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John A. Yoegel, PhD, is a certified real estate instructor and former board member of the Real Estate Educators Association. The first sets of lines respectively are called principal meridians, which run north and south, and baselines, which run east and west. The grid creates six-mile square townships that can then be further divided into 36 sections of one square mile each. For example, a Bound could be a road, tree, river, or large rock. For example, a piece of land could be identified as the southeast quarter of section 18 of a township, which would be 160 acres. Annexation in Real Estate: Method & Laws | What is Annexation? Lines that are parallel to the Base Line are called the standard parallels which run at 24-mile intervals north and south of the Base Line. The township is the basic unit of measurement in the rectangular survey system. What Is Chattel in Real Estate and Property? Where a baseline meets a principal meridian is called a point of origin. 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. 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\"](\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/real-estate-exam-townships.jpg\")
Townships are divided into 36 sections numbered consecutively. 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. The first set of lines are called the principal meridians and run north and south. 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? Now known as the Public Land Survey System, this system divided the western lands into grid-shaped townships and sections. The legal description of the property's location usually begins with the state and the principal meridian number followed by the township information. The government rectangular survey method is a legal description for land. Also Check: Government Help With Home Down Payment. Its worth noting; quadrangles are not used when identifying land with the rectangular survey method, only the principal meridians, baselines, and townships and sections. 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.. This system utilizes a system of rectangular coordinates to create a map of a parcel of land. Those states are: An error occurred trying to load this video. as starting points. The Rectangular Survey System is a method of surveying designed to divide the real property into specified plots. The Rectangular Survey System can be thought of as a grid that covers the U.S. 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. These sections are referred to as fractional sections. 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. There are several advantages of the rectangular land survey system. Explain. Each one is distinguished by a different name and number and has an intersecting baseline. Attachments & Severance in Real Estate: Definitions, Examples & Laws. Rectangular Survey System - Divides land into rectangles - The system is based on two sets of lines - Principal Meridians and Base Lines Principal Meridians - Vertical lines, crossing base line. Range lines run north and south between the principal meridians and are spaced out every six miles. The smallest division in this system is usually 10-acre quarters. copyright 2003-2023 Study.com. Rectangular Survey System This is also called the section and township system or U.S. Government Section and Township Survey, established in the nineteenth century by the U.S. Surveyor General to survey public lands. 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. Principal meridians run perpendicular to the earths equator, north to south. The boundary of each township is 6 miles long, so a township contains 36 square miles and is described as being 6 miles square. Metes and Bounds surveys are still used in many states; however, they differ from the Public Land Survey System as they are not based on any grid but instead identify objects on the land, measurements, and compass directions. Remember 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. Using principal meridians and baselines as points of reference, land areas are divided by two kinds of lines, township lines and range lines. These divisions mean just that. These principal meridian lines are named or numbered to identify their location. In the survey method, there has to be the creation of an initial point. Shawn Custer has taught college-level English, composition, and literature for over six years. Continue with Recommended Cookies. 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. 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. Section information is added to the property description as such: Missouri, Fifth Principal Meridian, T5S, R4W, sec 24. Halves are 320 acres, and quarters are each 160 acres. Normally, a permanent monument, or marker, is placed at each section corner. How Do You Use the Rectangular Survey System? [2] As the United States grew from its original 13 colonies, a system was needed to identify who owned what land. Section 1 within any township is always located at the upper right or northeast corner of the township. 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. Principal meridians, baselines, and where they intersect (cross each other) are used as the basis for formulating property descriptions in this system. 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. Townships are then broken down into sections, which are 36 blocks, each being 1 square mile. He is also a real estate investor, board gamer and homebrewer. The range lines run north and south parallel to the principal meridians. It is considered as one of the most significant subdividing of the United States mainland. You may even see a question or two about the numbering system used for sections. [/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. In other words, after section number 6, it drops down to 7 on the next tier then goes left to right to number 12. Where the two range lines and two township lines intersect, they form a township. )\r\nThe description probably would include the state and county in which the property is located and use abbreviations. Since the lines that create them are six miles apart, they are 24 miles around and include an area of 36 square miles, which is 23,040 acres. In other words, after section number 6, it drops down to 7 on the next tier then goes left to right to number 12. Dont Miss: Work From Home Government Jobs. Prior to the land ordinance of 1785 and the Rectangular Survey System, the state lands state which would be the 13 colonies, surveyed their land with meets and bound system. For instance, a quarter section always contains 160 acres, or a fourth of the total 640 acres in a section. The area includes sections (1 mile on each side), townships (6 miles on each side), and quadrangles (24 miles on each side). The rectangular survey system devised for the PLSS is often credited to Thomas Jefferson. Guide meridians and standard parallels form quadrangles. Baselines run parallel to the earths equator, from east to west. Half sections have an area of 320 acres. 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 Surveyor General was later merged with the General Land Office, which later became a part of the U.S. Bureau of Land Management . Monuments are also placed at quarter-section corners and at other important points, such as the corners of government lots. 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. 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 numbering continues directly beneath the sixth section, except that it progresses from left to right on the second tier. For example, you can say the east of section 3. That means the property is 320 acres and located on the east half of that section. The first sets of lines respectively are called principal meridians, which run north and south, and baselines, which run east and west. So, you can refer to the south (S) 1/2 of the northwest (NW) 1/4 of a section in a township, for example. Title Theory State | Rights, Differences & Purpose. 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. 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. Novation in Real Estate | Novation of Contract. The Rectangular Survey Method established a standard measurement and origin point for all properties to follow using a grid system. 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](\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/real-estate-exam-sections.jpg\")
