John A. Yoegel, PhD, is a certified real estate instructor and former board member of the Real Estate Educators Association. The rectangular survey system may just be a giant grid covering the United States, but understanding how it is used can seem a little complex, so stick with us while we cover the basic definitions.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'realestatelicensewizard_com-box-4','ezslot_11',688,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-realestatelicensewizard_com-box-4-0'); The largest grid comprises of two types of lines, principal meridians, and baselines. Land Description Government Rectangular Survey For 2019 | Real Estate Exam Prep. It is the lands boundary lines that also have terminal points and angles. When identifying property locations, you will always reference which principal meridian it is located near. The implementation of the system begins with the identification of the reference lines: the east-west line called the Base Line and the north-south line is also known for the name principal meridian. Guide meridians run true north, and the intersecting correction line is shorter than a township line. The guide meridians occur every 24 miles east and west of the principal meridian. You may have math questions on your real estate licensing exam related to this concept. You need to know what these lines are called and how they intersect for your real estate license exam. But the final plan included subdivision of the lands into townships, then into sections and further into aliquot parts. He teaches pre-licensing and continuing education courses for salespeople, brokers, and appraisers.
","authors":[{"authorId":9566,"name":"John A. Yoegel","slug":"john-a-yoegel","description":"John A. Yoegel, PhD, is a certified real estate instructor and former board member of the Real Estate Educators Association. Livable, Rentable & Usable Area: Definition & Examples. The following is a list of helpful terms:\r\n
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- Quadrangles: The basic squares of land of the rectangular survey system, quadrangles (also government checks, or just checks) are 24 miles square (that means each side is 24 miles long) and are delineated by a principal meridian and a baseline. (The figure below shows a variety of divisions in a quarter section.). The Metes and bounds system dates back centuries to the original 13 colonies, while the rectangular survey method was established in 1785 and used in all 36 states formed after that point. First, the system makes it easier to divide large areas of land into like-sized parcels, as large as 640 square miles to as small as 2.5 acres. Sections can be further subdivided into quarter sections, quarter-quarter sections, or irregular government lots. document.getElementById("ak_js_1").setAttribute("value",(new Date()).getTime()); Sign up for the newsletter to get exclusive real estate exam tips that I don't share anywhere else. The Rectangular Survey Method established a standard measurement and origin point for all properties to follow using a grid system. The following is a list of helpful terms:\r\n
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- Quadrangles: The basic squares of land of the rectangular survey system, quadrangles (also government checks, or just checks) are 24 miles square (that means each side is 24 miles long) and are delineated by a principal meridian and a baseline. Get unlimited access to over 88,000 lessons. Only about half of the state in the U.S. use the rectangular survey system. School University of Minnesota, Duluth; Course Title MARKETING MISC; Uploaded By MajorTarsierMaster692. Section 1 within any township is always located at the upper right or northeast corner of the township. For example, how many acres are there if you take the North East of the South 1/2 of section 3 in township 8 North and range 5 west? Correction lines occur at every fourth township line or every 24 miles north and south of the baseline. Dont Miss: American Government A Brief Introduction. Government Survey System or Public Land Survey System functions just like a mailing label on an envelope. 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. 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. The boundary of each township is 6 miles long, so a township contains 36 square miles and is described as being 6 miles square. Standard Parallels are also called as correction lines for the meridians to compensate for the curvature of the earth. Townships have an area of 36 square miles, more or less, and are each further divided into 36 sections. \r\n \t
- Sections: The divisions of a township, sections, are one mile square and have an area of one square mile, or 640 acres. The grid is divided into smaller sections known as quadrangles, townships, sections, half-sections, and quarter-sections used to describe property boundaries in most of the United States. For instance, a quarter section always contains 160 acres, or a fourth of the total 640 acres in a section. Using principal meridians and baselines as points of reference, land areas are divided by two kinds of lines, township lines and range lines. Yes, but first you need to know the dimensions and measurements of a township. Standard parallels run east to west along with the baseline. Those states are: An error occurred trying to load this video. Shawn Custer has taught college-level English, composition, and literature for over six years. The following table indicates some distance and area conversions in the PLSS: The states that use the rectangular survey system are:Washington, Oregon, California, Nevada, Idaho, Utah, Arizona, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, Kansas, Oklahoma, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Arkansas, Louisiana, Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, Alabama, and Florida. The PLSS typically divides land into 6-mile-square townships. The survey system essentially functions the same way. The lines are spaced 24 miles apart, creating squares that are around 576 square miles. The Rectangular Survey System was established in 1785 to identify, divide, and measure land, creating boundary lines for property owners. In legal documents, such as a lien, deed, trust deed, mortgage, and sales contract, courts require an exact description of where a piece of land is located. - The system, which was adopted in 1785, is also called the U.S. System of Rectangular Surveys or the rectangular method. Continue with Recommended Cookies. