Land Survey Websites

Submitted to: Prof. Peter Schiess

Submitted by: Zachary Bakke, Julie Panike, Mark Senger, Brian Williams

Course: FE 345

April 14, 2000

Legal Land Descriptions in the USA

http://www.outfitters.com/genealogy/land/

General Description: Contains links to pages with information about the meets and bounds system, and the township and range system.

The “Federal Township and Range System” link provides a good graphical representation with various colors to guide the viewer through this coordinate system. The “Indiscriminant metes and bounds system” link gives a historical example using this method. The link titled “Land Record Reference” has information on the history and laws governing land survey. There is also a link to the USGS mapping page at: http://www-nmd.usgs.gov/

Understanding Township and Range

http://www.csuchico.edu/lbib/maps/townships.html

General Description: This link provides a brief description of the township and range system, and has links that have pictures that illustrate how the system works.

The link to “base lines and meridian lines” displays a map of the United States that has on it the principal base lines and meridian lines from which the Public Land Survey was conducted.

The link to “Townships” displays a diagram that explains how the townships are systematically sectioned off, and provides a typical example.

Finding Your Way with Map and Compass

http://mapping.usgs.gov/mac/isb/pubs/factsheets/fs07999.html

General Description: This site contains basic and easily accessible information about using a compass, accounting for magnetic declination, taking bearing and converting map scales to distances on the ground, with detailed graphic illustrations.

Other Interesting Sites

The Township and Rage Survey System: A guide to understanding the system. http://geneaview.addr.com/survery.html This site gives general background information, and explanation of township and range and a diagram showing the Willamette Meridian.

Pennsylvania Original Land Survey Records (York County) http://www.innernet.net/hively/ This site provides historical information about how original surveys were done in the 13 colonies, with examples of original drawings and documents from the 1767 Pennsylvania Land Survey.

Land Surveyor Reference Page http://www.lsrp.com/mainind.html This site contains information of regulations (by state) and other cool/fun information.