After World War I homestead lotteries were held to reward returning military members with newly reclaimed land in the Klamath Basin. Between 1922 and 1937 there had been five homestead drawings, with the rest being canceled due to World War II. After the war, in December 1946, the first of three new drawings took place. Between 1946 and 1949 more than 200 homesteads were awarded to the veterans who met certain criteria, such as having two years of agricultural experience. In exchange for populating the Klamath Basin, which stimulated the economies of southeastern Oregon and northeastern California, settlers were promised unlimited irrigation in addition to their gift of land.