Rectangular Surveys
United States 
Land and Property Rectangular surveys
It will be easier to find and understand the land records of ancestors if you learn something about the 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:
- the older metes and bounds primarily used in state land states
- the newer rectangular surveys (also known as Congressional township rectangular surveys) primarily used in federal land states
The Land Ordinance of 1785 established the Public Land Survey System. Land was systematically surveyed into square "Congressional" townships, six miles (9.656 km) on a side. Each of these townships were sub-divided into thirty-six sections of one square mile (2.59 km²) or 640 acres. These sections could then be further subdivided for re-sale by settlers and land speculators.[1]
Principal Meridians and Base Lines[edit | edit source]
The rectangular survey system is based on principal meridians and base lines determined by precise scientific measurements. As each territory or state opened new public lands, the government identified a meridian (running north and south) and a base line (running east and west) to guide all future land surveys in that area.[2] Each color-block in the following map shows the states, or part of a state, surveyed using that area's principal meridian and base line.
For a larger version of this map, click here, and then click again to further enlarge it.
Numbered Townships and Ranges[edit | edit source]
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 lines of townships and ranges formed a checkerboard or grid of townships.[2]
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[3] found at most large libraries. Each township has a range line and a township line. Together they create an address for that township within the boundaries of their principle 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. Similarlly, a township address of T3S R1W would be three units south of the baseline, and one unit west of the principal meridian.
Numbered Sections[edit | edit source]
The basic unit of the rectangular survey system is the section. A section contains one square mile (640 acres). Thirty-six sections in a square pattern, (6 miles by 6 miles), makes up a township. The following diagram shows how standard sections are numbered starting in the northeast corner of a township:
6 5 4 3 2 1
7 8 9 10 11 12
18 17 16 15 14 13
19 20 21 22 23 24
30 29 28 27 26 25
31 32 33 34 35 36
Secton Subdivisions[edit | edit source]
Each section is usually divided into subdivisions of varying size, usually with rectangular (square) shapes.
For Further Reading[edit | edit source]
- See Land & Property Research in the United States, by E. Wade Hone, FHL US/CAN 973 R27h, chapter 8.
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ Land Ordinance of 1785 in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia (accessed 25 November 2014).
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Kenneth Hawkins, Research in the Land Entry Files of the General Land Office: Record Group 49, Reference Information Paper, 114 (Washington, DC: National Archives and Records Administration, 2007), 9. At various repositories (WorldCat) FHL Ref Book 973 J53hrL
- ↑ Rand McNally and Company, Commercial Atlas and Marketing Guide (Chicago : Rand McNally, 1989). At various repositories (WorldCat).
| ||||||||||