sheep.
2. Waggoner Ranch – Texas. At 535,000 acres, the Waggoner Ranch is the second-largest ranch in the US. It was established in 1849 by Dan Waggoner and is now owned by a family trust. It is home to a variety of different livestock, including cattle, horses, and sheep.
3. Pitchfork Ranch – Texas. At 510,000 acres, the Pitchfork Ranch is the third-largest ranch in the US. It was founded by Charles Goodnight in 1883 and is now owned by a family trust. It is home to a variety of different livestock, including cattle, horses, and sheep.
4. FT Ranch – Montana. At 480,000 acres, the FT Ranch is the fourth-largest ranch in the US. It was founded in 1881 by Nelson Story and is now owned by a family trust. It is home to a variety of different livestock, including cattle, horses, and sheep.
5. Bell Ranch – New Mexico. At 436,000 acres, the Bell Ranch is the fifth-largest ranch in the US. It was founded in 1824 by Francisco Maria Ruiz and is now owned by a family trust. It is home to a variety of different livestock, including cattle, horses, and sheep.
6. Matador Ranch – Texas. At 420,000 acres, the Matador Ranch is the sixth-largest ranch in the US. It was founded in 1882 by Captain Richard King and is now owned by a family trust. It is home to a variety of different livestock, including cattle, horses, and sheep.
Whats the biggest ranch in the USA?
The biggest ranch in the United States is the King Ranch in Texas. Located in South Texas, the King Ranch covers 825,000 acres, making it one of the largest ranches in the world. The ranch was founded in 1853 by Richard King and Gideon K. Lewis and is currently operated by the King Ranch Corporation.
The King Ranch is divided into four divisions, the Santa Gertrudis, Laureles, Norias, and Lasater, and has a staff of more than 2,000 employees. The ranch is home to a variety of animals, including cattle, horses, sheep, hogs, and turkeys. The King Ranch is also home to some of the best-known breeds of horses in the country, such as the Santa Gertrudis, a breed developed at the ranch in the 1940s.
The ranch is known for its high-quality beef, which is sold under the King Ranch brand. The ranch also produces a range of other products, including leather, wool, and dairy products. The ranching operation has been in operation for more than 150 years and is still family owned.
The King Ranch is also home to a variety of activities, such as hunting, fishing, bird watching, and horseback riding. Visitors can take guided tours of the ranch and its facilities, as well as learn more about the history of the King Ranch. Visitors can also take part in the ranch’s many activities, such as the annual King Ranch Rodeo, which is held in November.
The King Ranch is one of the most iconic ranches in the United States, with its vast acreage and its long history of successful ranching operations. It is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the King family and their staff, who have kept the ranch in operation for more than a century and a half.
Is King Ranch the largest ranch in the world?
At 825,000 acres, the King Ranch in south Texas, USA, is the largest working cattle ranch in the United States. It covers a staggering area of about 1,289 square miles, or the size of the entire state of Rhode Island.
The ranch was originally established in 1853 by Captain Richard King, a former steamboat captain who bought the land from the widow of the original owner and formed the ranch with his partner, Gideon K. Lewis. The ranch was named after King himself, and has grown substantially since then.
Today, the ranch is still owned and operated by the King family, now in its sixth generation of stewardship. It is a major contributor to the local economy, employing more than 5,000 people and generating millions of dollars in revenue each year.
The land is mostly covered by mesquite grasslands, but also includes wetlands, marshes, and woodlands. It boasts a wide variety of wildlife, including more than 500 species of birds, 40 species of mammals, and 300 species of fish.
The ranch is divided into eight divisions, each with its own vegetation, terrain, and wildlife. These divisions are managed for both economic productivity and conservation.
The ranch also serves as a major center for research and development, using advanced technologies to improve production and enhance conservation efforts. These efforts include artificial insemination, genetic testing, and drone technology, all of which are used to improve the quality of livestock and increase efficiency.
The King Ranch is also home to the King Ranch Museum, which showcases the history and culture of the ranch and its people. The museum features artifacts, photographs, and a library of books and documents related to the ranch.
While the King Ranch is the largest ranch in the United States, it is not the largest in the world. That distinction belongs to the Anna Creek Station in South Australia, which covers an area of more than 6 million acres. Nonetheless, the King Ranch remains one of the best examples of how large-scale sustainable ranching can be achieved. It is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the King family, and a reminder of the importance of preserving the land and its resources.
Who is the largest landowner in the United States?
When it comes to land ownership in the United States, the answer to the question of who is the largest landowner is a complex one. The US government, both at the federal and state level, owns large tracts of land across the country, including national parks, military bases, forests, and much more. However, the largest single landowner in the US is actually the billionaire John Malone.
John Malone is an American businessman, investor, and philanthropist, who is known for his role as chairman of Liberty Media and Liberty Global. He is estimated to be worth around $7.3 billion and is the largest individual landowner in the United States. He owns over 2.2 million acres of land in the US, stretching across 14 states. His landholdings include large swaths of Colorado, Maine, New Mexico, Wyoming, and other states.
Malone’s land holdings are primarily used for timber and ranching, and he is known to be a conservationist, who buys land to protect it from development and promote sustainability. He was instrumental in the protection of the Great Bear Rainforest in British Columbia, and his land holdings in Colorado have been turned into a wildlife refuge. He has also donated large tracts of land to the US government, to ensure that it is protected from development and kept in its natural state.
In addition to Malone, there are other prominent individuals who own large tracts of land in the US. Ted Turner, the media mogul, is estimated to own over 2 million acres of land in eight states. Philanthropist Stan Kroenke owns over 1.4 million acres of land in six states, and the heirs of William Randolph Hearst owns over 900,000 acres in California.
However, even these figures pale in comparison to the US government, which is estimated to own nearly 650 million acres of land, or 28% of the country. The federal government owns land in every state and typically uses it for national parks, forests, military bases, and other public uses. This makes the US government the largest landowner in the United States by far.