Sections can be divided in a variety of ways, including quarters and smaller sections. Texas Real Estate Sales Agent Exam: Practice & Study Guide, Michigan Real Estate Broker Exam: Study Guide & Practice, Michigan Real Estate Salesperson Exam: Study Guide & Practice, Georgia Real Estate Salesperson Exam: Study Guide & Practice, West Virginia Real Estate Broker Exam: Study Guide & Practice, West Virginia Real Estate Salesperson Exam: Study Guide & Practice, Wyoming Real Estate Broker Exam: Study Guide & Practice, California Real Estate Salesperson Exam: Study Guide, Virginia Real Estate Salesperson Licensing Exam: Study Guide, Arizona Real Estate Salesperson Licensing Exam: Study Guide, Arizona Real Estate Broker License Exam: Study Guide, North Carolina Real Estate Broker License: Study Guide, Florida Real Estate Sales Associate Exam: Test Prep & Study Guide, Tennessee Real Estate Broker Exam: Study Guide & Practice, Tennessee Real Estate Affiliate Broker Exam: Study Guide & Practice, Maryland Real Estate Broker Exam: Study Guide & Practice, Maryland Real Estate Salesperson Exam: Study Guide & Practice, Montana Real Estate Broker Exam: Study Guide & Practice, Kentucky Real Estate Broker Exam: Study Guide & Practice, Create an account to start this course today. It was originally proposed by President Thomas Jefferson and is sometimes referred to as the Public Land Survey System (PLSS). They are the starting points for describing a propertys boundaries. 2021 KnowYourGovernment.netContact us: [emailprotected], Introduction to administration of Web Survey System Part 2, Estimating a weighted average CSR2 in Iowa using the USDA NRCS Web Soil Survey, How To Find Lost Money From The Government, What Is The Interest Rate On Government Student Loans, Local Government Federal Credit Union App, When Is Open Enrollment For Government Healthcare, Government Grants For Commercial Real Estate, Government Regulations For Nonprofit Organizations, Surveyor General of the Northwest Territory, Energy Efficient Windows Government Grants, Mortgage Loans For Federal Government Employees, Free Government Foreclosure Listings With Pictures. The largest grid comprises of two types of lines, principal meridians, and baselines. 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. So, in the example above, Township 4 South would be T4S. All township locations are defined by referencing how from they are from the principal meridian and baseline. 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. The numbering changes directions in the third tier from right to left. Principal meridians, quadrangles, townships, then sections its that easy, dont overthink it.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'realestatelicensewizard_com-leader-1','ezslot_6',691,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-realestatelicensewizard_com-leader-1-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'realestatelicensewizard_com-leader-1','ezslot_7',691,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-realestatelicensewizard_com-leader-1-0_1');.leader-1-multi-691{border:none!important;display:block!important;float:none!important;line-height:0;margin-bottom:15px!important;margin-left:auto!important;margin-right:auto!important;margin-top:15px!important;max-width:100%!important;min-height:250px;min-width:250px;padding:0;text-align:center!important}. Rectangular Government Survey. Metes and bounds were used as the primary survey method before 1785 and were fairly inaccurate, especially before GPS technology. The system is also relatively easy to understand, as it is basically a single grid laid over the land. . Whenever properties have irregular boundaries, the land may be further described using one of the two other systems described in this section. I feel like its a lifeline. You may be asked to identify sections in the Rectangular Survey System, so remember the order from specific to general. ","noIndex":0,"noFollow":0},"content":"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 United States. Imagine trying to draw straight lines on a rubber ball. The rectangular survey system was developed in an effort to try and describe all of the land in our country. A system of fractional sections and government lots are parts of standard practice to account for these discrepancies. This indicates that the property is between the baseline and the first township line to the north and between the first and second range lines to the east of the fifth principal meridian. The three legal real estate land descriptions are important information that all real estate agents and brokers must understand to pass their real estate exam and receive their license. We know that there are 640 acres in one section, and we are taking a 1/4 of a 1/2 section. Just because they are referred to as government lots does not mean the government owns the land they contain. How many rows in a survey of sections of a township? ","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. 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. 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. 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. Each section is numbered, starting at the top right corner and going back and forth, left to right, in a serpentine pattern. Section 1 within any township is always located at the upper right or northeast corner of the township. Many areas in the other states are also more accurate. In addition to the principal meridians and baselines, the land is further divided by range lines, which run north and south. Beginning with the Seven Ranges in present-day Ohio, the PLSS has been used as the primary survey method in the United States. The Public Land Survey System (PLSS) is the surveying method developed and used in the United States to plat, or divide, real property for sale and settling.Also known as the Rectangular Survey System, it was created by the Land Ordinance of 1785.. Doing the math, its 1/2 1/4 640 = 80 acres. Previous to the Public Land Survey System, land was surveyed using a confusing landmark-based system called metes and bounds. For instance, a quarter section always contains 160 acres, or a fourth of the total 640 acres in a section. Following the passage of the Northwest Ordinance in 1787, the Surveyor General of the Northwest Territory platted lands in the Northwest Territory. Definition of "Government rectangular survey". Government Survey Systems were originally created by the US Congress in 1785 as a way of identifying land faster and more accurately. 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. The townships are consecutively numbered by their location within the intersection of multiple range lines and township lines. The land can be further divided into even smaller sections by dividing the halves or quarters into smaller halves or quarters.