Why research your farm's history?
Knowing the past of your land can answer practical questions: why a field is drained a certain way, what an old foundation was, where a spring was used and why a fence runs where it does. It can also help you avoid hazards, such as old wells, buried tanks or dump sites.
It is also simply satisfying. Many owners find that a few weeks of reading and asking turns a piece of property into a place with a story.
The research also helps with practical decisions, such as which fields to drain, where to build and what to ask a contractor to check. Understanding past use is a good first step before any big project.
What are the main sources?
Start with the deed and work backward. Your county recorder or register of deeds holds the chain of title, and the assessor holds maps and tax records. Libraries and historical societies hold plat books, atlases, photographs and newspapers.
Soil and conservation records can help too. The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and your local conservation district may have maps and farm plans, and the Farm Service Agency has aerial imagery related to farm programs. Ask what is public and how to request it.
- County deed and tax records
- Plat books and old atlases
- Aerial photographs
- Local newspapers and photographs
- NRCS and Farm Service Agency offices
How do you read the land itself?
Walk the property slowly, with a notebook. Look for old foundations, lilac bushes or daffodils that mark a former house site, lines of old trees, stone piles, ditches and fence remains. These features often show where buildings and fields once were.
Photograph and map what you find, but do not dig. Disturbing old sites can destroy information, and in some places there are legal protections for archaeological sites. Ask your state historic preservation office for rules.
Take photographs in different seasons. Low winter light and fresh snow often reveal ditches, terraces and old lanes that vanish under summer growth.
What do the buildings tell you?
Barns, sheds and houses reveal how farming changed. Hand-hewn beams, round or square nails, concrete additions and metal roofing hint at age and updates, though dating a building precisely takes an expert.
The National Park Service publishes guidance on evaluating rural historic properties, and the Barn Alliance offers a guide for documenting barns. Ask your state historic preservation office whether a survey of historic farms exists for your county.
Insurance records, old farm plans and receipts left in the house can also be informative. Look in the attic, barn and desk drawers, and ask the previous owner whether anything was left behind.
Who can you talk to?
Former owners, neighbors, retired farmers and descendants of earlier families often hold the best stories. Ask what crops were grown, where the road used to run and who lived in the house. Be patient. A conversation may go in unexpected directions and still yield treasures.
Always ask permission before recording or sharing what someone tells you, and be mindful that stories about families may be sensitive.
- Ask what the farm grew and raised
- Ask where roads, lanes and buildings were
- Ask who lived and worked there
- Ask permission before recording
What about hazards from past use?
Old farms can hold hazards: abandoned wells, buried fuel tanks, old chemical storage and dump areas. Do not open or enter anything you do not understand. If you find a well or tank, contact your county health department or state environmental agency for guidance.
Do not rely on this article for technical advice. Water testing and environmental questions belong with the county health office, your extension service and the EPA's resources for private wells.
If you plan to build or dig, call your local utilities and follow your state's rules on locating buried lines before any work begins. Ask your county for details.
How do you record and share it?
Create a simple farm file with a timeline, copies of documents, maps and photographs. Add notes on where each piece came from. Update it each year as you learn.
Consider sharing a summary with the county historical society. If you ever sell, a documented history may interest buyers who care about the land.
Key takeaways
- Start with deeds and tax records and work backward in time.
- Maps, photographs, conservation records and neighbors fill in the story.
- Observe the land carefully but do not dig into old sites.
- Treat old wells, tanks and dumps as hazards and ask your county health office or state agency.
Sources and further reading
Last reviewed: November 12, 2026. Written by the Rural Farm Life Editorial Team. See our editorial policy.