There may also be questions about how much land is in a specific plot or section. Records kept by the surveyors during the execution of the work varied over time. The following is a list of helpful terms:\r\n

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• 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. Other survey systems include the metes and bounds system and the lot and block system. Additionally, the terms used in the Rectangular Survey System can have different meanings under other systems of measurement and governmental designations. The area created by the intersection of a township line and a range line is a township. For instance, a quarter section always contains 160 acres, or a fourth of the total 640 acres in a section. Dont Miss: American Government A Brief Introduction. 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. Remember, there are 36 square miles in a township, and each section is 1 square mile. 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. The townships are consecutively numbered by their location within the intersection of multiple range lines and township lines. 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. Doing the math, its 1/2 1/4 640 = 80 acres. Livable, Rentable & Usable Area: Definition & Examples. Definition of "Government rectangular survey". Annexation in Real Estate: Method & Laws | What is Annexation? Simply multiply 640 by or 0.25, which equals 160, then multiply 160 by 1/2 or 0.5, which equals 80. Youre likely to see at least a few questions on the real estate license exams 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. 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. If you want to define smaller properties, we can take the southeast of section 3, which will only be 160 acres. When identifying property locations, you will always reference which principal meridian it is located near. The numbering then moves from right to left across that first upper tier. You may be asked to identify sections in the Rectangular Survey System, so remember the order from specific to general. 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 Many areas in the other states are also more accurate. Note that the more detailed legal descriptions usually begin with the smallest area and work to the largest. It isn't used by East Coast states except, Florida, and it also isn't used by Texas. Remember, a township is 6 miles by 6 miles. It uses the 37 principal meridian lines that run north to south across the U.S. and baselines that run east to west. 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. [/caption]\r\n\r\nA full rectangular survey system property description might read:\r\n

  The 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. You can drill down by clicking on the land map, but you need to click the calc button to get the latitude and longitude. The area includes sections (1 mile on each side), townships (6 miles on each side), and quadrangles (24 miles on each side). (This description refers to a 10-acre parcel of land. Which States Use the Rectangular Survey System. Surveyed land was sold by the government, providing important revenue for the cash-starved nation. The Rectangular Survey System is a method of surveying designed to divide the real property into specified plots. 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. Longitude and latitude are imaginary lines that divide the earth through the north and south poles (longitude) and run parallel with the equator (latitude). However, rivers can be moved, and trees can die, so as you can see, this method is wildly inaccurate over time. The first sets of lines respectively are called principal meridians, which run north and south, and baselines, which run east and west. You may even see a question or two about the numbering system used for sections. Think about two more lines running up and down the page on top of the first two lines, also about an inch apart. {"appState":{"pageLoadApiCallsStatus":true},"articleState":{"article":{"headers":{"creationTime":"2020-12-02T18:41:21+00:00","modifiedTime":"2021-03-11T20:17:19+00:00","timestamp":"2022-09-14T18:17:55+00:00"},"data":{"breadcrumbs":[{"name":"Academics & The Arts","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33662"},"slug":"academics-the-arts","categoryId":33662},{"name":"Study Skills & Test Prep","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33772"},"slug":"study-skills-test-prep","categoryId":33772},{"name":"Real Estate Licensure Exam","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33793"},"slug":"real-estate-licensure-exam","categoryId":33793}],"title":"Real Estate License Exam: The Rectangular Survey System","strippedTitle":"real estate license exam: the rectangular survey system","slug":"real-estate-license-exam-the-rectangular-survey-system","canonicalUrl":"","seo":{"metaDescription":"Learn about the rectangular survey system and how land is broken up into quadrangles, sections, and townships in the United States. So, in the example above, Township 4 South would be T4S. The following table indicates some distance and area conversions in the PLSS: 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. Standard parallels run east to west along with the baseline. Government Survey System or Public Land Survey System functions just like a mailing label on an envelope. 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. 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? 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. Moreover, the astronomical observations will then determine the areas latitude and longitude. These sections are referred to as fractional sections. Continue with Recommended Cookies. 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. The system is also relatively easy to understand, as it is basically a single grid laid over the land. He is also a real estate investor, board gamer and homebrewer. The system became official with the Land Ordinance Act of 1785. He teaches pre-licensing and continuing education courses for salespeople, brokers, and appraisers. As the United States grew from its original 13 colonies, a system was needed to identify who owned what land. (The figure below shows a variety of divisions in a quarter section. You may even see a question or two about the numbering system used for sections. A section of ground is one mile on all sides, which means it is a one-mile square. Discover what the Rectangular Survey System is, where it is usually used, and its main purpose. The township is the basic unit of measurement in the rectangular survey system. 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. To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Member. Today, the BLM controls the survey, sale, and settling of lands acquired by the United States. The legal description can be further described by indicating which directional half or quadrants of the section, as well. The grid is further divided by lines that run parallel to and between the principal meridian lines, called range lines, and lines that run parallel to and between the baselines, called township lines. Think about two more lines running up and down the page on top of the first two lines, also about an inch apart. This system has also become known as the rectangular survey system and geodetic survey system.. Some data is missing in this version that is included in the old version. \"https://sb\" : \"http://b\") + \".scorecardresearch.com/beacon.js\";el.parentNode.insertBefore(s, el);})();\r\n","enabled":true},{"pages":["all"],"location":"footer","script":"\r\n

