To advance global change rssearch, it is essential to reconstruct changes in historical cropland coverage on a regional scale in China. This paper presents data collected from 244 local gazetteers, government statistical records and remote-sensing land cover data from the Shandong Province. The study reconstructed the spatial distribution of the rate of reclaimed land at the county level and compared this map with a map of the current spatial distribution of suitable cropland. The following conclusions were drawn: (i) The rate of cultivated land grew exponentially. The extent of reconstruction in cropland areas during the 17th century, 18th~19th centuries, the beginning of the 20th century, the 1980 s, and the beginning of the 20th century are 4.51 mha, 6.51 mha, 7.52 mha, 8.53 mha and 11.80–12.00 mha, respectively. (ii) Several agricultural centers formed during the late 17th century. Until the beginning of the 20th century, the reclamation rate increased rapidly near the four southern lakes, which are located in the Zaozhuang and Linyi regions. (iii) Most reclamation activities before the 19th century occurred in suitable agricultural areas, and the cultivated land was already reclaimed by the beginning of the 20th century.
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