This County’s Land Is Nearly Entirely Owned By Foreign Countries

24/7 Wall St. Insights Foreign land ownership in the U.S. rose 23.3% over the past decade, from 25.9 million acres in 2013 to 32.0 million acres in 2023. While some states have limited foreign land ownership, more than 50% of land in several counties are owned by foreign entities. The counties with the greatest proportions […] The post This County’s Land Is Nearly Entirely Owned By Foreign Countries appeared first on 24/7 Wall St..

May 5, 2025 - 12:29

This County’s Land Is Nearly Entirely Owned By Foreign Countries

24/7 Wall St. Insights

Foreign land ownership in the U.S. rose 23.3% over the past decade, from 25.9 million acres in 2013 to 32.0 million acres in 2023.
While some states have limited foreign land ownership, more than 50% of land in several counties are owned by foreign entities.
The counties with the greatest proportions of foreign land ownership are in the South and Midwest.
Also: Discover the next Nvidia

Concerns over foreign land ownership are as old as the Declaration of Independence, ebbing and flowing with the geopolitical tensions of the day. As foreign land ownership increased 23.3% over the past decade, from 25.9 million acres in 2013 to 32.0 million acres in 2023, several states enacted bills limiting foreign ownership of U.S. land or mandating stricter reporting requirements.

While foreign-owned parcels amount to just 1.4% of total land area in the United States, some counties are nearly entirely owned by entities from foreign countries. A variety of countries near and far have bought up cropland, forest, and pasture in counties throughout the country. Foreign landownership is highest in the South and Midwest. And while ally countries like Canada, the Netherlands, and Denmark are some of the largest foreign owners of U.S. land, China also ranks as one of the largest landowners of any foreign country. Smaller countries like Luxembourg and Liechtenstein also own some surprisingly large tracts. A closer look at the data reveals the countries where the most land area is owned by foreign countries.

To determine the counties with the most land area owned by foreign countries, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed data on U.S. landholding estimates by country from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act database. Counties were ranked based on the percentage of land area owned by individuals and entities from foreign countries as well as by the interests of U.S. corporations with foreign shareholders as of December 21, 2023. All data is from the USDA.

50. Hardin County, Ohio

Percentage of county owned by foreign entities: 19.0% (57,248 acres total)
Primary landholding type: Cropland (57,156 acres)
Total value of foreign-owned land: $114.6 million
Largest landowner countries: Canada, Germany, Portugal, Netherlands
County seat: Kenton

49. Angelina County, Texas

Percentage of county owned by foreign entities: 19.1% (105,482 acres total)
Primary landholding type: Forest (103,787 acres)
Total value of foreign-owned land: $160.8 million
Largest landowner countries: Canada, Portugal, Ireland
County seat: Lufkin

48. Tipton County, Indiana

Tipton, Indiana | Barn-Red barn-Corn field-Tipton County Indiana

Percentage of county owned by foreign entities: 19.1% (31,878 acres total)
Primary landholding type: Cropland (23,973 acres)
Total value of foreign-owned land: $123.0 million
Largest landowner countries: Germany
County seat: Tipton

47. Tyler County, Texas

Percentage of county owned by foreign entities: 19.3% (115,321 acres total)
Primary landholding type: Forest (112,259 acres)
Total value of foreign-owned land: $165.8 million
Largest landowner countries: Netherlands, Canada, Denmark, Switzerland, Luxembourg
County seat: Woodville

46. Hot Spring County, Arkansas

Percentage of county owned by foreign entities: 19.3% (76,969 acres total)
Primary landholding type: Forest (75,345 acres)
Total value of foreign-owned land: $125.1 million
Largest landowner countries: Netherlands, Canada, Switzerland, Denmark, Germany, Luxembourg
County seat: Malvern

45. Cimarron County, Oklahoma

Percentage of county owned by foreign entities: 19.4% (228,883 acres total)
Primary landholding type: Cropland (226,902 acres)
Total value of foreign-owned land: $0.7 million
Largest landowner countries: Canada, Australia
County seat: Boise City

44. San Augustine County, Texas

Percentage of county owned by foreign entities: 19.9% (75,341 acres total)
Primary landholding type: Forest (74,390 acres)
Total value of foreign-owned land: $96.9 million
Largest landowner countries: Canada, Denmark, Ireland
County seat: San Augustine

