List of former national forests of the United States

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This is a list of all the former National Forests in the United States. These units were renamed, disestablished, combined with other units or split apart during reorganizations of the U.S. Forest Service system. There was particular turnover during the first decade of the 20th century, when the forest system was reorganized several times, most notably on July 1, 1908. Many smaller holdings of fewer than 100,000 acres (400 km2) were combined. In the 1920s a short-lived program created several National Forests from excess portions of military facilities. Within two years these transfers were reconsidered and rescinded. [1] [ failed verification ]

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Apache National Forest Former name for Apache–Sitgreaves National Forests

Apache National Forest was established by the U.S. Forest Service in Arizona and New Mexico on July 1, 1908, with 1,302,711 acres (5,271.88 km2) from portions of Black Mesa National Forest. In 1974 the entire forest was administratively combined with Sitgreaves National Forest to create Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests. The New Mexico section is now administered by the Gila National Forest. The area of the former Apache National Forest covers most of Greenlee County, Arizona, southern Apache County, Arizona, and part of western Catron County, New Mexico. The former Apache is much the larger than the former Sitgreaves. As of 30 September 2008, its area was 1,813,601 acres (733,938 ha), representing 68.9% of the combined Apache–Sitgreaves total area. There are local ranger district offices in Alpine, Clifton, and Springerville.

Teton National Forest was first established by the General Land Office on February 22, 1897 as the Teton Forest Reserve with 892,440 acres (3,611.6 km2). A commission was established in 1896 to plan for a system of national forest reserves, recommending an expansion of the territory protected by the Yellowstone Timberland Reserve. President Grover Cleveland's 1897 proclamation established a protected area encompassing the northern end of Jackson Hole, extending from the south boundary of the Yellowstone Forest Reserve south to the area of the Gros Ventre River, and from the Idaho border in the west to the area of the Continental Divide in the east. Much of this area would eventually be incorporated into Grand Teton National Park. In 1902 the southern porion of the Yellowstone reserve was added, while the Teton Reserve was greatly expanded to the south and east while excluding the southern portion of Jackson Hole around the town of Jackson.

The Bridger National Forest was first established by the U.S. Forest Service on July 1, 1911 in Wyoming with 577,580 acres (2,337.4 km2) from part of Bonneville National Forest. On May 14, 1923 Bridger was transferred Wyoming National Forest, and the name was discontinued. On March 10, 1943 Wyoming was renamed Bridger. In 1973 Bridger National Forest was administratively combined with Teton National Forest, creating Bridger-Teton National Forest. In descending order of land area, Bridger National Forest lands are located in Sublette, Lincoln, Fremont, and Teton counties. There are local ranger district offices in Afton, Big Piney, Kemmerer, and Pinedale. Its administrative headquarters reside in Jackson, Wyoming as part of the combined Bridger-Teton National Forest. Its current area of 1,736,075 acres (7,025.65 km²) represents 51.02% of the combined Bridger-Teton's area of 3,402,644 acres (13,770.01 km²). The forest includes all of the National Wilderness Preservation System's officially designated Bridger Wilderness.

Absaroka National Forest is a U.S. national forest in the U.S. state of Montana, established by the General Land Office on September 4, 1902, as the Absaroka Forest Reserve with a total area of 1,311,600 acres (5,308 km2).

Crazy Mountain National Forest was established as the Crazy Mountain Forest Reserve in Montana by the U.S. Forest Service on August 10, 1906 with 234,760 acres (950.0 km2). It became a National Forest on March 4, 1907. On July 1, 1908 it was combined with part Yellowstone National Forest to re-establish Absaroka National Forest and its name was discontinued.

Pryor Mountains National Forest was established as the Pryor Mountains Forest Reserve by the U.S. Forest Service in Montana on November 6, 1906 by the U.S. Forest Service with 78,732 acres (318.62 km2). It became a National Forest on March 4, 1907. On July 1, 1908 it was combined with part of Yellowstone National Forest to establish Beartooth National Forest. The name was discontinued.

Afognak Forest and Fish Culture was established by the General Land Office in Alaska on December 24, 1892, as a forest preserve. It covered 403,640 acres (1,633.5 km2) in 1905, when the forest reserves were transferred to the U.S. Forest Service. On July 1, 1908, the entire forest was combined with Chugach National Forest and the name was discontinued.

Ashland National Forest was established as the Ashland Forest Reserve by the General Land Office in Oregon on September 28, 1893, with 18,560 acres (75.1 km2). In 1905 federal forests were transferred to the U.S. Forest Service. Ashland became a National Forest on March 4, 1907, and on July 1, 1908, the entire forest was combined with parts of Cascade, Klamath and Siskiyou National Forests to establish Crater National Forest. The lands are presently included in Rogue River National Forest.