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. The townships are consecutively numbered by their location within the intersection of multiple range lines and township lines. Metes and bounds were used as the primary survey method before 1785 and were fairly inaccurate, especially before GPS technology. Course Hero is not sponsored or endorsed by any college or university. Range lines are equally located six miles apart, and the columns of land they create are known as ranges. All rights reserved. Also known as the rectangular survey system or public land survey system, the government survey system refers to a federal land survey system that uses (north and south lines) meridians and (east and west lines) base lines. [/caption]\r\n\r\nEach section of 640 acres can be divided into halves and quarters called, get this, half sections and quarter sections. (This description refers to a 10-acre parcel of land. 6 b/c each township is divided in 36 sections, each section is 1 sq mile; 36/6 = 6 in each row. Now, the way it really works is for this page to be filled with the lines going up and down and right to left so that you have many townships. As the United States grew from its original 13 colonies, a system was needed to identify who owned what land. The real estate exam probably wont ask you what states use the Metes and Bounds system or the Rectangular Survey System, but they may ask you which system your state uses. Definition of "Government rectangular survey". I would definitely recommend Study.com to my colleagues. These divisions mean just that. For example, you would say it is in township 3 north, range 5 east to identify a property. They are often combined to create a more accurate map of property boundaries. It is extended north from the Base Line and runs at 24 miles east and west from the principal meridian. This process continues, creating a smaller and smaller grid that can be used to identify the specific location of any property. Think about two lines running from left to right across this page about an inch apart. Simply multiply 640 by or 0.25, which equals 160, then multiply 160 by 1/2 or 0.5, which equals 80. Dummies helps everyone be more knowledgeable and confident in applying what they know. 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). However, in some areas of the country, a township refers to a legal municipality rather than a geographic area, which can lead to some confusion. As we mentioned earlier, two primary survey methods are used in the United States, the Metes and Bounds System, and the Rectangular Survey System. Doing the math, its 1/2 1/4 640 = 80 acres.\r\n\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_274746\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"556\"]
![\"quarter](\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/real-estate-exam-quarter-section.jpg\")
A quarter section can be split into smaller parts. Running east to west every six miles between the baselines are the township lines. How Do You Use the Rectangular Survey System? In other words, after section number 6, it drops down to 7 on the next tier then goes left to right to number 12. The system was further modified to facilitate the transfer of large quantities of government-owned western lands to . Think about two more lines running up and down the page on top of the first two lines, also about an inch apart. Manage Settings Of course, this still makes up a lot of land, so townships are further divided into sections. Rectangular Survey System - Divides land into rectangles - The system is based on two sets of lines - Principal Meridians and Base Lines Principal Meridians - Vertical lines, crossing base line. 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. TRID Guidelines & Compliance Checklist | What is TRID? 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. Psychological Research & Experimental Design, All Teacher Certification Test Prep Courses, Different Types of Estates in Real Estate, Legal Description of Property: Definition, Importance & Example, What is a Land Survey? The Metes and bounds system dates back centuries to the original 13 colonies, while the rectangular survey method was established in 1785 and used in all 36 states formed after that point. 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\"]![\"real](\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/real-estate-exam-sections.jpg\")
Sections can be divided in a variety of ways, including quarters and smaller sections. In reality, because of this earth curvature issue, many sections and townships vary from their exact area measurements. )\r\nThe description probably would include the state and county in which the property is located and use abbreviations. Other survey systems include the metes and bounds system and the lot and block system. This system was part of the Land Ordinance enacted in 1785 by President Thomas Jefferson. The township and range definition of a parcel of land, then, is its location in relation to the township and range lines. Many areas in the other states are also more accurate. Metes and bounds were used as the primary survey method before 1785 and were fairly inaccurate, especially before GPS technology. Also Check: Government To Forgive Student Loan Debt. 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. Water & Littoral Rights Concept & Purpose | What are Water Rights? Because of the curvature of the earth, correction lines and guide meridians are used to compensate. A mailing label lists your name, street address, city, state, and country. 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. Explain. He teaches pre-licensing and continuing education courses for salespeople, brokers, and appraisers. Ian is a 3D printing and digital design entrepreneur with over five years of professional experience. The smallest division in this system is usually 10-acre quarters. There are few subdivisions beyond the sections and quarter sections. Annexation in Real Estate: Method & Laws | What is Annexation?
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