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| {{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.
| | 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. |
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| 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> | | 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> |