在1786年9月13日簽訂的地契中(康乃狄克州為償還在美國獨立戰爭中欠下的債項,把聲稱領有的土地讓予聯邦政府),康州得以保留 12,000平方公里(300萬英畝)在俄亥俄的土地。1796年把俄亥俄的土地售予康乃狄克土地公司(Connecticut Land Company),但當地印地安人仍然擁有該片土地的所有權,直到後來在1795年按格林維爾條約和1805按因達斯特里堡條約(Treaty of Fort Industry)予以解決。該片土地的西端面積2,000平方公里(50萬英畝)的土地被稱為火地(Firelands,或受災者補償地 Sufferers Lands)以補償在美國獨立戰爭期間家園被英國軍隊放火摧毀的康州部分城鎮的居民。土地公司對剩下的土地進行測量,並把每個鎮的面積定為25 平方英里見方。這與俄亥俄州其他地區的城鎮不同(面積36平方英里見方)。
早期的殖民者把這片土地稱為「新康乃狄克」,但後來改稱「西保留地」。1967年在哈德遜的西保留學院(Western Reserve College,又譯西儲學院,創於1826年)和凱斯理工學院(Case Institute of Technology,創於1880年)合併為凱斯西储大學(Case Western Reserve University)即為對這段歷史紀念的一例(哈德遜校區後來改稱西保留學會 Western Reserve Academy,為新大學的預備學校)。西保留地歷史學會(Western Reserve Historical Society)即致力保存與當地相關的歷史及文物。
Hatcher, Harlan, Western Reserve: The Story of New Connecticut in Ohio, Indianapolis: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, 1949. (2nd edition, Cleveland: World Publishing, 1966). (2nd edition paperback, Kent State University Press, 1991, ISBN 0-87338-449-0).
The Public Records of the State of Connecticut [HistRef ConnDoc G25 1776-]. This multi-volume set contains the record of transactions of the Connecticut General Assembly. Each volume covers a given time period and has an index. Researchers interested in the Western Lands should consult these volumes to gain knowledge of the legislative actions and petitions granted by the Connecticut General Assembly.
Burke, Thomas Aquinas. Ohio Lands: A Short History. [Columbus, OH]: Auditor of State, c1997 [CSL call number HistRef HD 243 .O3 B87 1997].
Cherry, Peter Peterson. The Western Reserve and Early Ohio. Akron, OH: R. L. Fouse, 1921 [CSL call number F 495 .C52].
Fedor, Ferenz. The Yankee Migration to the Firelands. s.l.: Fedor, 1976? [CSL call number F 497 .W5 F43 1976].
Mathews, Alfred. Ohio and Her Western Reserve, With a Story of Three States Leading to the Latter, From Connecticut, by Way of Wyoming, Its Indian Wars and Massacre. New York: D. Appleton, 1902 [CSL call number F 491 .M42].
Mills, William Stowell. The Story of the Western Reserve of Connecticut. New York: Printed for the author by Brown & Wilson Press [ca. 1900] [CSL call number F 497 .W5 M6].
Peters, William E. Ohio Lands and Their Subdivision. Athens, OH: W. E. Peters, 1918 [CSL call number F 497 .W5 P47 1918].
Rice, Harvey. Pioneers of the Western Reserve. Boston: Lee and Shepard, 1883 [CSL call number: F 497 .W5 R5 1883].
Upton, Harriet Taylor. History of the Western Reserve. Chicago: Lewis Pub. Co., 1910 [CSL call number: F 497 .W5 U7].
Wickham, Gertrude Van Rensselaer. Memorial to the Pioneer Women of the Western Reserve. [s.l.]: Whipporwill, [197- ] [CSL call number F 497 .W5 W63 1970z].