Chapter 4: Property Description

Question 1

The main imaginary line running east and west and crossing a principal meridian at a definite point; used by surveyors for reference in locating and describing land under the rectangular (government) survey system of legal description.

Answer 1

base lines

Question 2

In surveying, a reference to a course, distance, or monument when a describing a boundary.

Answer 2

calls

Question 3

A system established in 1785 by the federal government, providing for surveying and describing land by reference to principal meridians and base lines; used mainly west of the Mississippi River.

Answer 3

rectangular (government) survey system

Question 4

A description of a specific parcel of real estate complete enough for an independent surveyor to locate and identify it.

Answer 4

legal description

Question 5

A legal description of a parcel of land that begins at a well-marked point and follows the boundaries, using directions and distances around the tract, back to the place of beginning.

Answer 5

metes-and-bounds (boundary) description

Question 6

A fixed natural or artificial object used to establish real estate boundaries for a metes-and-bounds description.

Answer 6

monuments

Question 7

A map of a subdivision indicating the location and boundaries of individual properties. Generally shows lots, blocks, easements, streets, floodplains, etc. Usually requires official approval before recordation.

Answer 7

plat map

Question 8

In a metes-and-bounds legal description, the starting point of the survey, situated at one corner of the parcel. All metes-and-bounds descriptions must follow the boundaries of the parcel back to the point of beginning.

Answer 8

point of beginning (POB)

Question 9

The main imaginary line running north and south and crossing a base line at a definite point; used by surveyors for reference in locating and describing land under the rectangular (government) survey system of legal description.

Answer 9

principal meridians

Question 10

A strip of land six miles wide, extending north and south and numbered east and west according to its distance from the principal meridian in the rectangular (government) survey system of legal description.

Answer 10

ranges

Question 11

aka lot-and-block. Lot-and-block: A method of describing real property that identifies a parcel of land by reference to lot and block numbers within a subdivision, as specified on a reocrded subdivision plat.

Answer 11

reference to a recorded plat (lot-and-block or recorded plat system)

Question 12

A portion of township under the rectangular (government) survey system. A township is divided into 36 sections, numbered 1 through 36. A section is a square with mile-long sides and an area of one squar emile, or 640 acres.

Answer 12

section

Question 13

The process by which boundaries are measured and land areas are determined; the on-site measurement of lot lines, dimensions, and position of a house on a lot, including the determination of any existing encroachments or easements.

Answer 13

survey

Question 14

A strip of land six miles wide, extending east and west and numbered north and south according to its distance from the base line in the government rectangular survey system of legal description.

Answer 14

tier (township strip)

Question 15

A survey that measures the features of the earth’s surfaces such as hills and valleys plus the location of roads.

Answer 15

topographic survey

Question 16

The principal unit of the rectangular (government) survey system. A township is a square with six-mile sides and an area of 36 square miles.

Answer 16

township