For example, SE1/4 of NW1/4 of Section 3, T3N, R1E, 3rd PM would be the southeast quarter of the northwest quarter of section 3 in township 3 north, range 2 east of the 3rd Principle Meridian. The land description generally starts with the smallest part of the description and proceeds to the largest definition. This particular 36 square-mile area is located in southern Illinois. For example, T3N, R1E of the 3rd Principle Meridian is the third township north of the baseline in the first range east of the Third Principle Meridian. Map of meridians & base lines from the BLM web serverĪ specific township is identified as being north or south of a particular baseline and east or west of a particular principal meridian. Map of meridians & base lines from the BLM web serverīase line Reference or beginning point for measuring north or south townships. Range Assigned to a township by measuring east or west of a Principal Meridian Range Lines North to south lines which mark township boundaries Township Lines East to west lines which mark township boundaries Principal Meridian Reference or beginning point for measuring east or west ranges. Sections are numbered beginning with the northeast-most section, proceeding west to 6, then south along the west edge of the township and to the east. Ranged in a 6 by 6 array, measuring 6 miles by 6 miles. One mile by one mile containing 640 acres. Section Basic unit of the system, a square tract of line Terms used in the Township and Range System: Physical Geology (1983) Sixth Edition, by Zumberge and Rutford, W.H. , as well as many basic geology text books, such as Laboratory Manual for Of American Genealogy (1984) edited by Arlene Eakle and Johni Cerny, Ancīed in most of the recent Plat Books of the counties in the Public Domain states

The metes and bounĭs survey system uses natural land features, such as trees and streams, as wellĪs neighboring land owners, along with distances to describe plots of land.įor further discussion of Land Records in the United States, see LĪnd and Tax Records by William Thorndale in The Source: A Guidebook Nd bounds system, not the federal township-range system. Tates, land is surveyed in the indescriminate metes a In the Southern United States in the State-Land s Legal Land Descriptions in Federal Township and Range Syste

Range and township definition