Rectangular Survey System
The rectangular survey system, also known as the Public Land Survey System (PLSS), is a method of land surveying used in the United States to divide and describe land parcels based on a grid system of intersecting lines. The system was established by the federal government to facilitate the orderly settlement and distribution of public lands in areas west of the original thirteen colonies.
Under the rectangular survey system, land is divided into a series of rectangular units known as townships, which are six miles square and contain 36 sections, each measuring one square mile. Sections are further subdivided into smaller parcels, typically quarter-sections (160 acres), quarter-quarter sections (40 acres), or other fractional units.
The rectangular survey system is based on two sets of principal meridians (north-south lines) and baselines (east-west lines), which serve as reference points for measuring and locating land parcels. These meridians and baselines intersect to form a grid of township and range lines, with each township identified by its position relative to the principal meridian and baseline.
Land descriptions under the rectangular survey system typically include references to township, range, and section numbers, as well as aliquot parts (fractions) of sections, to precisely identify the location and boundaries of a particular parcel of land. This system provides a standardized method for conveying and recording property ownership and facilitates land management, taxation, and development.
While the rectangular survey system is primarily associated with the western United States, where it was originally implemented to survey and distribute public lands, variations of the system have been adopted in other regions of the country. In states where the rectangular survey system is used, land records and legal descriptions often adhere to the conventions and terminology established by the PLSS.
Understanding the rectangular survey system is important for landowners, real estate professionals, surveyors, and government agencies involved in land management and development, as it provides a framework for accurately describing, dividing, and transferring land parcels in accordance with established legal and surveying standards.