township and range system ap human geography

PLSS was created to divide parcels of public land it is not useful for the accurate location of points and should not be confused with coordinate systems like latitude/longitude, UTM, or the State Plane Coordinate System.įor states that have Public Land Surveys:Īlmost all historical topographic maps (1884-2006) include PLSS tic marks or gridlines. Sections can be further subdivided into quarter sections, quarter-quarter sections, or irregular government lots. Townships are subdivided into 36 one-mile-square sections. The PLSS typically divides land into 6-mile-square townships. PLSS surveys, which are available for portions of land in 30 southern and western states, are made by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). Sections could be further subdivided into quarter sections and quarter-quarter sections.The Public Land Survey System (PLSS) is a way of subdividing and describing land in the United States. Townships were subdivided into 36 one-mile-square sections.

See the map below for states that used this system.

The system (Public Land Survey System) divided land into 6-mile-square townships, which is the level of information included in the National Atlas.

one sees that our farmland and towns have a square pattern. Township & Range: Flying over the western U.S. From the air it can be seen that land parcels are irregular in size and shape. This one is native to England and can be found in the original thirteen colonies. Metes and Bounds: This system uses physical features of local geography along with directions and distances to define and describe boundaries of land parcels. Most farmland was along rivers and the system created long rectangular plots of farmland to give equal access to the river. Long Lot System: This one was put in by the French and used in French regions of North America such as Canada and Louisiana. The ones you need to know for APHG are on this page. The shapes evident in farmland and villages often have their roots in cadastral systems. Patterns of land use in rural areas can be seen from the air if you are flying in an airplane. Cadastral systems are land use and distrubtion systems.

Township and range system ap human geography