You may be asked to identify sections in the Rectangular Survey System, so remember the order from specific to general. Congress created it in 1785 as a more straightforward, faster and more accurate way to identify land. Also Check: When Is Open Enrollment For Government Healthcare. As we mentioned earlier, two primary survey methods are used in the United States, the Metes and Bounds System, and the Rectangular Survey System. Finally, sections can be further divided into halves or quarters that are named for their direction within the section: the east half, the west half, the north half, the south half, the northwest quarter, the northeast quarter, the southwest quarter, and the southeast quarter. The land is then further divided into quadrangles. This system created a checkerboard of identical squares using longitude lines and latitude lines . For example, you would say, it is in township 3 north, range 5 east, to identify a property. It is considered as one of the most significant subdividing of the United States' mainland. The townships are consecutively numbered by their location within the intersection of multiple range lines and township lines. These surveys, completed between 1848 and May 1857 were primarily on land located between the St. Croix and Mississippi rivers or in the southeastern corner of Minnesota. )\r\nThe description probably would include the state and county in which the property is located and use abbreviations. A system of fractional sections and government lots are parts of standard practice to account for these discrepancies. Definition of "Rectangular survey". For instance, a quarter section always contains 160 acres, or a fourth of the total 640 acres in a section. Lines that are parallel to the Base Line are called the standard parallels which run at 24-mile intervals north and south of the Base Line. The rectangular survey describes property location as fractions of sections, which are part of townships, and provide distance measurements from principal meridians, base lines and range lines. Dont Miss: Small Business Loan Government Programs. The numbering then moves from right to left across that first upper tier. Government Rectangular Survey | Free Real Estate Exam Prep Video The rectangular survey or government survey describes land by reference to a. The section in the uppermost northeast corner of a township is section 1. Definition of "Government rectangular survey". succeed. Ian is a 3D printing and digital design entrepreneur with over five years of professional experience. Discover what the Rectangular Survey System is, where it is usually used, and its main purpose. [/caption]\r\n\r\nEach section of 640 acres can be divided into halves and quarters called, get this, half sections and quarter sections. But the final plan included subdivision of the lands into townships, then into sections and further into aliquot parts. Also, the meets and bounds system is used to describe land by listing the compass directions and distances of the boundaries. However, the system calculations also have to be adjusted somewhat to account for the curvature of the earth, which required the addition of Guide Meridians and Standard Parallels. The system uses Metes, which are straight lines connecting two points, and Bounds, which are identifiable aspects of a property. Of course. Correction lines occur at every fourth township line or every 24 miles north and south of the baseline. Township lines, which run east and west, parallel to baselines, are horizontal parallel lines that form township tiers. The first set of lines are called the principal meridians and run north and south. (The figure below shows a variety of divisions in a quarter section.). These divisions mean just that. Range lines run north and south between the principal meridians and are spaced out every six miles. It is primarily used throughout the United States with the exception of the thirteen colonies, which was surveyed by the metes and bound method . Imagine trying to draw straight lines on a rubber ball. These smaller parcels are identified by their directional location within the section. The federal government developed the rectangular survey system, or government survey method, to simplify and standardize property descriptions as a replacement for the cumbersome and often inaccurate metes and bounds method. Jeff Davis with American Realty Academy, covering the infamous Government Rectangular Survey. Attachments & Severance in Real Estate: Definitions, Examples & Laws. You can think of this system as a gigantic checkerboard, as it has a bunch of intersecting lines that form squares into a grid. The squares created by range and township lines are known as townships and are identified by their location from the baseline and principal meridian lines. Whenever properties have irregular boundaries, the land may be further described using one of the two other systems described in this section. Specific directional references are needed in the actual description to locate a particular piece of property, but for finding out how large a particular piece of property is, only the fractions matter.