Who are the Largest Institutional Landowners in the U.S.?
- Craig Kaiser
- Jan 13
- 7 min read
Updated: 2 days ago
Are you curious about who controls the vast expanses of American soil? Land ownership has always been a cornerstone of wealth and power, and in the United States, this holds especially true for a select group of institutional landowners. These entities, ranging from private families and corporate giants to investment groups and conservation organizations, command millions of acres of land across the nation.
Their influence extends far beyond mere physical space, impacting everything from local economies and housing markets to environmental conservation and agricultural production. In this resource, we will explore the largest institutional landowners in the U.S., unveiling the scope of their holdings while delving into the various ways that they use their properties.
Key Takeaways
Weyerhaeuser Company: 12.4 million acres (primarily timberland), used for timber production, wildlife habitat preservation, and renewable energy projects.
Rayonier: 2.7 million acres of timberland, focusing on sustainable forestry, recreational leases, and renewable energy production.
Sierra Pacific Industries: 2.4 million acres of timberland, emphasizing sustainable forest management and renewable energy through solar and wind leases.
The LDS Church: 2.3 million acres of land (primarily used for agriculture).
Green Diamond Resource Company: 2.2 million acres of timberland.
The Nature Conservancy: Over 2 million acres, dedicated to environmental conservation and habitat protection.
Organization Name | Approx. Acreage Owned in the U.S. |
Weyerhaeuser Company | 10.4 million acres |
Rayonier | 2.7 million acres |
Sierra Pacific Industries | 2.4 million acres |
The LDS Church | 2.3 million acres |
Green Diamond Resource Company | 2.2 million acres |
The Nature Conservancy | 2 million acres |
The Largest Institutional Landowners in the U.S.
Some of the largest institutional and corporate landowners in the U.S. have land holdings primarily composed of timberland that they use for a variety of purposes. However, these institutions and corporations own a variety of land types. The largest institutional landowners in the U.S. in 2025 are the Weyerhaueser Company, Rayonier, Sierra Pacific Industries, the LDS Church, Green Diamond Resource Company, and The Nature Conservancy.
1. Weyerhaeuser Company: The Timber Industry
The company that owns the most land in the United States is the Weyerhaeuser Company. Weyerhaeuser, a timberland giant, owns approximately 12.4 million acres of land in the U.S. and Canada. They own approximately 10.5 million acres in the U.S., primarily in the Pacific Northwest and Southern regions of the country. Originally founded in 1900, Weyerhaeuser has leveraged its substantial land holdings to become one of the world's largest private owners of timberland. The company’s vast tracts of forest are not just important for the timber industry; they also play critical roles in wildlife habitat preservation and carbon sequestration, contributing significantly to environmental sustainability. Weyerhaeuser also uses its land assets for community development, mining, natural gas, leasing for recreational activities, bioenergy, solar power, and wind power.
2. Rayonier: The Forest Products Leader
Rayonier, a notable player in the forest products industry, is another one of the largest corporate landowners in the United States. Rayonier owns and sustainably manages approximately 2.7 million acres of timberland spread across the Southern U.S. and the Pacific Northwest. Established in 1926, Rayonier has evolved from its initial focus on rayon manufacturing to becoming a prominent timberland real estate investment trust (REIT) following a merger with PotlatchDeltic Corporation in late 2025.
Rayonier’s vast forested properties are crucial for producing high-value wood products and fiber used in construction, paper, and other industries. Beyond commercial timber production, the company is committed to sustainable forestry practices, which include habitat conservation and enhancing forest health. Rayonier also engages in recreational leases, allowing the public to enjoy activities such as hunting, fishing, and hiking on its properties. Additionally, the company leases some of its properties for renewable energy production, including solar and wind farms. This multifaceted approach not only supports ecological resilience, but also contributes economically to the communities surrounding its lands.
3. Sierra Pacific Industries: The Timber Giant
Sierra Pacific Industries is the third largest corporate landowner in the United States with over 2.4 million acres of timberland. Operated by the Emmerson family, their land is largely located in California, Washington, and Oregon. The Emmerson family became America's largest private landowner in 2021 when they purchased 175,000 acres in Oregon from the Seneca Timber Company.
Sierra Pacific Industry's private forest lands are generally open to individual members of the public for recreational activities like biking, hiking, hunting, and skiing. The company is also committed to sustainable forest management practices, which include replanting and conservation measures to protect wildlife habitats. Additionally, the timber giant uses its land assets for logging operations to sustainably produce wood products and actively supports renewable energy production through solar and wind leases.
