March 14, 2023

[/caption]\r\n\r\nEach section of 640 acres can be divided into halves and quarters called, get this, half sections and quarter sections. The lot and block survey system is a method used in the United States and Canada to locate and identify land, particularly for lots in densely populated metropolitan areas, suburban areas, and exurbs. Way in which the U.S. government uses to subdivide public land. This system utilizes a system of rectangular coordinates to create a map of a parcel of land. The guide meridians occur every 24 miles east and west of the principal meridian. 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. Legal descriptions under the Rectangular Survey System include the state, the principal meridian, the township designated by number and direction, and the section number. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. A rectangular survey is read based on the state and meridian line and the property's location, directionally, to that line. Guide meridians and standard parallels form quadrangles. There are several advantages of the rectangular land survey system. 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The rectangular survey system is the method of forming specific plots, used commonly in the Public Land Survey System (PLSS) in America. To learn more about these land descriptions, view our Real Estate Principles course, which provides information on ethics of practice, titles to and conveyance of real estate, deeds encumbrances and liens, distinctions between personal and real property, appraisal, finance and regulations, and more. You may even see a question or two about the numbering system used for sections. succeed. 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.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_274747\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"556\"]\"real Sections can be divided in a variety of ways, including quarters and smaller sections. The principal meridians and baselines are based respectively on lines of longitude and latitude.\r\n\r\nYoure likely to see at least a few questions on the on calculating the area of part of a section, and youll also see questions about terminology and some of the measurements that the rectangular survey system uses. Where the two range lines and two township lines intersect, they form a township.\r\n\r\nNow, the way it really works is for this page to be filled with the lines going up and down and right to left so that you have many townships. The rectangular survey system may just be a giant grid covering the United States, but understanding how it is used can seem a little complex, so stick with us while we cover the basic definitions.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'realestatelicensewizard_com-box-4','ezslot_11',688,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-realestatelicensewizard_com-box-4-0'); The largest grid comprises of two types of lines, principal meridians, and baselines. ( the major vertical line) -37 in the U.S. Base Line The horizontal line ( the major one) Ranges Section 1 within any township is always located at the upper right or northeast corner of the township. Section 16 is located directly in the center of the section and historically was always designated as the school section. The Rectangular Survey System, also known as the Government Survey System or Public Land Survey System, is a method of plotting land boundaries in the United States using a large grid made up of rectangles. flashcard sets. That could be further divided into quarters, such as the northwest quarter of the southeast quarter of section 18 of a township would be 40 acres. Beginning with the Seven Ranges in present-day Ohio, the PLSS has been used as the primary survey method in the United States. 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. Think about two more lines running up and down the page on top of the first two lines, also about an inch apart. It is considered as one of the most significant subdividing of the United States' mainland. PLSS The Public Land Survey System is a way of subdividing and describing land in the United States. Putting the above description into words is half of a quarter section. Remember, there are 36 square miles in a township, and each section is 1 square mile. In other words, after section number 6, it drops down to 7 on the next tier then goes left to right to number 12. document.getElementById("ak_js_1").setAttribute("value",(new Date()).getTime()); Sign up for the newsletter to get exclusive real estate exam tips that I don't share anywhere else. The lines are spaced 24 miles apart, creating squares that are around 576 square miles. After the Revolutionary War ended, the United States Government needed a way to describe lands in the West to insure locating and selling. Using principal meridians and baselines as points of reference, land areas are divided by two kinds of lines, township lines and range lines. Of course, this still makes up a lot of land, so townships are further divided into sections. Join over 10,000 subscribers and pass your exam today! )\r\nThe description probably would include the state and county in which the property is located and use abbreviations. These range lines form ranges. The government survey system legal land description method is the subject of this article. You got it: Tic tac toe. A Metes and Bounds survey may read something like commencing from the large apple tree 1 mile to the north, west along the river bed. Additionally, the terms used in the Rectangular Survey System can have different meanings under other systems of measurement and governmental designations. Other survey systems include the metes and bounds system and the lot and block system. Remember, there are 36 square miles in a township, and each section is 1 square mile. There are 16 townships in each quadrangle. Then the numbering drops down to 13 and goes right to left again and so forth: Each section of 640 acres can be divided into halves and quarters called, get this, half sections and quarter sections. First, the system makes it easier to divide large areas of land into like-sized parcels, as large as 640 square miles to as small as 2.5 acres. Baselines run parallel to the earths equator, from east to west. Government Survey System or Public Land Survey System functions just like a mailing label on an envelope. The numbering then moves from right to left across that first upper tier. 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. Township lines run parallel to the baseline, from east to west, defining how far north and south of the baseline a township is located. These surveys, completed between 1848 and May 1857 were primarily on land located between the St. Croix and Mississippi rivers or in the southeastern corner of Minnesota. So, in the example above, Township 4 South would be T4S. 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. There is more than one type of legal description you must know for your exam. Attachments & Severance in Real Estate: Definitions, Examples & Laws. It will serve as the basis for surveys of government in a specified area under its jurisdiction. 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. Whenever properties have irregular boundaries, the land may be further described using one of the two other systems described in this section. The first set of lines are called the principal meridians and run north and south. Townships are then broken down into sections, which are 36 blocks, each being 1 square mile. Which States Use the Rectangular Survey System. Running east to west every six miles between the baselines are the township lines. The first is the Metes and Bounds surveythe second is the Rectangular Survey System, also known as the Government Survey System or Public Lands Survey System. Quadrangles have an area of 576 square miles, more or less, and are divided into 16 townships.
