Government Rectangular Survey System
Definition
The Government Rectangular Survey System (GRSS) is a land survey methodology developed and used widely in the United States for surveying and mapping land parcels. This system employs a grid-like framework to create a clear and systematic division of land areas, facilitating property description, identification, and management.
Under this system, a district is first divided into broader 24-square mile quadrangles originating from two fixed reference points: the principal meridian (a north-south line) and the baseline (an east-west line). From these reference points:
- Townships: Each quadrangle is subdivided into 6-mile by 6-mile squares known as townships.
- Sections: Within each township, there are further subdivisions into 36 tracts, each measuring 1-mile by 1-mile, referred to as sections.
Examples
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Example 1: If a parcel of land is designated as T2N R3W Sec.16, it means this parcel is located in Township 2 North, Range 3 West, Section 16, which simplifies locating and describing this property.
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Example 2: Land described as Section 24, Township 5 North, Range 2 East would correspond to a specific 1 square-mile segment of land, identified with precision within the larger surveyed area of the designated township and range from the baseline and meridian.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the purpose of the Government Rectangular Survey System?
The primary purpose is to create an organized method for identifying and dividing land parcels for sale, development, and legal documents. This simplifies the process of property management, land transactions, and recording ownership.
How is a township further divided in the GRSS?
A township is divided into 36 sections, each measuring 1-mile by 1-mile. These sections can further be subdivided into smaller parcels for various uses, such as plots and lots.
What are principal meridians and baselines?
Principal meridians are north-south lines used as references in the survey system, while baselines are east-west lines that intersect the meridians. Both serve as the starting reference points for land divisions in the system.
In which states is the Government Rectangular Survey System used?
The GRSS is used extensively in approximately 30 states across the Public Land Survey System (PLSS) areas, primarily including those states west of Ohio as well as certain southeastern states.
Are there criticisms of the GRSS?
One criticism is its inaccuracy in hilly or irregular terrain, where applying a rectangular grid can result in measurement and alignment issues. Additionally, urbanization and modern mapping technologies have updated some practices.
Related Terms
- Metes and Bounds: A land surveying system that describes parcels based on physical features, distances, and angles in a more natural layout but without the structured grid system.
- Lot and Block Survey System: A more modern land survey system that describes properties within subdivisions, divided into lots and identifiable blocks.
- Plat Map: A document used in land surveying showing divisions of a piece of land, including plots, streets, and boundaries all depicted geometrically.
Online Resources
- US Geological Survey: Land Survey Mapping
- Bureau of Land Management: Public Land Survey System
- Surveying and Land Information Science Journal
References
- Brown, Paul C., Core Concepts in Land Surveying. London: Elevate Press, 2015.
- Walker, Janet, The Essential Guide to Contemporary Surveying Methods. Cambridge: Horizon Books, 2018.
- Smith, Robert F., Land Surveying and Property Delimitation. New York: E&M Publishing, 2016.
Suggested Books for Further Studies
- Surveying: Principles and Applications by Barry Kavanagh
- Elementary Surveying by Paul R. Wolf and Charles D. Ghilani
- Boundary Control and Legal Principles by Curtis M. Brown, Walter G. Robillard, and Donald A. Wilson
