Public lands whose sales revenue was to be used to support public education. From Increase Lapham's 1844 Geographical and Topographical Description of Wisconsin:

"One thirty-sixth part of the whole Territory, being the section numbered sixteen in each township, is set apart for the use of schools. These sections are reserved from sale by the general government, and are to be transferred to Wisconsin whenever she becomes a State. School Commissioners are appointed in each town to take charge of these lands, to lease them for a term of years and to attend to other matters relative to common schools.

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School Lands

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