20. North Carolina
> Land owned by federal gov’t: 7.8%
> Federal land in state: 2.4 million acres (19th most)
> Agency owning most land: Forest Service (1.3 million acres)
> Federal employment as pct. of workforce: 1.6% (24th lowest)
The Fish and Wildlife Service, National Park Service, and Department of Defense, each control over 1% of the total landmass in North Carolina, well more than in most states. Still, slightly over half of North Carolina’s 2.4 million federal acres are owned by the Forest Service. This land is dedicated in part to the Pisgah National Forest on the western tip of the state.
19. Vermont
> Land owned by federal gov’t: 7.8%
> Federal land in state: 465,888 acres (14th least)
> Agency owning most land: Forest Service (410,654 acres)
> Federal employment as pct. of workforce: 2.2% (14th highest)
Along with New Hampshire, Vermont is one of only two states in the Northeast where over 7% of land is owned by the federal government. Over 88% of the 465,888 acres of federally owned land in Vermont are controlled by the U.S. Forest Service. The Green Mountain National Forest, managed by the FS, is the only federally managed national forest in Vermont. The second largest federal landholder in Vermont is the Fish and Wildlife Service, which manages 34,195 acres, followed by the Department of Defense, which owns 11,203 acres.
18. Virginia
> Land owned by federal gov’t: 9.3%
> Federal land in state: 2.4 million acres (20th most)
> Agency owning most land: Forest Service (1.7 million acres)
> Federal employment as pct. of workforce: 4.5% (4th highest)
The federal government owns 2.4 million acres of land in Virginia, or 9.3% of all land in the state. Largely through the George Washington and Jefferson National Forest, the U.S. Forest Service alone manages 6.5% of all land in the state.
Virginia is also home to multiple national monuments, historical parks, and trails that are under the purview of the National Park Service, which owns over 300,000 acres of land in the state. Through more than 100 bases, including Quantico, Fort A.P. Hill, and Fort Pickett, the Department of Defense also controls nearly 266,000 acres of land in Virginia.
17. Arkansas
> Land owned by federal gov’t: 9.4%
> Federal land in state: 3.2 million acres (17th most)
> Agency owning most land: Forest Service (2.6 million acres)
> Federal employment as pct. of workforce: 1.6% (18th lowest)
Arkansas is home to the Ouachita National Forest, as well as the Ozark-St. Francis National Forest. Largely through these federally-managed areas, the U.S. Forest Services owns 2.6 million acres of land in Arkansas, or 7.7% of all land in the state. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the only other federal agency with a substantial footprint in the state, controlling nearly 380,000 acres, or 12.0%, of all federal land in Arkansas. The Department of Defense, Bureau of Land Management, and National Park Service each control less than 1% of land in Arkansas.
16. Michigan
> Land owned by federal gov’t: 10.0%
> Federal land in state: 3.6 million acres (14th most)
> Agency owning most land: Forest Service (2.9 million acres)
> Federal employment as pct. of workforce: 1.2% (8th lowest)
Michigan is one of 16 states where the federal government owns at least one in every 10 acres of land. Largely through the Huron-Manistee National Forest, the U.S. Forest Service alone owns 2.9 million acres of land in the state. The National Park Service controls an additional 632,280 acres of land in Michigan through Isle Royale National Park and several other historic areas and scenic trails.