43. Scurry County, Texas

Percentage of county owned by foreign entities: 20.3% (118,161 acres total)
Primary landholding type: Cropland (98,363 acres)
Total value of foreign-owned land: $361.1 million
Largest landowner countries: Canada, France, Italy, Ireland
County seat: Snyder

42. Sabine Parish, Louisiana

Percentage of county owned by foreign entities: 20.4% (132,152 acres total)
Primary landholding type: Forest (132,152 acres)
Total value of foreign-owned land: $189.8 million
Largest landowner countries: Canada, United Kingdom, Cayman Islands
County seat: Many

41. DeWitt County, Illinois

Wind+farm | Illinois Wind Farm

Percentage of county owned by foreign entities: 20.5% (53,254 acres total)
Primary landholding type: Cropland (51,108 acres)
Total value of foreign-owned land: $537.2 million
Largest landowner countries: Italy, Netherlands, Virgin Islands (British)
County seat: Clinton

40. Woods County, Oklahoma

Percentage of county owned by foreign entities: 20.6% (169,789 acres total)
Primary landholding type: Pasture (110,125 acres)
Total value of foreign-owned land: $151.5 million
Largest landowner countries: Italy, Canada, Netherlands
County seat: Alva

39. Ontonagon County, Michigan

Percentage of county owned by foreign entities: 20.7% (175,508 acres total)
Primary landholding type: Forest (175,508 acres)
Total value of foreign-owned land: $127.0 million
Largest landowner countries: Singapore, Netherlands, Canada, Liechtenstein, Cayman Islands
County seat: Ontonagon

38. Houghton County, Michigan

Houghton County, Michigan | Drawbridge and Morning reflection

Percentage of county owned by foreign entities: 20.7% (136,368 acres total)
Primary landholding type: Forest (136,282 acres)
Total value of foreign-owned land: $125.9 million
Largest landowner countries: Singapore, Netherlands, Cayman Islands, Canada
County seat: Houghton

37. Deuel County, South Dakota

Percentage of county owned by foreign entities: 20.9% (85,102 acres total)
Primary landholding type: Cropland (85,006 acres)
Total value of foreign-owned land: $1.8 million
Largest landowner countries: Canada, Netherlands, Korea, Republic Of
County seat: Clear Lake

36. White County, Indiana

Percentage of county owned by foreign entities: 21.0% (68,410 acres total)
Primary landholding type: Cropland (67,692 acres)
Total value of foreign-owned land: $330.0 million
Largest landowner countries: Portugal, Austria, Australia, Netherlands
County seat: Monticello

35. Vernon Parish, Louisiana

Percentage of county owned by foreign entities: 21.8% (187,003 acres total)
Primary landholding type: Forest (187,003 acres)
Total value of foreign-owned land: $307.7 million
Largest landowner countries: Canada, Cayman Islands, Germany
County seat: Leesville

34. Nevada County, Arkansas

Percentage of county owned by foreign entities: 21.9% (86,989 acres total)
Primary landholding type: Forest (86,928 acres)
Total value of foreign-owned land: $106.5 million
Largest landowner countries: Canada, Netherlands, Sweden, Luxembourg, Denmark
County seat: Prescott

33. Marion County, Texas

Percentage of county owned by foreign entities: 21.9% (58,995 acres total)
Primary landholding type: Forest (58,995 acres)
Total value of foreign-owned land: $68.8 million
Largest landowner countries: Canada, Sweden, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Cayman Islands
County seat: Jefferson

32. Williamsburg County, South Carolina

Percentage of county owned by foreign entities: 22.9% (137,145 acres total)
Primary landholding type: Forest (132,768 acres)
Total value of foreign-owned land: $394.6 million
Largest landowner countries: Netherlands, Canada, Denmark, Switzerland, United Kingdom
County seat: Kingstree

31. McLean County, Illinois

Percentage of county owned by foreign entities: 22.9% (173,644 acres total)
Primary landholding type: Cropland (171,539 acres)
Total value of foreign-owned land: $706.4 million
Largest landowner countries: Canada, Portugal, United Kingdom, Italy, Germany, Cook Islands, Singapore
County seat: Bloomington

