Topic 7

Question 1

The most common, as well as the least formal way of describing land, is by…

Answer 1

street address

From a legal point of view, street addresses are the least acceptable form of property description.

Question 2

Three more formal, precise ways of describing land which are used in the United States today..

Answer 2

1. ) Metes and bounds
2. ) Rectangular (government) survey
3. ) Lot, block, and tract

Question 3

Before the development of the 3 modern systems of land descriptions, the _____ was used. It is still used occasionally today, primarily in inaccessible or undeveloped rural areas. Method uses natural and artificial landmarks and features as points of reference for property descriptions. The results are often more colorful than precise. Works fine as long as creeks aren’t re-channeled, trees cut down, boulders removed, lands regraded, and cowpaths paved over with asphalt.

Answer 3

monuments and markings method

Question 4

The earliest form of legal descriptions used in the United States, directly descended from the monuments and markings method. Makes use of the boundaries and measurements of the land in question. A typical description reads like a directional travelogue, an exact inventory of directions taken and distances traversed in an imaginary walk along a property boundary. The primary system of description in 21 states and the District of Columbia, and is used elsewhere to supplement the prevailing descriptive form.

Answer 4

metes and bounds

Question 5

Fixed objects, called _______, are often used to establish real estate boundaries.

Answer 5

monuments

Question 6

_____ refers to the units of linear measure used to determine distances.

Answer 6

metes

Question 7

Such a legal descriptions usually begins, and finally ends, at a definite designated place called _______.

Answer 7

the point of beginning, or POB

Question 8

Directions in metes and bounds descriptions are given in ________

Answer 8

conventional compass terms

Question 9

Property boundaries are described as running so many degrees east or west of true north or south. North and south are 0 degree references; east and west are 90 degree references. This method of describing directions is called the _______. It makes use of the degrees in a circle to calculate direction. A circle has 360 degrees. A degree can be broken down into 60 minutes, and a minute can be broken down into 60 seconds for more specific measurements. There are 90 degrees in a quarter circle.

Answer 9

bearing method

Question 10

divides surveyed land into a checkerboard of rectangular parcels. With the exception of the eastern seaboard states and Texas, the system is used today throughout most of the United States.

Answer 10

Rectangular (government) survey

Question 11

The rectangular gridwork pattern of the method is based on a system of intersecting vertical and horizontal lines laid out across a map of the United States. The vertical lines are called __________ and they run north and south. The horizontal lines run east and west and are called ______.

Answer 11

principal meridians

baselines

• In LA, we have two principal meridians, the Louisiana and the St. Helena, and one baseline.

Question 12

There are ___ principal meridians and __ baselines in all.

Answer 12

36

32

Question 13

In any given area, one principal meridian and one baseline will provide the necessary reference points for all survey measurements. The area in the square created by the meridians and baselines is further divided by _____ and ______.

Answer 13

range lines and township lines

Question 14

_____ run at six-mile intervals on either side of and parallel to each principal meridian.

Answer 14

Range lines

Question 15

The six-mile strips of land between the range lines are known as _____. Used to determine how far east or west of the principal meridian a specific area of survey lies.

Answer 15

ranges

Numbered outward from the principal meridian in the manner R1E, R2E, that is Range 1 East, Range 2 East, and so forth.

Question 16

____ run at six-mile intervals on north and south of, and parallel to baselines.

Answer 16

Township lines

Question 17

The six-mile wide strips of land between the township lines are known as______.

Answer 17

township rows or tiers

Rows are numbered outward from the baseline in the manner of T1N, T2N, that is, Township 1 North, Township 2 North, and so forth.

Question 18

_____ are formed by the intersection of range lines and township lines. Is the basic unit of subdivision in the rectangular survey system. Identified according to their location in a specific range and a specific township row or tier. Thus, every _____ has a two-part identity. The tier location always precedes the range location.

Answer 18

Townships

Question 19

Theoretically each township measures ____ on each side and has an area of ____. However, this does not always hold true, for example, along coastlines the boundaries of the township will necessarily be irregular.

Answer 19

6 miles

36 square miles

Question 20

Every township is subdivided into 36 square parcels called ______. Measure a mile on each side and therefore have an area of 1 square mile, or 640 acres.

Answer 20

sections

Question 21

The sections in any given township are numbered consecutively to __, always starting at the township’s far northeast corner and counting west across the top row, and so on until the section in the far southeast, which is always the last to be numbered, has been reached.

Answer 21

36

Question 22

Sections can also be divided into _____.

Answer 22

half or quarter sections

Question 23

To quarter a section, ____ is used. The progressive subdivision of sections is an essential feature of the rectangular survey system.

