In the rectangular survey system, which direction do range lines run?
Correct Answer
D) North and south
In the rectangular public-land survey system, range lines are nominally north–south boundaries of ranges, while township lines are nominally east–west. Convergence, correction lines and actual survey records matter; the grid description does not guarantee every line is perfectly parallel or every section exactly 640 acres.
Why This Is the Correct Answer
Option D is correct because range lines are the nominally north-south boundaries of ranges, the six-mile-wide strips numbered east or west from the principal meridian. Township lines, by contrast, run nominally east-west. Earth curvature and correction lines mean actual lines are not perfectly parallel, but the nominal direction of range lines is north-south.
Why the Other Options Are Wrong
Option A: Northeast and southwest
Option A, northeast and southwest, is a diagonal direction that is not used for range lines in the rectangular survey grid. Range lines run nominally north and south.
Option B: Along natural boundaries
Option B, along natural boundaries, describes features often used in metes and bounds descriptions, not the rectangular grid. Range lines follow the survey grid, nominally north and south.
Option C: East and west
Option C, east and west, is the direction of township lines and the baseline, not range lines. Range lines run nominally north and south, perpendicular to township lines.
Ranges run up and down
Range lines run north-south like the meridian; townships are counted north or south, so township lines run east-west like the baseline.
How to use: Use this when deciding whether a question refers to range lines or township lines.
Exam Tip
Separate the direction a line runs from the direction strips are numbered. Ranges are numbered east-west, but range lines themselves run north-south.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- -Confusing the direction in which ranges are numbered (east or west) with the direction range lines run
- -Mixing up range lines and township lines
- -Assuming every section is exactly 640 acres despite convergence and corrections
Concept Deep Dive
Analysis
This question tests the geometry of the rectangular (public land) survey system. Ranges are strips numbered east or west of a principal meridian, so the lines bounding them run north and south.
Background Knowledge
The rectangular survey system is built on principal meridians running north-south and baselines running east-west. Ranges are numbered east or west of the meridian, and townships are numbered north or south of the baseline. Because meridians converge, correction lines and actual survey records determine exact boundaries.
Real-World Application
An appraiser reading a legal description such as a section within a given township and range locates the property on the public land survey grid. The appraiser relies on the recorded survey for actual dimensions rather than assuming a perfect grid.
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