For example, a Bound could be a road, tree, river, or large rock. The federal government developed the rectangular survey system, or government survey method, to simplify and standardize property descriptions as a replacement for the cumbersome and often inaccurate metes and bounds method. The township and range definition of a parcel of land, then, is its location in relation to the township and range lines. These are known as correction lines and guide meridians.
Rectangular Government Survey System Map PDF Legal Descriptions - McKissock Learning Learn the basic methodology, and real-world adjustments. It is considered as one of the most significant subdividing of the United States mainland. The system uses Metes, which are straight lines connecting two points, and Bounds, which are identifiable aspects of a property.
Township lines, which run east and west, parallel to baselines, are horizontal parallel lines that form township tiers.\r\n\r\nThink about two lines running from left to right across this page about an inch apart. . How many rows in a survey of sections of a township?
It is the lands boundary lines that also have terminal points and angles. Its worth noting; quadrangles are not used when identifying land with the rectangular survey method, only the principal meridians, baselines, and townships and sections. Sections can be divided in several ways, but basically for purposes of the United States Geological Survey (USGS), they are divided in quarter sections.\r\n \t
Quarter sections: The divisions of a section, quarter sections, are formed by dividing a section into fourths that are delineated by their direction from the center of the section (northwestNW, northeastNE, southeastSE, and southwestSW). A system of fractional sections and government lots are parts of standard practice to account for these discrepancies.\r\n\r\nSo how does the system describe land? Moreover, the astronomical observations will then determine the areas latitude and longitude. Monuments are also placed at quarter-section corners and at other important points, such as the corners of government lots. Remember, a township is 6 miles by 6 miles. Jeff Davis with American Realty Academy, covering the infamous Government Rectangular Survey. Simply multiply 640 by or 0.25, which equals 160, then multiply 160 by 1/2 or 0.5, which equals 80. Following the passage of the Northwest Ordinance in 1787, the Surveyor General of the Northwest Territory platted lands in the Northwest Territory. Some data is missing in this version that is included in the old version. The numbering then moves from right to left across that first upper tier. The rectangular survey system is based on principal meridians and base lines determined by precise scientific measurements. The Rectangular Survey Method established a standard measurement and origin point for all properties to follow using a grid system. The system was created by Thomas Jefferson in 1785. Just because they are referred to as government lots does not mean the government owns the land they contain. Manage Settings Sections also are numbered consecutively. Government Survey System (Rectangular Survey System) Public Land Survey System (PLSS) After the Revolutionary War ended, the United States Government needed a way to describe lands in the West to insure locating and selling. Psychological Research & Experimental Design, All Teacher Certification Test Prep Courses, Different Types of Estates in Real Estate, Legal Description of Property: Definition, Importance & Example, What is a Land Survey? Townships are then broken down into sections, which are 36 blocks, each being 1 square mile. Land is designated as either a base line (East-West) or principal meridian line (North-South). It was originally proposed by U.S. President Thomas Jefferson as a means of keeping track of the ever-expanding land area of the United States. Correction lines occur at every fourth township line or every 24 miles north and south of the baseline. Finally, sections can be further divided into halves or quarters that are named for their direction within the section: the east half, the west half, the north half, the south half, the northwest quarter, the northeast quarter, the southwest quarter, and the southeast quarter. The rectangular survey system was developed in an effort to try and describe all of the land in our country. He is also a real estate investor, board gamer and homebrewer. Discover what the Rectangular Survey System is, where it is usually used, and its main purpose. The earliest land surveys in Minnesota were conducted under the jurisdiction of the Surveyor General of Iowa and Wisconsin, headquartered in Dubuque, Iowa. In reality, because of this earth curvature issue, many sections and townships vary from their exact area measurements. The legal description includes the state name, the meridian name, the township and range directions, and usually the section number. Adding that to the description results in a more specific parcel of land: The NW 1/4 of the SE 1/4 of Section 18, Township 5 South, Range 4 West of the Fifth Principal Meridian, Missouri. He teaches pre-licensing and continuing education courses for salespeople, brokers, and appraisers. [2] The townships are consecutively numbered by their location within the intersection of multiple range lines and township lines. A system of fractional sections and government lots are parts of standard practice to account for these discrepancies.\r\n\r\nSo how does the system describe land? The second set of lines are called baselines and run east and west. The first sets of lines respectively are called principal meridians, which run north and south, and baselines, which run east and west. 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Try refreshing the page, or contact customer support. That means it is 3 townships north of the baseline and 5 townships east of the principal meridian. Using the land noted on the image, a parcel could be defined as the West half of the Southeast quarter of Section 14 of Township 2 South, Range 3 West. Half sections have an area of 320 acres. The grid is divided into smaller sections known as quadrangles, townships, sections, half-sections, and quarter-sections used to describe property boundaries in most of the United States. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. The Base Line in United States Rectangular Survey System meets its principal meridian at the point of origin, or initial point, for the survey of the land. There are various issues with the names on the very small land parcels in several states. [/caption]\r\n\r\nA full rectangular survey system property description might read:\r\nThe SW 1/4 of the NE 1/4 of the NW 1/4 of Section 6, Township 4 South, Range 5, East of the Third Principal Meridian. So, there can be the north, south, east, or west half section.
