The Digital Research Library of Illinois History Journal™ : Frontier settlement hierarchy by the number of residents.

Typical 19th Century Homestead

Throughout human history, few settlements could support a population greater than 100 people, and settlements were too small or scattered to be considered "urban." Services within these settlements, if any, were generally limited to the bare essentials: i.e. church, general store, blacksmith, post office, a doctor, volunteer fire brigade, etc.

Before 1800, the minimum homestead lot size was 640 acres. At the turn of the 19th century, the minimum lot size was cut to 320 acres. Settlers must make some improvements to the land, build a cabin or service structures, raise crops, raise livestock, etc. The price per acre remained fixed at $1.25 per acre ($400 total for 320 acres; $13,625 today) until 1854, when federal legislation was enacted establishing a graduated scale that adjusted land prices to reflect the desirability of the lot. Landowners were allowed to pay for the land in 4 installments.

19th CENTURY POPULATION TERMS

CITY (300K - >1M)

COUNTY (100K - 300K)

TOWN (10K - 100K)

TOWNSHIP (1K - 10K)

VILLAGE (200 - 10K)

HAMLET (<200)

SETTLEMENT (<100 Occup.)

ROADHOUSE / INN (<50 Occup.)

SALOON / TAVERN (<20 Occup.)