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Also known as the Rectangular Survey System, it was created by the Land Ordinance of 1785 to survey land ceded to the United States by the Treaty of Paris in 1783, following the end of the American Revolution. The system uses Metes, which are straight lines connecting two points, and Bounds, which are identifiable aspects of a property. Each half or quarter section can be further subdivided into halves and quarters. In other words, after section number 6, it drops down to 7 on the next tier then goes left to right to number 12. An area bounded on two sides by guide meridians and on the other two sides by correction lines is called a government check, check, or quadrangle, which is 24 miles square, meaning each of its boundaries is 24 miles long. That means it is 3 townships north of the baseline and 5 townships east of the principal meridian. 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. They are often combined to create a more accurate map of property boundaries. [/caption]\r\n

  Each half or quarter section can be further subdivided into halves and quarters. Jeff Davis with American Realty Academy, covering the infamous Government Rectangular Survey. 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 or government survey describes. (The figure below shows a variety of divisions in a quarter section.). A township in this system can be both a line and the square of land created by the township lines and range lines. Although the lines start out the same distance apart, they get closer together as you get near one or the other end of the ball.\r\n\r\nCorrection lines and guide meridians were established to correct this problem in the government survey system. This version has a more visual interface, which was optimized to explore the dataset. 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. 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. Half sections have an area of 320 acres. The Metes and bounds system dates back centuries to the original 13 colonies, while the rectangular survey method was established in 1785 and used in all 36 states formed after that point. Its worth noting quadrangles are not used when identifying land with the rectangular survey method, only the principal meridians, baselines, and townships and sections. The PLSS typically divides land into 6-mile-square townships. Metes & Bounds System in Real Estate | Metes & Bounds Survey Examples & Legal Description. - The system, which was adopted in 1785, is also called the U.S. System of Rectangular Surveys or the rectangular method. 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. Enrolling in a course lets you earn progress by passing quizzes and exams. Title Theory State | Rights, Differences & Purpose. 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. 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. Land Description Government Rectangular Survey For 2019 | Real Estate Exam Prep. )\r\nThe description probably would include the state and county in which the property is located and use abbreviations. a rectangular system of land survey that divides a district into 24-square mile quadrangles from the meridian (north-south line) and the baseline (east-west line); the tracts are divided into 6-mile-square parts called townships, which are in turn divided into 36 tracts, each 1 mile square, called sections. A government check represents an area that measures 576 square miles.\r\n\r\nRemember that although these correction lines and guide meridians are the way the government deals with the issue of the earths curvature, it isnt the way the government survey system describes land. A rectangular survey is read based on the state and meridian line and the property's location, directionally, to that line. The range and township lines create a 36-square-mile area called a township. Attachments & Severance in Real Estate: Definitions, Examples & Laws. We have Quarter sections, Half sections, township sections, townships, quadrangles, and principal meridians with baselines. 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. The rectangular survey system was developed in an effort to try and describe all of the land in our country. Township lines, which run east and west, parallel to baselines, are horizontal parallel lines that form township tiers. This system divides the country using 37 principal meridians that run north and south and baselines that run east and west. Because the rectangular or government survey system was instituted when the United States was a brand-new country, it was used to describe most of the land west of the original 13 . A simple approach to a complex concept, Jeff gives students practical guidance that can be used on any Government Rectangular Survey question. The Rectangular Survey System