View source for South 40

{{Short description|American colloquialism}}
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'''South 40''' is an American [[colloquialism]] with its origins in the [[Homestead Act|Homestead Act of 1862]].  Adult heads of families were given {{convert|160|acre|km2}} of [[public land]] provided they could "prove" (improve) the land by constructing a dwelling of some sort on the land and cultivating the land in some manner.  After five years of residence, the deed was transferred to the homesteader.  The [[Homestead (buildings)|homesteads]], being {{convert|160|acre|km2}}, were easily divisible into quarters of {{convert|40|acre|m2}} each.  The south 40 would therefore refer to the south {{convert|40|acre|m2}}.  "South 40" as a name has been used by a multitude of businesses, bands and organizations.
The South 40 is also the name for a section of [[Washington University in St. Louis]]'s campus. The southernmost 40 acres of campus, this area houses most of the university's freshman and sophomores. The Bear's Den, a university dining hall, and also Bear Necessities, a campus store, can be found on this part of campus.
==External links==
* [http://www.ourdocuments.gov/doc.php?flash=false&doc=31 Homestead Act 1862]
[[Category:History of agriculture in the United States]]