30. Escambia County, Florida

Percentage of county owned by foreign entities: 23.7% (100,932 acres total)
Primary landholding type: Forest (98,826 acres)
Total value of foreign-owned land: $155.8 million
Largest landowner countries: Netherlands, Canada, Switzerland, Denmark, United Kingdom
County seat: Pensacola

29. Garfield County, Washington

Winter+Storm | Blue Mountains eastern Oregon

Percentage of county owned by foreign entities: 24.1% (110,728 acres total)
Primary landholding type: Cropland (97,992 acres)
Total value of foreign-owned land: $227.5 million
Largest landowner countries: United Kingdom, Italy
County seat: Pomeroy

28. Wyoming County, West Virginia

Percentage of county owned by foreign entities: 24.4% (78,466 acres total)
Primary landholding type: Forest (78,466 acres)
Total value of foreign-owned land: $30.1 million
Largest landowner countries: N/A
County seat: Pineville

27. Catahoula Parish, Louisiana

Percentage of county owned by foreign entities: 24.6% (116,624 acres total)
Primary landholding type: Forest (103,651 acres)
Total value of foreign-owned land: $179.1 million
Largest landowner countries: Netherlands, Switzerland, Canada, Uruguay
County seat: Harrisonburg

26. Atchison County, Missouri

Percentage of county owned by foreign entities: 25.2% (88,637 acres total)
Primary landholding type: Cropland (76,519 acres)
Total value of foreign-owned land: $288.8 million
Largest landowner countries: Italy, Canada, Spain
County seat: Rock Port

25. Wayne County, Tennessee

Percentage of county owned by foreign entities: 25.4% (119,790 acres total)
Primary landholding type: Forest (118,219 acres)
Total value of foreign-owned land: $112.6 million
Largest landowner countries: Netherlands, Denmark, United Kingdom, Switzerland, South Africa, Germany
County seat: Waynesboro

24. Hardin County, Texas

Percentage of county owned by foreign entities: 25.7% (147,390 acres total)
Primary landholding type: Forest (146,390 acres)
Total value of foreign-owned land: $512.0 million
Largest landowner countries: Canada, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Sweden
County seat: Kountze

23. Gogebic County, Michigan

Percentage of county owned by foreign entities: 26.1% (190,976 acres total)
Primary landholding type: Forest (141,698 acres)
Total value of foreign-owned land: $152.2 million
Largest landowner countries: Singapore, Netherlands, Canada
County seat: Bessemer

22. Schuyler County, Missouri

Percentage of county owned by foreign entities: 26.2% (51,589 acres total)
Primary landholding type: Pasture (24,266 acres)
Total value of foreign-owned land: $105.5 million
Largest landowner countries: Italy, Canada, Germany
County seat: Lancaster

21. Ellsworth County, Kansas

Percentage of county owned by foreign entities: 26.6% (123,063 acres total)
Primary landholding type: Cropland (113,021 acres)
Total value of foreign-owned land: $14.3 million
Largest landowner countries: Canada, Ireland, Italy
County seat: Ellsworth

20. Willacy County, Texas

Percentage of county owned by foreign entities: 27.4% (104,998 acres total)
Primary landholding type: Cropland (92,258 acres)
Total value of foreign-owned land: $614.2 million
Largest landowner countries: Germany, France, Australia
County seat: Raymondville

19. Columbus County, North Carolina

Percentage of county owned by foreign entities: 27.6% (168,743 acres total)
Primary landholding type: Forest (162,426 acres)
Total value of foreign-owned land: $312.7 million
Largest landowner countries: Netherlands, Canada, Germany, Switzerland, Denmark, Panama, United Kingdom, China
County seat: Whiteville

18. Brunswick County, North Carolina

Percentage of county owned by foreign entities: 28.8% (158,032 acres total)
Primary landholding type: Forest (150,370 acres)
Total value of foreign-owned land: $288.1 million
Largest landowner countries: Netherlands, Canada, Switzerland, Denmark, Germany, United Kingdom
County seat: Bolivia

17. Custer County, Oklahoma

Percentage of county owned by foreign entities: 29.2% (187,561 acres total)
Primary landholding type: Cropland (186,561 acres)
Total value of foreign-owned land: $1.3 million
Largest landowner countries: Canada, Spain
County seat: Arapaho