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_274747\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"556\"] Sections can be divided in a variety of ways, including quarters and smaller sections. Townships, Sections, and the Government Survey System Explained Where a baseline meets a principal meridian is called a point of origin. The boundary of each township is 6 miles long, so a township contains 36 square miles and is described as being 6 miles square. The survey system essentially functions the same way. Sections can be further subdivided into quarter sections, quarter-quarter sections, or irregular government lots. \"https://sb\" : \"http://b\") + \".scorecardresearch.com/beacon.js\";el.parentNode.insertBefore(s, el);})();\r\n","enabled":true},{"pages":["all"],"location":"footer","script":"\r\n\r\n","enabled":false},{"pages":["all"],"location":"header","script":"\r\n","enabled":false},{"pages":["article"],"location":"header","script":" ","enabled":true},{"pages":["homepage"],"location":"header","script":"","enabled":true},{"pages":["homepage","article","category","search"],"location":"footer","script":"\r\n\r\n","enabled":true}]}},"pageScriptsLoadedStatus":"success"},"navigationState":{"navigationCollections":[{"collectionId":287568,"title":"BYOB (Be Your Own Boss)","hasSubCategories":false,"url":"/collection/for-the-entry-level-entrepreneur-287568"},{"collectionId":293237,"title":"Be a Rad 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How to P-R-E-P-A-R-E for the Real Estate License Exam, Real Estate License Exam: 10 Things to Find Out About State Real Estate Law, How to Make Mortgage Calculations without a Fancy Calculator, Real Estate License Exam: Measuring Area and Volume, Real Estate License Exams For Dummies Cheat Sheet. Rectangular Survey System - 50th-reunion.com Quadrangles have an area of 576 square miles, more or less, and are divided into 16 townships.\r\n \t

Townships: The divisions of a quadrangle, townships, are six miles square (six miles on each side) and are delineated by township lines. The Rectangular Survey System provides for a unit of land approximately 24 miles square, bounded by base lines running east and west, and meridians running north and south. Remember, there are 36 square miles in a township, and each section is 1 square mile. Principal meridians, baselines, and where they intersect (cross each other) are used as the basis for formulating property descriptions in this system. Metes & Bounds System in Real Estate | Metes & Bounds Survey Examples & Legal Description. The township is the basic unit of measurement in the rectangular survey system. Public Land Survey System - Sidwell Although the lines start out the same distance apart, they get closer together as you get near one or the other end of the ball.\r\n\r\nCorrection lines and guide meridians were established to correct this problem in the government survey system. . The Rectangular Survey System, also known as the Government Survey System or Public Land Survey System, is a method of plotting land boundaries in the United States using a large grid made up of rectangles. Because the rectangular or government survey system was instituted when the United States was a new country, it was used to describe most of the land west of the original 13 colonies, so most of you are likely to see some questions about this system.\r\n\r\nLongitude and latitude are imaginary lines that divide the earth through the north and south poles (longitude) and run parallel with the equator (latitude). It is extended north from the Base Line and runs at 24 miles east and west from the principal meridian. Only about half of the states in the United States still use the Rectangular Survey System. The Rectangular Survey System is the basis for the PLSS and is used to survey all public lands in the United States. One section is 1 mile or 640 square acres, so it still covers a large piece of land and must be divided again.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'realestatelicensewizard_com-large-leaderboard-2','ezslot_4',690,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-realestatelicensewizard_com-large-leaderboard-2-0'); Sections are further broken down into half and quarter sections repeatedly until you identify the exact location of a property. are further subdivided into 36 one-mile-square, (each section is one square mile or 640 acres), then into quarter sections, quarter-quarter sections, or irregular, Beginning at an initial point, townships are surveyed in all directions. ( the major vertical line) -37 in the U.S. Base Line The horizontal line ( the major one) Ranges Dont Miss: Can The Government Help Me With Rent. Its worth noting; quadrangles are not used when identifying land with the rectangular survey method, only the principal meridians, baselines, and townships and sections. A government check represents an area that measures 576 square miles. As the United States grew from its original 13 colonies, a system was needed to identify who owned what land. For example, a Bound could be a road, tree, river, or large rock. The principal meridians are not located in equal distances from one another. 10.B.3 Government Survey System Flashcards | Quizlet I feel like its a lifeline. Monuments are also placed at quarter-section corners and at other important points, such as the corners of government lots. Definition Of Government Rectangular Survey In Real Estate Townships are 36 miles square, 6 miles on each side, and are located within quadrangles. Real Property Ownership Flashcards | Quizlet These tools will help you assess your knowledge of concepts pertaining to the Rectangular Survey System. Principal meridians, baselines, and where they intersect (cross each other) are used as the basis for formulating property descriptions in this system. Moreover, the astronomical observations will then determine the areas latitude and longitude. However, rivers can be moved, and trees can die, so as you can see, this method is wildly inaccurate over time. These sections are referred to as fractional sections. As a member, you'll also get unlimited access to over 88,000 Township lines, which run east and west, parallel to baselines, are horizontal parallel lines that form township tiers.