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The [[National Archives and Records Administration|National Archives in Washington, DC]] has over 10 million land entry case files of individuals trying to obtain a private claim to some of the public land in [[United States Land and Property#United_States|30 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''', which divided the land into '''Congressional townships''' on a '''township and range''' grid based on '''rectangular surveys'''. A township consists of 36 '''sections''' of one square mile each. Sections are organized into a 6 x 6 square to form each township. | {{TOC right}}The [[National Archives and Records Administration|National Archives in Washington, DC]] has over 10 million land entry case files of individuals trying to obtain a private claim to some of the public land in [[United States Land and Property#United_States|30 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''', which divided the land into '''Congressional townships''' on a '''township and range''' grid based on '''rectangular surveys'''. A township consists of 36 '''sections''' of one square mile each. Sections are organized into a 6 x 6 square to form each township. | ||
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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Numbered townships were laid out in tiers north and south of the baseline; numbered ranges were laid out east and west of the meridians. The intersecting strips of townships and ranges formed a checkerboard or grid of townships.<ref name="Hawkins" /> | Numbered townships were laid out in tiers north and south of the baseline; numbered ranges were laid out east and west of the meridians. The intersecting strips of townships and ranges formed a checkerboard or grid of townships.<ref name="Hawkins" /> | ||
With careful examination for grid markers, the federal-land-state townships and ranges usually can be identified in a Rand McNally ''Commercial Atlas and Marketing Guide''<ref>Rand McNally and Company, ''Commercial Atlas and Marketing Guide'' (Chicago : Rand McNally, 1989). {{WorldCat|22500935|item|disp=At various repositories (WorldCat)}}.</ref> found at most large libraries. Each township has a range strip and a township strip. Together they create an address for that township within the boundaries of their ''principal meridian '' and ''baseline''. Begin counting where the principal meridian and baseline intersect. If the township address is T2N R3E, it means that the township is two units north of the baseline, and three units east of the principal meridian. | With careful examination for grid markers, the federal-land-state townships and ranges usually can be identified in a Rand McNally ''Commercial Atlas and Marketing Guide''<ref>Rand McNally and Company, ''Commercial Atlas and Marketing Guide'' (Chicago : Rand McNally, 1989). {{WorldCat|22500935|item|disp=At various repositories (WorldCat)}}.</ref> found at most large libraries. Each township has a range strip and a township strip. Together they create an address for that township within the boundaries of their ''principal meridian '' and ''baseline''. Begin counting where the principal meridian and baseline intersect. If the township address is T2N R3E, it means that the township is two units north of the baseline, and three units east of the principal meridian. Similarly, a township address of T3S R1W would be three units south of the baseline, and one unit west of the principal meridian. | ||
[[Image:Congressional Township Rectangular Survey Grid.png|647px|Congressional Township Rectangular Survey Grid.png]] | [[Image:Congressional Township Rectangular Survey Grid.png|647px|Congressional Township Rectangular Survey Grid.png]] | ||