4. The LDS Church: Agricultural Titans
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, often referred to as the LDS Church or the Mormon Church, also ranks as one of the largest institutional landowners in the U.S. With an estimated land ownership of 2.3 million acres that is primarily used for agricultural purposes, the LDS Church's land holdings are dispersed across states like Utah, Florida, and Nebraska.
Unlike other nonprofits in the U.S., religious organizations don’t have to publicly report their income or assets, including real estate. It is estimated that the church owns an estimated $16 billion worth of property across the country, with around $2 billion of that being for agricultural land specifically. An estimated $134 million of that total is from their agricultural properties in Nebraska, putting them on track to surpass media mogul Ted Turner as the largest landowner in the state. The church employs its extensive acreage for various agricultural activities, including cattle ranching and crop production, contributing to its self-sufficiency mission and community-support initiatives. The church sees its land purchases as a force for good, an investment in agriculture “to generate long-term value to support the Church’s religious, charitable, and humanitarian good works,” said a Farmland Reserve spokesman.
5. Green Diamond Resource Company: Forest Products
The Green Diamond Resource Company oversees around 2.2 million acres of working forests across the western and southern U.S., making it one of the nation’s largest corporate landowners, with major holdings in Washington, Oregon, California, Montana, and the Southeast. The company is actively engaged in sustainable forestry, conservation, and carbon sequestration initiatives, with significant portions of its land managed under federal and state wildlife agreements. Over 1.5 million acres are under federal/state conservation agreements, and nearly 630,000 acres are in carbon projects.
6. The Nature Conservancy: The Conservation Stewards
The Nature Conservancy is the sixth largest institutional landowner in the U.S. and stands out among other large landowners due to its focus on environmental conservation. Founded in 1951, the organization began by focusing on purchasing as much land as possible in the name of conservation. Owning over 2 million acres of land across the United States, The Nature Conservancy aims to protect the most ecologically significant lands and waters. Their conservation efforts involve restoring degraded lands, preserving critical habitats for endangered species, and safeguarding natural resources for future generations to ensure that large tracts of land are managed sustainably and are protected from development and exploitation.
Other Companies with Large Land Holdings
Beyond the timber giants and a few nonprofits, there are a number of companies with large land holdings in the U.S., mostly in timber, agriculture, energy, and ranching. Other companies that owns large amounts of acreage in the U.S. include the Texas Pacific Land Trust, the Westervelt Company, and King Ranch, Inc.
Texas Pacific Land Trust: Texas Pacific Land Corporation (TPL), the corporate successor to the Texas Pacific Land Trust, controls roughly 880,000–900,000 acres in West Texas’ Permian Basin, ranking it among the state’s largest landowners. This extensive landholding is strategically positioned and generates income through oil and gas royalties, surface leases, easements, and water services, rather than direct extraction.
Westervelt Company: The Westervelt company owns approximately 600,000 acres of land across the Southeastern U.S. in Alabama, Mississippi, and Virginia. They are leaders in sustainable forestry, managing timberlands and providing environmental services across Alabama, California, and Colorado. Their operations span wood products, renewable energy, and wildlife management, all focused on responsible land stewardship.
King Ranch, Inc: King Ranch spans roughly 825,000 acres (about 1,289 square miles) in South Texas, ranking it among the world’s largest ranches- larger than the entire state of Rhode Island. Founded in 1853 and designated a National Historic Landmark, the ranch encompasses cattle operations, farmland, communities, and conservation areas.
How to Find Out Who Owns Land
Land ownership in the United States is dominated not only by individuals but also by corporations and organizations. These large landowners play significant roles in various industries such as agriculture, forestry, environmental conservation, and renewable energy production. Their extensive acreage also contributes economically and socially to local communities across the country. As these large landowners continue to shape the landscape of America, you might be curious about who owns the land in your area or how to find out who owns a specific parcel of land. Here are some ways to discover and learn more about land ownership in the United States:
Public Records: One way to find property owners is by searching public records. Most counties have an online database where you can search for ownership information using the property's address or tax ID number.
County Assessor's Office: If public records do not provide enough information, you can also visit your county assessor's office. They can provide you with a copy of the property's deed, which contains ownership information.
Company Websites: Some of these large institutional landowners, including Rayonier and Weyerhaeuser, provide the location of the properties that they own on their individual company websites.
Online Land Ownership Maps: Several online tools allow you to find the location of specific properties that individuals and organizations own, such as LandApp Pro. This platform provides nationwide land ownership information using official records and satellite imagery to create visual representations of land parcels and their owners.