Questions and Answers
What is the rectangular government survey system also known as?
the Public Land Survey System (PLSS)
Why was the PLSS originally used to survey?
because the Bureau of Land Management regulated surveys
Who manages the federally owned blocks of land?
is regulated by the Bureau of Land Management
Who regulates the Bureau of Land Management?
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Is the rectangular government survey system used nationally?
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How many series of surveys does the PLSS system have?
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How big is a township?
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How many square miles is a township?
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How many squares are in a township?
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What is 1 square mile of township called?
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How many acres are in 1 square mile of a section?
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What is a section divided into?
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What direction do you survey townships from after the beginning initial point?
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What is the north-south line that runs through the initial point called?
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How many principal meridians are in the national survey?
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What is the east-west line that runs through the initial point?
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What are east-west lines that don't run through the initial point called?
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What are north-south lines that don't run through the initial point called?
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How do the numbers in a township read?
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Each state has a principal meridian.
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Sections are one square mile in size.
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The system divides land into townships and further into sections and fractions of sections.
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The PLSS is used throughout the U.S.
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The U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management, regulates the system.
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Study Notes
Public Land Survey System (PLSS)
- Rectangular government survey system also known as the Public Land Survey System (PLSS).
- Originally used for land surveys regulated by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).
- BLM manages federally owned land blocks and is regulated by the U.S. Department of the Interior.
- PLSS is not used nationally; it applies to 30 western and southern states, excluding most East Coast states, with Florida as an exception, and Texas.
Structure of PLSS
- Comprises a series of surveys dividing land into townships, sections, ranges, and parcels.
- Each township measures six miles by six miles, covering an area of 36 square miles, equating to 23,040 acres.
- A township contains 36 sections, each section comprising one square mile (640 acres).
- Sections can be divided into quarter sections, quarter-quarter sections, or irregular government lots.
Surveying and Designation
- Surveys begin from an initial point, with townships surveyed in all directions.
- The north-south line through the initial point is called the principal meridian.
- There are 37 principal meridians used in the national survey for various surveys and land distinctions.
- The east-west line through the initial point is known as a base line; non-initial point east-west lines are referred to as township lines.
- Non-initial point north-south lines are termed range lines.
Township Identification
- Township identification example: Township 6, Range 1 West indicates the 6th tier of townships north of a base line, in the first column west of a principal meridian.
- Township grid reading starts from the northeastern corner, following a zigzag pattern.
Legal Descriptions and Reading Survey Descriptions
- Legal descriptions include state, principal meridian name, township and range designations, and section number.
- Rectangular survey descriptions require interpreting parcels by reading directions right to left.
Parcel Size and Calculations
- Size of parcels can be computed based on sections; a section is one square mile (640 acres).
- NW¼ of a section is 0.25 square miles (160 acres), SE¼ of NW¼ is 0.0625 square miles (40 acres), S½ of SE¼ is 0.03125 square miles (20 acres).
- Alternate calculation method for shaded parcels involves ½ x ¼ x ¼ = 1/32 of the section resulting in 20 acres.
True/False Statements
- Not all states have a principal meridian; thus, the statement is false.
- Sections are indeed one square mile in size; hence, true.
- The system effectively divides land into townships and further into sections and fractions; this is true.
- PLSS is not used throughout the U.S.; therefore, that statement is false.
- The BLM under the U.S. Department of the Interior oversees the PLSS, making this statement true.
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Description
Test your knowledge on the rectangular government survey system and its management. This quiz covers essential concepts related to the Public Land Survey System (PLSS) and the Bureau of Land Management. Perfect for anyone studying land management and surveying principles.