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  • Townships: The divisions of a quadrangle, townships, are six miles square (six miles on each side) and are delineated by township lines. Townships have an area of 36 square miles, more or less, and are each further divided into 36 sections.
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  • Sections: The divisions of a township, sections, are one mile square and have an area of one square mile, or 640 acres. 1 Square mile is equal to 640 acres. You have 80 acres in that plot of land, and that is your answer. According to historian Matthew Dennis, this rectangular survey system allowed the leaders of the young government to apply their "nationalistic, scientific, and engineering mentality in transforming the continental landscape of North America, reconceptualizing its space, subduing and organizing it, and distributing it to white yeoman farmers in Each section is numbered, starting at the top right corner and going back and forth, left to right, in a serpentine pattern. The townships are consecutively numbered by their location within the intersection of multiple range lines and township lines. Base lines Half sections have an area of 320 acres. The following is a list of the more commonly required landscape and surveying items that were either required or requested be noted, over much of the nineteenth century. It is the lands boundary lines that also have terminal points and angles. Before the Rectangular Survey System was established, the Metes and Bounds survey was the only way of identifying who owned what land. Since nothing is perfect, some sections of land ended up being larger or smaller than they should. Half sections have an area of 320 acres. Constructive Notice in Real Estate Overview & Law | What is Constructive Notice? The guide meridians occur every 24 miles east and west of the principal meridian. The system was created by Thomas Jefferson in 1785. Surveyed land was sold by the government, providing important revenue for the cash-starved nation. 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). Only about half of the states in the United States still use the Rectangular Survey System. All township locations are defined by referencing how from they are from the principal meridian and baseline. The numbering continues directly beneath the sixth section, except that it progresses from left to right on the second tier. 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\"]\"quarter A quarter section can be split into smaller parts. The Rectangular Survey System is a method of surveying designed to divide the real property into specified plots. It was originally proposed by President Thomas Jefferson and is sometimes referred to as the Public Land Survey System (PLSS). Metes and bounds were used as the primary survey method before 1785 and were fairly inaccurate, especially before GPS technology. Halves are 320 acres, and quarters are each 160 acres. Standard Parallels are also called as correction lines for the meridians to compensate for the curvature of the earth. The Rectangular Survey System, also known as the Public Land Survey System (PLSS) or the Government Survey System, is a way of measuring and establishing boundary lines for large areas of land. For the real estate exam, youll need to know the two primary survey methods. Those states are: An error occurred trying to load this video. The rectangular survey system is based on principal meridians and base lines determined by precise scientific measurements. These townships are not the same as political subdivisions.\r\n

    Each township is further divided into 36 sections of one square mile each, or 640 acres, by horizontal and vertical section lines. Think about two lines running from left to right across this page about an inch apart. Many plans have been made on how to subdivide the public domain lands. You may be asked to identify sections in the Rectangular Survey System, so remember the order from specific to general. These principal meridian lines are named or numbered to identify their location. It is a rectangular approach to surveying the land breaking the district down to quadrangles of 24 miles. To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Member. Putting the above description into words is half of a quarter section. Simply multiply 640 by or 0.25, which equals 160, then multiply 160 by 1/2 or 0.5, which equals 80. The legal description of the property's location usually begins with the state and the principal meridian number followed by the township information. There may also be questions about how much land is in a specific plot or section. Land is designated as either a base line (East-West) or principal meridian line (North-South). The lines are spaced 24 miles apart, creating squares that are around 576 square miles. The grid creates six-mile square townships that can then be further divided into 36 sections of one square mile each. 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\" Townships are divided into 36 sections numbered consecutively. Were not done yet. The township is the basic unit of measurement in the rectangular survey system. 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. 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? 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.. They are the starting points for describing a propertys boundaries. The real estate exam probably wont ask you what states use the Metes and Bounds system or the Rectangular Survey System, but they may ask you which system your state uses. 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. Principal meridians, baselines, and where they intersect (cross each other) are used as the basis for formulating property descriptions in this system. So, you can refer to the south (S) 1/2 of the northwest (NW) 1/4 of a section in a township, for example. Try refreshing the page, or contact customer support. For a government survey to be valid, the official plat must have been approved by the government . The states that use the rectangular survey system are:Washington, Oregon, California, Nevada, Idaho, Utah, Arizona, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, Kansas, Oklahoma, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Arkansas, Louisiana, Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, Alabama, and Florida. You may even see a question or two about the numbering system used for sections. The system was created by Thomas Jefferson in 1785. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. In the entire nation, there are only 36 principal meridians. Manage Settings Section 1 within any township is always located at the upper right or northeast corner of the township. One section is 1 mile or 640 square acres, so it still covers a large piece of land and must be divided again.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'realestatelicensewizard_com-large-leaderboard-2','ezslot_4',690,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-realestatelicensewizard_com-large-leaderboard-2-0'); Sections are further broken down into half and quarter sections repeatedly until you identify the exact location of a property. Plus, get practice tests, quizzes, and personalized coaching to help you Using principal meridians and baselines as points of reference, land areas are divided by two kinds of lines, township lines and range lines. A government check represents an area that measures 576 square miles. For the real estate exam, youll need to know the two primary survey methods. All other trademarks and copyrights are the property of their respective owners. Land Description Government Rectangular Survey For 2019 | Real Estate Exam Prep. She has a Masters in English and Creative Writing from Southern New Hampshire University and a Bachelor's in English from Thomas Edison State University. lessons in math, English, science, history, and more. In addition to the principal meridians and baselines, the land is further divided by range lines, which run north and south. In reality, because of this earth curvature issue, many sections and townships vary from their exact area measurements. So, you can refer to the south (S) 1/2 of the northwest (NW) 1/4 of a section in a township, for example. Principal meridians, baselines, and where they intersect (cross each other) are used as the basis for formulating property descriptions in this system. The principal meridians are not located in equal distances from one another. Monuments are also placed at quarter-section corners and at other important points, such as the corners of government lots. The PLSS typically divides land into 6-mile-square townships. Take for example there is a shared baseline in both Nebraska and Kansas as both states border is at the 40th parallel north. The system was further modified to facilitate the transfer of large quantities of government-owned western lands to . The second row down continues being numbered west to east or left to right. The rectangular survey system was developed in an effort to try and describe all of the land in our country. It is primarily used throughout the United States with the exception of the thirteen colonies, which was surveyed by the metes and bound method . The rectangular survey system, often referred to as the government survey system, is based on a system of lines that form rectangles and squares throughout the. All lands in the public domain are subject to subdivision by this rectangular system of surveys. A Metes and Bounds survey may read something like commencing from the large apple tree 1 mile to the north, west along the river bed. However, rivers can be moved, and trees can die, so as you can see, this method is wildly inaccurate over time. Each one is distinguished by a different name and number and has an intersecting baseline. Principal meridians run perpendicular to the earths equator, north to south. The area created by the intersection of a township line and a range line is a township. A full rectangular survey system property description might read: By entering your email address and clicking the Submit button, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy & to receive electronic communications from Dummies.com, which may include marketing promotions, news and updates. The largest grid comprises of two types of lines, principal meridians, and baselines. Jeff Davis with American Realty Academy, covering the infamous Government Rectangular Survey. A mailing label lists your name, street address, city, state, and country. This point will be the basis for all government surveys in the area it controls, and its latitude and longitude are fixed by astronomical observations. 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\"]\"quarter A quarter section can be split into smaller parts. The rectangular survey or government survey describes land by reference to a. Concepts will include principal meridians, the PLSS, and how sections of a township are. Learn the basic methodology, and real-world adjustments. Standard parallels run east to west along with the baseline. (This description refers to a 10-acre parcel of land. Previous to the Public Land Survey System, land was surveyed using a confusing landmark-based system called metes and bounds. Imagine trying to draw straight lines on a rubber ball. The government survey system divides the country into a huge grid using principal meridians that run north to south and baselines that run east to west. Each one square mile section is 640 acres. A simple approach to a complex concept, Jeff gives students practical guidance that can be used on any Government Rectangular Survey question. The earliest land surveys in Minnesota were conducted under the jurisdiction of the Surveyor General of Iowa and Wisconsin, headquartered in Dubuque, Iowa. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. The numbering changes directions in the third tier from right to left. The fifth township south of the baseline and fourth to the west of the principal meridian would be identified as Missouri, Fifth Principal Meridian, Township 5 South, Range 4 West, or Missouri, Fifth Principal Meridian, T5S, R4W. Also known as the rectangular survey system or public land survey system, the government survey system refers to a federal land survey system that uses (north and south lines) meridians and (east and west lines) base lines. Whenever properties have irregular boundaries, the land may be further described using one of the two other systems described in this section. Note that the more detailed legal descriptions usually begin with the smallest area and work to the largest. For example, a Bound could be a road, tree, river, or large rock. Townships are subdivided into 36 one-mile- square sections. Sections can be further subdivided into quarter sections, quarter-quarter sections, or irregular government lots. The townships are consecutively numbered by their location within the intersection of multiple range lines and township lines.

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