can be thought of as a grid that covers the U.S. ","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. How many rows in a survey of sections of a township? There are 16 townships in each quadrangle. Also Check: When Is Open Enrollment For Government Healthcare. However, the system calculations also have to be adjusted somewhat to account for the curvature of the earth, which required the addition of Guide Meridians and Standard Parallels. Water & Littoral Rights Concept & Purpose | What are Water Rights? It is a rectangular approach to surveying the land breaking the district down to quadrangles of 24 miles. The system is based on the principle of surveying the land from a fixed point, called a baseline, and . Legal descriptions under the Rectangular Survey System include the state, the principal meridian, the township designated by number and direction, and the section number. TRID Guidelines & Compliance Checklist | What is TRID? So, you can refer to the south (S) 1/2 of the northwest (NW) 1/4 of a section in a township, for example. Understand its process through the given examples. Townships are identified based on their location to the point of origin where the principal meridian line meets the baseline. The grid creates six-mile square townships that can then be further divided into 36 sections of one square mile each. Take for example there is a shared baseline in both Nebraska and Kansas as both states border is at the 40th parallel north. Areas smaller than full-size sections are known as government lots and are numbered and placed in fractional sections. A mailing label lists your name, street address, city, state, and country. All township locations are defined by referencing how from they are from the principal meridian and baseline. The first set of lines are called the principal meridians and run north and south. For example, a Bound could be a road, tree, river, or large rock. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. For example, how many acres are there if you take the North East of the South 1/2 of section 3 in township 8 North and range 5 west? Guide meridians run true north, and the intersecting correction line is shorter than a township line. The boundary of each township is 6 miles long, so a township contains 36 square miles and is described as being 6 miles square. In legal documents, such as a lien, deed, trust deed, mortgage, and sales contract, courts require an exact description of where a piece of land is located. Graphic depiction of the Rectangular Survey System. The township and range definition of a parcel of land, then, is its location in relation to the township and range lines. It uses imaginary lines to set land descriptions on thedistance: base lines run east-west and meridians run north-south. As with most things, there are pros and cons of using the Rectangular Survey System. Before the Rectangular Survey System was established, the Metes and Bounds survey was the only way of identifying who owned what land. Manage Settings The Rectangular Survey System is the basis for the PLSS and is used to survey all public lands in the United States. The townships are consecutively numbered by their location within the intersection of multiple range lines and township lines. Guide meridians run north to south, parallel with principal meridians. 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). 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. Constructive Notice in Real Estate Overview & Law | What is Constructive Notice? In reality, because of this earth curvature issue, many sections and townships vary from their exact area measurements. Sections also are numbered consecutively. (This description refers to a 10-acre parcel of land. Beginning with the Seven Ranges in present-day Ohio, the PLSS has been used as the primary survey method in the United States. Way in which the U.S. government uses to subdivide public land. It is also known as the rectangular survey system and geodetic survey system. Read Also: Government Grants For Commercial Real Estate. Think about two lines running from left to right across this page about an inch apart. Now, 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. When identifying property locations, you will always reference which principal meridian it is located near. The implementation of the system begins with the identification of the reference lines: the east-west line called the Base Line and the north-south line is also known for the name principal meridian. 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. The roads in a lot of communities in the U.S. run along survey Base Lines as well just like in Arkansas, especially in Little Rock, the baseline road follows the baseline used by the Louisiana Purchase surveyors.

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