Tumacacori National Forest was established as the Tumacacori Forest Reserve by the U.S. Forest Service in Arizona on November 7, 1906, with 203,550 acres (823.7 km2). It became a National Forest on March 4, 1907. On July 1, 1908, the entire forest was combined with Baboquivari National Forest and Huachuca National Forest to establish Garces National Forest, and the name was discontinued. The lands are presently included in Coronado National Forest.

Baker City Forest Reserve was established by the General Land Office in Oregon on February 5, 1904 with 52,480 acres (212.4 km2). In 1905 all federal forests were transferred to the U.S. Forest Service. On March 15, 1906 portions of Baker City were combined with Blue Mountains Forest Reserve. The remainder was taken out of the Forest Service system and the name was discontinued. The lands are presently distributed among several Oregon forests.

The Maury Mountain Forest Reserve was established by the U.S. Forest Service in Oregon on June 2, 1905 with 54,220 acres (219.4 km2). On March 2, 1907 the forest was combined with Blue Mountains National Forest and the name was discontinued. The lands are presently divided among several Oregon Forests.

The Logan Forest Reserve was established by the General Land Office in Utah on May 29, 1903 with 182,080 acres (736.9 km2). In 1905 federal forests were transferred to the U.S. Forest Service. On May 28, 1906 the forest was combined with other lands to establish Bear River Forest Reserve and the name was discontinued. The lands are presently included in Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest.

Salt Lake National Forest was established as the Salt Lake Forest Reserve by the General Land Office in Utah on May 26, 1904 with 95,440 acres (386.2 km2). In 1905 all federal forests were transferred to the U.S. Forest Service. On July 1, 1908 Salt Lake was combined with Wasatch National Forest and the name was discontinued. The lands are presently included in Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest.

Calaveras Big Tree National Forest, in the Sierra Nevada, was established in California on May 11, 1954 with 390 acres (1.6 km2) to protect a grove of Sugar Pines, although it had been authorized since February 18, 1909.

Highwood Mountains National Forest was established as the Highwood Mountains Forest Reserve by the U.S. Forest Service in Montana on April 12, 1906 with 45,080 acres (182.4 km2). It became a National Forest on March 4, 1907. On July 1, 1908 the entire forest was combined with Little Belt, Snowy Mountains and Little Rockies National Forests to establish Jefferson National Forest (Montana) and the name was discontinued. The lands are now included in Lewis and Clark National Forest.

Little Belt National Forest was established as the Little Belt Forest Reserve by the U.S. Forest Service in Montana on October 3, 1905 with 583,600 acres (2,362 km2) after a name change from Little Belt Mountains Forest Reserve, which was established on August 16, 1902 with 501,000 acres (2,030 km2). It became a National Forest on March 4, 1907. On July 1, 1908 the entire forest was combined with Highwood Mountains, Snowy Mountains and Little Rockies National Forests to establish Jefferson National Forest and the name was discontinued. The lands are included in Lewis and Clark National Forest.

Snowy Mountains National Forest was established as the Snowy Mountains Forest Reserve by the U.S. Forest Service in Montana on November 5, 1906 with 126,080 acres (510.2 km2). It became a National Forest on March 4, 1907. On July 1, 1908 the entire forest was combined with Little Belt, Snowy Mountains and Little Rockies National Forests to establish Jefferson National Forest (Montana) and the name was discontinued.

Vernon National Forest was established as the Vernon Forest Reserve by the U.S. Forest Service in Utah on April 24, 1906 with 68,800 acres (278 km2) in the northwestern part of the state near the town of Vernon. It became a National Forest on March 4, 1907. On July 1, 1908 Vernon and Payson National Forests and part of Fillmore were combined to create Nebo National Forest. The lands presently managed under the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest.

Niobrara National Forest was established as the Niobrara Forest Reserve by the General Land Office in Nebraska on April 16, 1902 with 123,779 acres (50,092 ha). After the transfer of federal forests to the U.S. Forest Service in 1905, it became a National Forest on March 4, 1907. On July 1, 1908 the entire forest was combined with Nebraska National Forest and the name was discontinued.

San Jacinto National Forest was established as the San Jacinto Forest Reserve by the General Land Office in California on February 22, 1897 with 740,000 acres (3,000 km2). After the transfer of federal forests to the U.S. Forest Service in 1905, it became a National Forest on March 4, 1907. On July 1, 1908 the entire forest was combined with Trabuco Canyon National Forest to establish Cleveland National Forest, and the name was discontinued.

References

  1. Davis, Richard C., ed. (1983), National Forests of the United States (pdf), Forest History Society