Why Land Ownership Matters
Land is more than property — it’s power. The way land is owned and used shapes everything from housing and environmental health to community development and economic opportunity. When land is stewarded with care, it supports clean water, public access, thriving ecosystems, and affordable living. But when it’s held for speculation or private profit, the result is often pollution, exclusion, rising costs, and lost potential. Understanding land ownership is essential to building a just, livable, and equitable future for all.
What the Public Owns —You may be surprised to learn that the largest landowner in San Diego County is actually… the public.
California State Parks (People of CA): 857 sq. mi.
U.S. Forest Service: 449 sq. mi.
City of San Diego (including some private property): 329 sq. mi.
U.S. Bureau of Land Management: 277 sq. mi.
Department of Defense: 255 sq. mi.
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Much of this land is preserved or held for public use — but stewardship isn’t just about possession. It’s about purpose, care, and accountability.
California spans over 99 million acres — with deserts, forests, rivers, oceanfront, and some of the most valuable land in the world. Within that, San Diego County alone covers 4,261 square miles of diverse and resource-rich terrain.
That leads us to an important question:
Who owns this land — and who is responsible for its care?
A Look Back
Who owned Southern California in 1997?
In 1997, economist Mason Gaffney published a deep investigation into land ownership in Southern California. Though written decades ago, his findings still echo today — revealing how a small number of individuals and institutions controlled massive portions of the region’s land, often in ways that shaped policy, housing, and infrastructure. Gaffney argued that land ownership was becoming more concentrated, more tax-sheltered, and more disconnected from public benefit.
Key Findings From The Investigation
01
Foreign Land Owners
- The Duke of Westminster (UK), Mitsubishi Estate Co. (Japan), and others owned premium property in LA, Orange County, and Silicon Valley.
- These holdings were often speculative and benefited from infrastructure funded by U.S. taxpayers.
02
Out-of-State Corporations
- Companies like Union Pacific, ALCOA, and Gulf+Western owned vast tracts of timberland, farmland, and urban land.
- Many paid little in taxes due to outdated assessments and political protections.
03
California-Based Landholders
- Powerful individuals and companies, such as Irvine Co., Chevron, and Rancho Mission Viejo, held land worth billions.
- Often this land was idle, waiting for public investments (like highways or water lines) to increase its value.
04
Institutional Owners
- Universities, churches, and nonprofits held thousands of acres, often tax-free and underused.
- The University of California alone held over 58,000 acres statewide.
Why This Still Matters Today
Although the landscape has changed since 1997, many of the same patterns continue today:
- Speculation and inequality are still built into our land systems.
- Public investment still increases private land values — with little return to the public.
Concentrated ownership still influences housing, climate policy, and access to space.
Want to Learn More? Read Mason Gaffney’s original research: