unit #2 the 20 th century notes public land survey system
TRANSCRIPT
UNIT #2
The 20th Century
Notes
Public Land Survey System
Chapter The Land Ordinance of 1785
-The Land Ordinance of 1785 was passed to help deal with the surveying, sale and settling of the Northwest Territories
Page 1
UNIT #2
The 20th Century
Notes
Public Land Survey System
-The Northwest Ordinance (1787) made provisions for governing the new territories
Chapter The Land Ordinance of 1785 (CONT.)
Page 2
-Prior to 1783, settlers merely claimed land in the West
-Disputes (often violent) became common amongst settlers
-As a result, and to raise money, the United States Congress passed the Land Ordinance of 1785
-It stated:
1. Land would be surveyed and divided into townships
2. Each township would be 6 miles square
UNIT #2
The 20th Century
Notes
Public Land Survey System
Chapter The Land Ordinance of 1785 (CONT.)
Page 3
3. Each township would contain 36 sections
4. Each section would be 1 mile square, containing 640 acres
5. Congress stipulated that land would be sold at auction for a minimum of $1.00 per acre
6. The revenue from the sale of one section in each township would be used to fund the creation of a public school
-To attract land speculators, Congress required speculators purchase one whole section, dividing it for sale later
UNIT #2
The 20th Century
Notes
Public Land Survey System
Chapter
Page 4
UNIT #2
The 20th Century
Notes
Public Land Survey System
Taylor County
Chapter Range and Township
-Every “cell” (township) in the grid is identified by a township and range
-The range number identifies how many cells the property is to the east or west of a starting point or principal meridian
Page 5
UNIT #2
The 20th Century
Notes
Public Land Survey System
Chapter
Page 6
UNIT #2
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Public Land Survey System
Chapter
-The legal description of range is “R18E”
-The township (or tier) number identifies how many cells the property is north or south of a starting point or the baseline
Page 7
Range and Township
-Only northern townships/tiers can exist in Wisconsin as the baseline is the southern boundary of the state
-The legal description of township is “T32N”
UNIT #2
The 20th Century
Notes
Public Land Survey System
Chapter
-Where range and township/tier intersect creates a “cell” or a township
-Sections (1 of 36) are arranged in a boustrophedonic manor “as the cow plows”
-This was done for ease of surveying
Page 8
Range and Township (CONT.)UNIT #2
The 20th Century
Notes
Public Land Survey System
Chapter Further Division
-Each section is divided into quarters (quadrants), classified by the four principal directions (Southwest—SW)
-Quarters are ½ mile by ½ mile or 160 acres
Page 9
UNIT #2
The 20th Century
Notes
Public Land Survey System
Chapter Further Division (CONT.)
-Each quarter is divided into quarter-quarter sections, classified by the four principal directions (Southwest—SW)
-Quarter-quarters are ¼ mile by 1/4 mile or 40 acres
Page 10
UNIT #2
The 20th Century
Notes
Public Land Survey System
Chapter Further Division (CONT.)
-Each quarter-quarter is divided into half sections, classified by either North or South
-Half quarter-quarter sections are ¼ mile by 1/8 mile or 20 acres
Page 11
UNIT #2
The 20th Century
Notes
Public Land Survey System
Chapter Legal Description
-Descriptions are stated and read from smallest parcel to largest, however best interpreted from largest to smallest (the last descriptor to the first)
Page 12
UNIT #2
The 20th Century
Notes
Public Land Survey System