\r\n\r\nThink about two lines running from left to right across this page about an inch apart. The rectangular survey system, often referred to as the government survey system, is based on a system of lines that form rectangles and squares throughout the. The government rectangular survey method is a legal description for land. Adding that to the description results in a more specific parcel of land: The NW 1/4 of the SE 1/4 of Section 18, Township 5 South, Range 4 West of the Fifth Principal Meridian, Missouri. You can drill down by clicking on the land map, but you need to click the calc button to get the latitude and longitude. Its like a teacher waved a magic wand and did the work for me. Other survey systems include the metes and bounds system and the lot and block system. We know that there are 640 acres in one section, and we are taking a 1/4 of a 1/2 section. The numbering changes directions in the third tier from right to left. The rectangular survey or government survey describes Real Estate License Exam: The Rectangular Survey System Every fourth township line is called a correction line, and every fourth range line is called a guide meridian. These divisions mean just that. Government Survey System (Rectangular Survey System) Public Land Survey System (PLSS) After the Revolutionary War ended, the United States Government needed a way to describe lands in the West to insure locating and selling. The Rectangular Survey System can be thought of as a grid that covers the U.S. It can be a quick and relatively straightforward way of dividing large areas of land into manageable, legally identifiable sections from the very large to the fairly small. is a way of subdividing and describing land in the United States. Areas smaller than full-size sections are known as government lots and are numbered and placed in fractional sections. Where the two range lines and two township lines intersect, they form a township. Using the land noted on the image, a parcel could be defined as the West half of the Southeast quarter of Section 14 of Township 2 South, Range 3 West. Each half or quarter section can be further subdivided into halves and quarters. Because the rectangular or government survey system was instituted when the United States was a new country, it was used to describe most of the land west of the original 13 colonies, so most of you are likely to see some questions about this system. That means it is 3 townships north of the baseline and 5 townships east of the principal meridian. This system utilizes a system of rectangular coordinates to create a map of a parcel of land. Metes and Bounds surveys are still used in many states; however, they differ from the Public Land Survey System as they are not based on any grid but instead identify objects on the land, measurements, and compass directions. In addition to the principal meridians and baselines, the land is further divided by range lines, which run north and south. Easement Appurtenant Features & Examples | What is an Easement in Real Estate? What Is Chattel in Real Estate and Property? The smallest division in this system is usually 10-acre quarters. Quiz & Worksheet - Rectangular Survey System | Study.com This system was part of the Land Ordinance enacted in 1785 by President Thomas Jefferson. That means it is 3 townships north of the baseline and 5 townships east of the principal meridian. 1 Square mile is equal to 640 acres. For instance, a quarter section always contains 160 acres, or a fourth of the total 640 acres in a section. TRID Guidelines & Compliance Checklist | What is TRID? Surveyed land was sold by the government, providing important revenue for the cash-starved nation. Guide meridians and standard parallels form quadrangles. You need to know what these lines are called and how they intersect for your real estate license exam. Rectangular Government Survey System The rectangular government survey system -also known as the Public Land Survey The rectangular government survey system is the most common system used in the United States to create legal descriptions for real estate. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. Metes and bounds were used as the primary survey method before 1785 and were fairly inaccurate, especially before GPS technology. You got it: Tic tac toe. After six years of aircrew service in the Air Force, he earned his MBA from the University of Phoenix following a BS from the University of Maryland. An area bounded on two sides by guide meridians and on the other two sides by correction lines is called a government check, check, or quadrangle, which is 24 miles square, meaning each of its boundaries is 24 miles long. The rectangular survey or government survey describes. Land is designated as either a base line (East-West) or principal meridian line (North-South). . These townships are not the same as political subdivisions.\r\n

Each township is further divided into 36 sections of one square mile each, or 640 acres, by horizontal and vertical section lines. Take for example there is a shared baseline in both Nebraska and Kansas as both states border is at the 40th parallel north. Were not done yet. [/caption]\r\n\r\nEach section of 640 acres can be divided into halves and quarters called, get this, half sections and quarter sections. The government survey system legal land description method is the subject of this article. The system was created by Thomas Jefferson in 1785. The area includes sections (1 mile on each side), townships (6 miles on each side), and quadrangles (24 miles on each side). Rectangular Survey System: Definition & Uses - Study.com