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''[[United States|United States]] [[Image:Gotoarrow.png]] [[United States Land and Property|Land and Property]]'' [[Image:Gotoarrow.png]] '''Rectangular surveys''' | ''[[United States|United States]] [[Image:Gotoarrow.png]] [[United States Land and Property|Land and Property]]'' [[Image:Gotoarrow.png]] '''Rectangular surveys''' | ||
{{TOC right}}It will be easier to find and understand the land records of ancestors if you learn something about the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_Land_Survey_System Public Lands Survey System] and its records. In the United States, depending on the state, one of two main survey systems have been used to determine the borders of property:<br><br> | {{TOC right}}The [[National Archives and Records Administration|National Archives in Washington, DC]] has over 10 million land entry case files of private individuals attempting to lay claim to some of the public land in [[30 public land (or federal land) states]] from 1820-1908. In almost all these cases the land was surveyed and described as part of the '''Public Lands Survey System''', also known as the '''Congressional Township Survey System''', or '''rectangular surveys'''. | ||
It will be easier to find and understand the land records of ancestors if you learn something about the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_Land_Survey_System Public Lands Survey System] and its records. In the United States, depending on the state, one of two main survey systems have been used to determine the borders of property:<br><br> | |||
:*the older '''[[Metes and Bounds|metes and bounds]]''' primarily used in [[State Land|state land states]] | :*the older '''[[Metes and Bounds|metes and bounds]]''' primarily used in [[State Land|state land states]] | ||
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==== Section subdivisions ==== | ==== Section subdivisions ==== | ||
Each section is usually divided into subdivisions of varying size, usually with rectangular (square) shapes. The sections can be further subdivided into quarter sections of 160 acres. The quarters can be divided into half-quarters of 80 acres or into quarter-quarter sections of 40 acres.<ref>[http://www.geocommunicator.gov/GeoComm/lsis_home/home/lsis-plss-description.html The Public Land Survey System (PLSS)] in ''Department of the Interior - Bureau of Land Management (BLM)'' at GeoCommunicator.gov (accessed 28 November 2014).</ref> | Each section is usually divided into subdivisions of varying size, usually with rectangular (square) shapes. The sections can be further subdivided into quarter sections of 160 acres. The quarters can be divided into half-quarters of 80 acres or into quarter-quarter sections of 40 acres.<ref>[http://www.geocommunicator.gov/GeoComm/lsis_home/home/lsis-plss-description.html The Public Land Survey System (PLSS)] in ''Department of the Interior - Bureau of Land Management (BLM)'' at GeoCommunicator.gov (accessed 28 November 2014).</ref> | ||
==== Internet map tool ==== | ==== Internet map tool ==== | ||
[http://www.earthpoint.us/Townships.aspx Earthpoint: Tools for Google Earth] displays a Google Earth map based on BLM township, range, section, and quarter-quarter section if you zoom in close enough (most, but not all areas have quarter-quarter sections mapped). The tool can also convert township, range, and section to latitude and longitude, or vise versa. | [http://www.earthpoint.us/Townships.aspx Earthpoint: Tools for Google Earth] displays a Google Earth map based on BLM township, range, section, and quarter-quarter section if you zoom in close enough (most, but not all areas have quarter-quarter sections mapped). The tool can also convert township, range, and section to latitude and longitude, or vise versa. | ||
==== Rectangular Survey Land Records ==== | ==== Rectangular Survey Land Records ==== | ||
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'''Tract book arrangement.''' Tract books are arranged by the present-day state. In some states tract books are also divided into groups by land office. Each tract book is arranged by the legal land description of the section, township, and range.<ref name="Hone" /> | '''Tract book arrangement.''' Tract books are arranged by the present-day state. In some states tract books are also divided into groups by land office. Each tract book is arranged by the legal land description of the section, township, and range.<ref name="Hone" /> | ||
The townships and ranges covered in each of the 2,325 tract books is listed at [[United States, Bureau of Land Management Tract Books (FamilySearch Historical Records)|United States, Bureau of Land Management Tract Books Coverage Table (FamilySearch Historical Records)]]. | The townships and ranges covered in each of the 2,325 tract books is listed at [[United States, Bureau of Land Management Tract Books (FamilySearch Historical Records)|United States, Bureau of Land Management Tract Books Coverage Table (FamilySearch Historical Records)]]. | ||
==== For Further Reading ==== | ==== For Further Reading ==== | ||