\r\n\r\nBecause of the curvature of the earth, the lines in the government survey system are only theoretically straight. The area created by the intersection of a township line and a range line is a township. For example, a Bound could be a road, tree, river, or large rock. Since nothing is perfect, some sections of land ended up being larger or smaller than they should. They are the starting points for describing a propertys boundaries. Just imagine you are to layout an area of land based on the geography, the meets, and bound system will show you the visible marks of the land.
Government Rectangular Survey | Free Real Estate Exam Prep Video What Is the Rectangular Survey System Used For? Townships have an area of 36 square miles, more or less, and are each further divided into 36 sections.\r\n \t
Sections: The divisions of a township, sections, are one mile square and have an area of one square mile, or 640 acres. The strips of land they form are known as township tiers. The north-south line that runs through the initial point is a, ). The Rectangular Survey System is a method of surveying designed to divide the real property into specified plots. Putting the above description into words is half of a quarter section. Additionally, the terms used in the Rectangular Survey System can have different meanings under other systems of measurement and governmental designations. Rectangular Government Survey System.pdf - Rectangular Range lines run north and south between the principal meridians and are spaced out every six miles. There are 36 sections in a township, and each section contains one square mile, which is 640 acres. It isn't used by East Coast states except, Florida, and it also isn't used by Texas. Today, the BLM controls the survey, sale, and settling of lands acquired by the United States. Running east to west every six miles between the baselines are the township lines. For the real estate exam, youll need to know the two primary survey methods. Using principal meridians and baselines as points of reference, land areas are divided by two kinds of lines, township lines and range lines. So, there can be the north, south, east, or west half section.\r\n\r\nBecause of the curvature of the earth, the lines in the government survey system are only theoretically straight. He teaches pre-licensing and continuing education courses for salespeople, brokers, and appraisers. ","blurb":"","authors":[{"authorId":9566,"name":"John A. Yoegel","slug":"john-a-yoegel","description":"
John A. Yoegel, PhD, is a certified real estate instructor and former board member of the Real Estate Educators Association. Also, the meets and bounds system is used to describe land by listing the compass directions and distances of the boundaries. PLSS The Public Land Survey System is a way of subdividing and describing land in the United States. A section of ground is one mile on all sides, which means it is a one-mile square. Imagine trying to draw straight lines on a rubber ball. Tips to Understanding the Legal Description - PropLogix You may be asked to identify sections in the Rectangular Survey System, so remember the order from specific to general. The image does not specifically designate which meridian or state, but as they are all divided and labeled the same, this could represent any section of land along any meridian that would be identified in the legal description. Get unlimited access to over 88,000 lessons. Sections are numbered from the northeast (top right) corner, running first horizontally to the west and then down and back to the east in a serpentine pattern. Because of the curvature of the earth, correction lines and guide meridians are used to compensate. Principal meridians, baselines, and where they intersect (cross each other) are used as the basis for formulating property descriptions in this system. These sections are referred to as fractional sections. The following is a list of helpful terms:\r\n
\r\n \t- Quadrangles: The basic squares of land of the rectangular survey system, quadrangles (also government checks, or just checks) are 24 miles square (that means each side is 24 miles long) and are delineated by a principal meridian and a baseline. How Do You Use the Rectangular Survey System? The Lot and Block System has a map showing lot dimensions approved by the Board of County Commissioners. This system is also needed to divide all of the lands in the public domain which is possessed by the US federal government to benefit the American citizens. Putting the above description into words is half of a quarter section. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. It is primarily used throughout the United States with the exception of the thirteen colonies, which was surveyed by the metes and bound method . In other words, after section number 6, it drops down to 7 on the next tier then goes left to right to number 12. Base lines For the real estate exam, youll need to know the two primary survey methods. It is known that Jefferson proposed a rectangular survey system, although his system was based on the decimal system -- townships 10 miles by 10 miles. We have Quarter sections, Half sections, township sections, townships, quadrangles, and principal meridians with baselines. Specific directional references are needed in the actual description to locate a particular piece of property, but for finding out how large a particular piece of property is, only the fractions matter. Quarter sections have an area of 160 acres.
