Unit 10 - Legal Descriptions

Question 1

Assessor’s Parcel Number

Answer 1

A numerical ID assigned to each parcel of land within a tax district used to prepare tax maps.

Question 2

Baseline

Answer 2

Imaginary lines running east and west and crossing a principal meridian at a definite point; used by surveyors for reference in locating land under the government survey system

Question 3

Check

Answer 3

A square measuring 24 miles on each side and representing the largest unit of measure in the government survey system.

Question 4

Government Survey System

Answer 4

A type of land description, developed by the federal government for subdividing lands using surveying lines.

Question 5

Legal Description

Answer 5

A series of boundary lines on the earth’s surface.

Question 6

Lot and Block

Answer 6

A type of legal description of land associated with subdivisions and based on recorded plat maps

Question 7

Metes and Bounds Description

Answer 7

A method of legal description that identifies a property by specifying the shape and boundary dimensions of a parcel of land. A metes and bounds description starts at the point of beginning and follows the boundaries of the land by compass direction and linear measurements and returns to the point of the beginning.

Question 8

Monument

Answer 8

Man made or natural object used to establish boundaries of land.

Question 9

Point of Beginning (POB)

Answer 9

The starting and ending place in a land survey using the metes and bounds method of property description.

Question 10

Principal Meridian

Answer 10

Imaginary lines 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 government survey system.

Question 11

Range

Answer 11

In the government survey system of land description, a vertical strip of land six miles wide located between two consecutive submeridians or range lines

Question 12

Section

Answer 12

One of the primary units of measurement in the government survey system of land description. A section is one mile square and contains 640 acres

Question 13

Survey

Answer 13

The procedure used to measure and describe a specific tract of real property for the purpose of determining exact boundaries and the are contained therein

Question 14

Tier

Answer 14

An east-west row of townships.

Question 15

Township

Answer 15

A square tract of land measuring six miles on each side and including 36 sections

Question 16

Township Line

Answer 16

The east west survey lines located every six miles north and south of the primary base line. Also called a subbaseline.