the purpose of the maxwell land grant was encouraging settlement.
the purpose of the maxwell land grant was encouraging settlement.
what was the purpose of the maxwell land grant?
encouraging settlement
the lands covered in the maxwell land grant were originally tribal lands belonging to jicarilla apache indians. in 1885, helen hunt jackson's report for the bureau of indian affairs reported the jicarilla apaches numbered 850 located at cimarron agency, upon what is called “maxwell’s grant” in north-eastern new mexico. 









































the region of northern new mexico was claimed by spain in 1524, but there were few settlements east of the sangre de cristo range. in 1821, the government of mexico was established, and the new government retained the spanish policy of encouraging settlement by making land grants.









































section::::history.:beaubien and miranda.
maxwell land grant
maxwell land grant









































the maxwell land grant, also known as the beaubien-miranda land grant, was a mexican land grant in colfax county, new mexico and part of adjoining las animas county, colorado. this 1841 land grant was one of the largest contiguous private landholdings in the history of the united states. the new mexico towns of cimarron, colfax, dawson, elizabethtown, french, lynn, maxwell, miami, raton, rayado, springer, ute park and vermejo park, came to be located within the grant, as well as numerous other towns that are now ghost towns.









































section::::history.









































section::::history.:early days.
maxwell land grant