\r\n \t- Half sections: Half section is a description of any two abutting quarter sections within a section, usually accompanied by a directional notation indicating the half of the section in which the two quarter sections are located. He teaches pre-licensing and continuing education courses for salespeople, brokers, and appraisers.","authors":[{"authorId":9566,"name":"John A. Yoegel","slug":"john-a-yoegel","description":"
John A. Yoegel, PhD, is a certified real estate instructor and former board member of the Real Estate Educators Association. It uses the 37 principal meridian lines that run north to south across the U.S. and baselines that run east to west. All lands in the public domain are subject to subdivision by this rectangular system of surveys. Sections also are numbered consecutively. Since townships are six miles north to south and six miles east to west, each township is 36 square miles. Of course. A rectangular survey is read based on the state and meridian line and the property's location, directionally, to that line. Doing the math, its 1/2 1/4 640 = 80 acres.
\r\n\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_274746\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"556\"] A quarter section can be split into smaller parts. Originally proposed by Thomas Jefferson, the PLSS began shortly after the Revolutionary War, when the Federal government became responsible for large areas west of the thirteen original colonies. We know that there are 640 acres in one section, and we are taking a 1/4 of a 1/2 section. Its worth noting quadrangles are not used when identifying land with the rectangular survey method, only the principal meridians, baselines, and townships and sections. In reality, because of this earth curvature issue, many sections and townships vary from their exact area measurements. The Rectangular Survey System is a method of surveying designed to divide the real property into specified plots. So how does the system describe land? Quarter sections have an area of 160 acres. \r\n \t- Half sections: Half section is a description of any two abutting quarter sections within a section, usually accompanied by a directional notation indicating the half of the section in which the two quarter sections are located. The government survey system is known by a few different names. Because the rectangular or government survey system was instituted when the United States was a new country, it was used to describe most of the land west of the original 13 colonies, so most of you are likely to see some questions about this system.\r\n\r\nLongitude and latitude are imaginary lines that divide the earth through the north and south poles (longitude) and run parallel with the equator (latitude). are further subdivided into 36 one-mile-square, (each section is one square mile or 640 acres), then into quarter sections, quarter-quarter sections, or irregular, Beginning at an initial point, townships are surveyed in all directions. )\r\n
Figuring out the size of a piece of property, which sometimes is called a parcel, is simple, if you keep in mind that youre always dealing with a section of 640 acres. As each territory or state opened new public lands, the government identified a meridian (running north and south) and a base line (running east and west) to guide all future land surveys in that area. INTRODUCTION TO THE US RECTANGULAR SURVEY SYSTEM - Vermessungsseiten That means it is 3 townships north of the baseline and 5 townships east of the principal meridian. . After six years of aircrew service in the Air Force, he earned his MBA from the University of Phoenix following a BS from the University of Maryland. Using principal meridians and baselines as points of reference, land areas are divided by two kinds of lines, township lines and range lines. From this initial . Then the numbering drops down to 13 and goes right to left again and so forth:
\r\n\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_274749\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"532\"] Townships are divided into 36 sections numbered consecutively. Livable, Rentable & Usable Area: Definition & Examples. View Rectangular Government Survey System.pdf from PLST 222 at Liberty University. 27 chapters | Correction lines occur at every fourth township line or every 24 miles north and south of the baseline. You may even see a question or two about the numbering system used for sections. The rectangular survey system devised for the PLSS is often credited to Thomas Jefferson. Rectangular Survey System Uses & Examples - Study.com flashcard sets. However, rivers can be moved, and trees can die, so as you can see, this method is wildly inaccurate over time. Metes and bounds were used as the primary survey method before 1785 and were fairly inaccurate, especially before GPS technology. The survey system essentially functions the same way. Tenancy at Will Laws & Examples | What is an Estate at Will? For example, a piece of land could be identified as the southeast quarter of section 18 of a township, which would be 160 acres. The Rectangular Survey System is a grid system of townships and sections that is used to divide the land into manageable units. Dont Miss: Work From Home Government Jobs. As we mentioned earlier, two primary survey methods are used in the United States, the Metes and Bounds System, and the Rectangular Survey System. Public Land Survey System - Sidwell Principal meridians run perpendicular to the earths equator, north to south. Rectangular Survey System - 50th-reunion.com Rectangular Surveys FamilySearch Quadrangles have an area of 576 square miles, more or less, and are divided into 16 townships. \r\n \t- Townships: The divisions of a quadrangle, townships, are six miles square (six miles on each side) and are delineated by township lines. Also Check: Government To Forgive Student Loan Debt. When identifying property locations, you will always reference which principal meridian it is located near. The land is then further divided into quadrangles. Take for example there is a shared baseline in both Nebraska and Kansas as both states border is at the 40th parallel north. Dummies helps everyone be more knowledgeable and confident in applying what they know.