16. Clark County, Arkansas

Percentage of county owned by foreign entities: 29.9% (169,063 acres total)
Primary landholding type: Forest (169,002 acres)
Total value of foreign-owned land: $206.4 million
Largest landowner countries: Canada, Cayman Islands, Sweden, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Germany
County seat: Arkadelphia

15. Marion County, South Carolina

Percentage of county owned by foreign entities: 32.9% (104,199 acres total)
Primary landholding type: Forest (101,643 acres)
Total value of foreign-owned land: $191.1 million
Largest landowner countries: Netherlands, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Switzerland, Philippines
County seat: Marion

14. Leake County, Mississippi

Percentage of county owned by foreign entities: 33.7% (126,417 acres total)
Primary landholding type: Forest (121,438 acres)
Total value of foreign-owned land: $193.1 million
Largest landowner countries: Netherlands, Canada, Switzerland, Denmark, Germany
County seat: Carthage

13. Georgetown County, South Carolina

Percentage of county owned by foreign entities: 37.2% (198,600 acres total)
Primary landholding type: Forest (191,233 acres)
Total value of foreign-owned land: $399.9 million
Largest landowner countries: Netherlands, Canada, Switzerland, Denmark, Germany, Luxembourg
County seat: Georgetown

12. Florence County, Wisconsin

Percentage of county owned by foreign entities: 37.7% (120,087 acres total)
Primary landholding type: Forest (115,658 acres)
Total value of foreign-owned land: $111.7 million
Largest landowner countries: N/A
County seat: Florence

11. Monroe County, Georgia

Percentage of county owned by foreign entities: 41.6% (105,985 acres total)
Primary landholding type: Forest (104,683 acres)
Total value of foreign-owned land: $37.3 million
Largest landowner countries: Austria, Japan, United Kingdom
County seat: Forsyth

10. Dallas County, Arkansas

Percentage of county owned by foreign entities: 43.8% (187,142 acres total)
Primary landholding type: Forest (183,489 acres)
Total value of foreign-owned land: $312.9 million
Largest landowner countries: Netherlands, Canada, Switzerland, Denmark, Germany
County seat: Fordyce

9. Aroostook County, Maine

Houlton+Aroostook+County+Maine | File:HoultonME AroostookCountyCourthouse.jpg

Percentage of county owned by foreign entities: 44.3% (1,935,010 acres total)
Primary landholding type: Forest (1,917,544 acres)
Total value of foreign-owned land: $356.8 million
Largest landowner countries: Canada, Netherlands, Portugal, Germany, Ireland
County seat: Houlton

8. Grant County, Arkansas

Percentage of county owned by foreign entities: 45.5% (184,218 acres total)
Primary landholding type: Forest (179,123 acres)
Total value of foreign-owned land: $302.8 million
Largest landowner countries: Netherlands, Canada, Switzerland, Denmark, Luxembourg, Germany
County seat: Sheridan

7. Cheyenne County, Colorado

Percentage of county owned by foreign entities: 47.2% (538,567 acres total)
Primary landholding type: Cropland (340,105 acres)
Total value of foreign-owned land: $564.3 million
Largest landowner countries: United Kingdom, Italy, Netherlands, Denmark, Canada, Portugal, Germany, Mexico
County seat: Cheyenne Wells

6. Kiowa County, Colorado

Percentage of county owned by foreign entities: 48.4% (553,552 acres total)
Primary landholding type: Cropland (347,937 acres)
Total value of foreign-owned land: $11.9 million
Largest landowner countries: Canada, Denmark, Netherlands, Germany
County seat: Eads

5. Butler County, Alabama

Percentage of county owned by foreign entities: 50.1% (249,581 acres total)
Primary landholding type: Forest (240,321 acres)
Total value of foreign-owned land: $783.8 million
Largest landowner countries: Netherlands, Denmark, Luxembourg, Canada
County seat: Greenville

4. Polk County, Texas

Percentage of county owned by foreign entities: 51.9% (368,577 acres total)
Primary landholding type: Forest (355,670 acres)
Total value of foreign-owned land: $547.6 million
Largest landowner countries: Netherlands, Canada, Denmark, Switzerland, Germany, Luxembourg
County seat: Livingston