With more than 33 million acres of land, Alabama is a patchwork of forest, farms and fields. But who owns the most of it? You might be surprised to learn it’s not the state or the federal government.
According to 2025 data from World Population Review, Weyerhaeuser owns 600,000 acres across Alabama.
Who is Weyerhaeuser?
The company was founded in 1900 by Frederick Weyerhaeuser, who started with 900,000 acres of timberland and three employees.
Weyerhaeuser, one of the largest private landowners in the U.S., owns 10.4 million acres of timberland across the country. The Seattle-based timber giant grows and harvests trees for lumber, plywood and other wood products used in construction.
It also leases land for hunting and recreation. As a real estate investment trust, Weyerhaeuser makes most of its money from the land itself, managing forests like a long-term crop.
In the South, where forests grow fast and land is relatively cheap, the company plays a quiet but influential role in shaping rural economies and landscapes.
Other Alabama land giants
Not all of Alabama’s land is held by timber giants.
The McDonald family, one of the state’s largest private landowners, controls around 100,000 acres. Meanwhile, Alabama Power, the state’s biggest utility company, owns over 61,000 acres.
Jennifer Lindahl is a Breaking and Trending Reporter for the Deep South Connect Team for Gannett/USA Today. Connect with her on X @jenn_lindahl and email at jlindahl@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: This private company owns the most land in Alabama. More than 600K acres
