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. Types of Tenancy in Real Estate | Overview, Leases & Examples, Lien Theory State vs. The numbering changes directions in the third tier from right to left. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. So, in the example above, Township 4 South would be T4S. ","noIndex":0,"noFollow":0},"content":"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 United States. For the real estate exam, youll need to know the two primary survey methods. Graphic Organizer Forms and Systems of Govern.docx, Facial Expression quiz A quiz to test how well you can read facial expressions, In fiscal 2018 deferred tax contains benefits concerning the re valuation of, making more time for observations improving team teaching relationships Correct, this should be made transparent by not assigning the m to the standard nfs code, A defined set of values unique to a limited cross section of the organization is, Project - Tax Exemptions, Deducations & Credits.pdf, On Lake Titicaca twelve thousand feet high in the Andes between the nations of, Adoption of gold standard globally established an exchange rate system as people, What should be done when a sharps container is full A Shake the container to, Test bank-Understanding Medical Surgical Nursing 6th Edition Williams -guaranteed pass 2022-comprehe, Object Oriented Analysis ICT2622 Diploma Bachelor degree Semester module NQF, annotated-Slave20Primary20Questions.docx.pdf. Government Survey Systems were originally created by the US Congress in 1785 as a way of identifying land faster and more accurately. Constructive Notice in Real Estate Overview & Law | What is Constructive Notice? 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 first sets of lines respectively are called principal meridians, which run north and south, and baselines, which run east and west. The government survey system legal land description method is the subject of this article. Guide meridians run true north, and the intersecting correction line is shorter than a township line. Townships have an area of 36 square miles, more or less, and are each further divided into 36 sections.\r\n \t
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Sections can be divided in a variety of ways, including quarters and smaller sections. When identifying property locations, you will always reference which principal meridian it is located near. Yes, but first you need to know the dimensions and measurements of a township. This is not merely the address of the property but is a legal description. Dont Miss: American Government A Brief Introduction. The Rectangular Survey System was established in 1785 to identify, divide, and measure land, creating boundary lines for property owners. The following is a list of helpful terms: Correction lines and guide meridians were established to correct this problem in the government survey system. The three legal real estate land descriptions are important information that all real estate agents and brokers must understand to pass their real estate exam and receive their license. A township in this system can be both a line and the square of land created by the township lines and range lines. For example, a piece of property that is located one township north of a baseline and two townships east of the fifth principal meridian in the state of Missouri would be identified as Missouri, Fifth Principal Meridian, Township 1 North, Range 2 East. Also Check: Government Regulations For Nonprofit Organizations. Just because they are referred to as government lots does not mean the government owns the land they contain. It was originally proposed by President Thomas Jefferson and is sometimes referred to as the Public Land Survey System (PLSS). Definition Of Rectangular Survey In Real Estate The largest grid comprises of two types of lines, principal meridians, and baselines. Ian is a 3D printing and digital design entrepreneur with over five years of professional experience. 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). This system was part of the Land Ordinance enacted in 1785 by President Thomas Jefferson. Since the lines that create them are six miles apart, they are 24 miles around and include an area of 36 square miles, which is 23,040 acres. [/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 principal meridians and baselines are based respectively on lines of longitude and latitude.\r\n\r\nYoure likely to see at least a few questions on the real estate license exams on calculating the area of part of a section, and youll also see questions about terminology and some of the measurements that the rectangular survey system uses. It is a rectangular approach to surveying the land breaking the district down to quadrangles of 24 miles. There are 36 sections in a township, and each section contains one square mile, which is 640 acres. For instance, a quarter section always contains 160 acres, or a fourth of the total 640 acres in a section. Section 1 within any township is always located at the upper right or northeast corner of the township. Since the earth is not flat like a checkerboard, there needed to be some adjustments made along the way to make sure everything worked out. Metes and bounds were used as the primary survey method before 1785 and were fairly inaccurate, especially before GPS technology. The first sets of lines respectively are called principal meridians, which run north and south, and baselines, which run east and west. The sections are number 1 through 36 starting in the NE corner of the section continuing west along the top row. Government Rectangular Survey | Free Real Estate Exam Prep Video A Metes and Bounds survey may read something like commencing from the large apple tree 1 mile to the north, west along the river bed. So, there can be the north, south, east, or west half section.John A. Yoegel, PhD, is a certified real estate instructor and former board member of the Real Estate Educators Association.