Origins and Purpose
The Public Land Survey System (PLSS) represents one of the most significant achievements in American land management history. Established through the Land Ordinance of 1785, this revolutionary system provided a standardized method for surveying, describing, and dispensing public domain lands in the United States.
Key Features of the PLSS
Principal Components
- Principal Meridians
- Base Lines
- Townships and Ranges
- Sections and Subdivisions
Measurements
- Township: 6 miles × 6 miles
- Section: 1 mile × 1 mile
- Quarter Section: 1/2 mile × 1/2 mile
- Quarter-Quarter Section: 1/4 mile × 1/4 mile
Township and Range System
The cornerstone of the PLSS is the Township and Range system, which divides land into regular squares called townships, each measuring six miles on each side.
Standard Township Division
Section 6
Northwest corner section
- • Contains lots due to meridian convergence
- • Standard size: 640 acres
- • Often irregular due to correction lines
Section 5
Northern tier section
- • May contain lots
- • Standard size: 640 acres
- • Subject to convergence adjustments
Section 4
Adjacent to Section 5
- • Contains standard lots
- • Standard size: 640 acres
- • Regular shape
Section 3
Centered in the township
- • Contains agricultural land
- • Standard size: 640 acres
- • Regular shape
Section 2
Southern tier section
- • May contain lots
- • Standard size: 640 acres
- • Subject to adjustments
Section 1
Northeast corner section
- • Contains lots due to convergence
- • Standard size: 640 acres
- • Often irregular
Section 7
Southwest section
- • Contains agricultural land
- • Standard size: 640 acres
- • Regular shape
Section 8
Adjacent to Section 7
- • Contains lots
- • Standard size: 640 acres
- • Subject to adjustments
Section 9
South central section
- • Contains agricultural land
- • Standard size: 640 acres
- • Regular shape
Section 10
Adjacent to Section 9
- • Contains lots
- • Standard size: 640 acres
- • Subject to adjustments
Section 11
West central section
- • Contains agricultural land
- • Standard size: 640 acres
- • Regular shape
Section 12
Adjacent to Section 11
- • May contain lots
- • Standard size: 640 acres
- • Subject to adjustments
Section 18
Southwest section
- • Contains lots due to convergence
- • Standard size: 640 acres
- • Often irregular
Section 17
Southern tier section
- • May contain lots
- • Standard size: 640 acres
- • Subject to adjustments
Section 16
Central section
- • Contains agricultural land
- • Standard size: 640 acres
- • Regular shape
Section 15
Adjacent to Section 16
- • Contains lots
- • Standard size: 640 acres
- • Subject to adjustments
Section 14
North central section
- • Contains agricultural land
- • Standard size: 640 acres
- • Regular shape
Section 13
Adjacent to Section 14
- • May contain lots
- • Standard size: 640 acres
- • Subject to adjustments
Section 19
Southwest section
- • Contains lots due to convergence
- • Standard size: 640 acres
- • Often irregular
Section 20
Southern tier section
- • May contain lots
- • Standard size: 640 acres
- • Subject to adjustments
Section 21
Central section
- • Contains agricultural land
- • Standard size: 640 acres
- • Regular shape
Section 22
Adjacent to Section 21
- • Contains lots
- • Standard size: 640 acres
- • Subject to adjustments
Section 23
Northwest section
- • Contains agricultural land
- • Standard size: 640 acres
- • Regular shape
Section 24
Adjacent to Section 23
- • May contain lots
- • Standard size: 640 acres
- • Subject to adjustments
Section 30
Southwest section
- • Contains lots due to convergence
- • Standard size: 640 acres
- • Often irregular
Section 29
Southern tier section
- • May contain lots
- • Standard size: 640 acres
- • Subject to adjustments
Section 28
Central section
- • Contains agricultural land
- • Standard size: 640 acres
- • Regular shape
Section 27
Adjacent to Section 28
- • Contains lots
- • Standard size: 640 acres
- • Subject to adjustments
Section 26
North central section
- • Contains agricultural land
- • Standard size: 640 acres
- • Regular shape
Section 25
Adjacent to Section 26
- • May contain lots
- • Standard size: 640 acres
- • Subject to adjustments
Section 31
Southwest section
- • Contains lots due to convergence
- • Standard size: 640 acres
- • Often irregular
Section 32
Southern tier section
- • May contain lots
- • Standard size: 640 acres
- • Subject to adjustments
Section 33
Central section
- • Contains agricultural land
- • Standard size: 640 acres
- • Regular shape
Section 34
Adjacent to Section 33
- • Contains lots
- • Standard size: 640 acres
- • Subject to adjustments
Section 35
North central section
- • Contains agricultural land
- • Standard size: 640 acres
- • Regular shape
Section 36
Southwest corner section
- • Contains lots due to convergence
- • Standard size: 640 acres
- • Often irregular due to correction lines
Standard numbering system for sections within a township
Hover over sections to view detailed information
Sections are numbered from right to left, alternating direction
Historical Implementation
Implementation Timeline
Land Ordinance Enacted
Congress passes the Land Ordinance establishing the PLSS
- • First standardized land survey system in US
- • Established township and range system
- • Created framework for western expansion
- • Introduced systematic land sales process
First Surveys Begin
Initial surveys conducted in Ohio Territory
- • Thomas Hutchins appointed first Geographer
- • Seven Ranges Survey established baseline
- • First township corners monumented
- • Original survey methods tested and refined
System Refinement
Additional guidelines established for surveying procedures
- • Standardized measurement methods
- • Introduced detailed field note requirements
- • Established corner monumentation standards
- • Created survey error correction procedures
Westward Expansion
System extensively used during period of rapid territorial expansion
- • Over 20 million acres surveyed
- • Multiple new meridians established
- • Survey system adapted for varying terrain
- • Land offices established throughout territories
Technical Innovations
Survey Equipment
- • Gunter's Chain
- • Solar Compass
- • Standard Monuments
Calculation Methods
- • Convergence Formulas
- • Error Adjustments
- • Area Calculations
Documentation
- • Field Notes
- • Plat Maps
- • Corner Records
Legacy and Modern Impact
Continuing Influence
Modern Applications
-
Property Boundary Definition
• Primary reference for legal property descriptions • Foundation for deed writing and title work • Critical for boundary dispute resolution • Basis for modern subdivision planning
-
GIS Integration
• Digital PLSS layer implementation • Automated parcel mapping systems • Integration with satellite imagery • Spatial analysis applications
-
Resource Management
• Federal land management programs • Natural resource allocation • Environmental protection zones • Mining and mineral rights tracking
-
Legal Description Standards
• Standardized property descriptions • Legal document preparation • Land patent references • Easement documentation
Current Challenges
-
Monument Preservation
• Physical marker deterioration • Urban development impacts • Natural disaster damage • Maintenance funding issues
-
Historical Record Digitization
• Document preservation challenges • Data format standardization • Quality control processes • Access management systems
-
Modern Technology Integration
• GPS coordinate reconciliation • Digital data conversion accuracy • Legacy system compatibility • Real-time update protocols
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Environmental Changes
• Erosion impacts on monuments • Climate change effects • Landscape transformation • Riparian boundary shifts