Answer 23

horizontal and vertical bisection

Each quarter section is identified directionally: 
northwest quarter (NW ¼ ) 
southwest quarter (SW ¼ ) 
southeast quarter (SE ¼ )
northeast quarter (NE ¼ ). 

Since every section contains 640 acres, every quarter section has an area one-fourth as large, or 160 acres.

The quarter sections can be further quartered to an area of 40 acres each.

Question 24

While legal descriptions proceed from smaller to larger units of subdivision, it is usually easier to find a specific parcel by _____.

Answer 24

reversing the order of reading, that is, by working from larger to smaller units.

By working backwards, step by step, one will eventually locate the parcel or parcels described.

Question 25

A ____ is 24 miles square and contains 16 townships

Answer 25

check

Question 26

To keep the distance between range lines, and the length of the sides of townships as close to 6 miles as possible, _____ were introduced. Every fourth township line serves as one. A slight displacement of range lines in adjoining tiers indicates their occurrence. Insure that the township will be able to play its role as a sufficiently precise standard of survey measurement and subdivision.

Answer 26

correction lines

Question 27

A township with an area in excess of or less than 36 square miles cannot be divided evenly, so a few sections in every township, specifically, Sections 1 through 6 along the north border, and sections 6, 7, 18, 19, 30, and 31 along the west border, are set aside to absorb any excesses or deficiencies in measurements that occur. These sections are known as…

Answer 27

fractional sections

All irregularities of measurement are added to or subtracted from the dimensions of fractional sections. North-south irregularities are absorbed by north border fractionals, and east-west irregularities by west border fractionals.

Question 28

The incomplete quarters of fractional sections are divided into parcels of roughly equal area called _____. Aren’t part of the ordinary quarterly subdivision process. Their sizes may vary depending upon the number of lots created and the amount of land subdivided.
Numbered consecutively. Besides border fractionals, sections made incomplete by the intrusion of lakes, rivers, and so forth are also divided into these.

Answer 28

government lots

Their legal descriptions are uncomplicated and take the following form: Government lot 11 in the southwest quarter of Fractional Section 7, Township 4 North…etc.

Question 29

_____ is important in establishing how far below or above sea level a certain area is. This method is also used in measuring the elevations of roads and lots, and in the vertical dimensions of buildings. Plays an important role in the description of individually owned condominium properties, which must show the elevations of ceilings and floors as well as the customary horizontal dimensions.

Answer 29

Vertical description

Question 30

The elevation of any structure must always be shown in relation to an official ____. Fixed point of reference for vertical measurements.

Answer 30

datum point

Question 31

The U.S. Geological Survey has established mean sea level at ____ as its official datum, the point on which any vertical measurement in any part of the United States can be based.

Answer 31

New York harbor

Question 32

Many metropolitan areas have established their own datum points or lines for reference, as well as various secondary points of reference known as _____. Are based on the official city datum. They are affixed to permanent objects at various sites throughout the metropolitan areas. Allow surveyors to make accurate local measurements without having to refer to the official datum point.

Answer 32

bench marks

The U.S. Geological Survey also has its own set of bench marks.

Question 33

_____ is designed to do what rectangular survey cannot - provide efficient, easily read and understood descriptions for small urban and suburban properties.

Answer 33

Lot, block, and tract

Question 34

The characteristic feature of lot, block, and tract is the _____. This is a specialized map that accurately delineates the boundaries of individual land parcels within a given area of subdivision.

Answer 34

plat of survey

Question 35

The plat results from a _____ in which all land in a subdivision tract is divided into streets and blocks, and the blocks themselves into smaller lots - thus the name lot, block, and tract. Lots are numbered and the blocks lettered for identification. The dimensions, and often boundary angles, of individual lots are recorded ‘metes and bounds’ style in the survey plat.

Answer 35

precise initial survey

Question 36

The plat is then filed in a public government office, usually the county recorder’s office, where it is kept in what is called a ______. Are open to public inspection.

Answer 36

plat book

A complete lot, block, and tract description will always include the page and volume number of the tract description.

Question 37

Some lots may have ______. Determine how far back from the boundaries of a lot houses or other improvements must be placed in order to conform with local building ordinances. Locations of easements, both public and private, are also recorded in many plats, as well as various types of deed restriction.

Answer 37

setback instructions

Question 38

1 mile

Answer 38

5,280 feet

Question 39

1 acre

Answer 39

43,560 sq. ft.

Question 40

640 acres

Answer 40

1 sq. mile

Question 41

1 section

Answer 41

1 sq. mile

Question 42

1/4 section

Answer 42

160 acres

Question 43

1 township

Answer 43

36 sq. miles

Question 44

1 acre

Answer 44

208.71 ft. x 208.71 ft.

Question 45

arpent

Answer 45

about 192 ft. x192 ft.

or 5/6 acre