4 methods of describing property

1. monuments method
2. metes and bounds method (surveyor's method)
3. the rectangular or government survey method
4. plat or lot and block method 
   
   

Monuments Method

• oldest and least accurate 
• uses topographical features of the land to identify boundaries
• monuments can be natural or man-made

Surveyor's Method

"Metes and Bounds"

• metes are measurements of distance such as inches, feet, yards, miles
• bounds refer to compass directions
• this is the most accurate type
• survey begins at a known "monument", which are metal or concrete and set in the ground. Survey begins by giving directions from the monument to the edge of the property, called the POB - point of beginning, it ends back at the POB at the CLOSING

Government Survey Method

"The Rectangular Method"

• Developed in 1785 for the westward expansion of the US for states west of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers
• Florida is was surveyed using this method
• Divides the surface of the earth into a grid and numbers each square.  Then subdivided into smaller squares.
• Tallahassee Principal Meridian and Baseline
• Ranges, tiers, townships etc.

Townships

• north/south lines parallel to the principal meridian are "meridians" or "RANGE" lines
• east/west lines drawn parallel to the Tallahassee baseline are called "Tiers"
• a township is 6 miles square and contains 36 square miles

Guide Meridians

Since meridian lines follow the curvature of the earth, they don't remain 6 miles apart.

Guide meridians are drawn every 24 miles east and west of the to correct for the variation to the north and south poles

Correction Lines

Correction lines are located every 24 miles morth and south of the Tallahassee base line.  The intersection of Guide Meridians and Correctin Lines forms a 24 mile square area called a CHECK.

Sections

A township is divided into 36 numbered sections 1-36 beginning at the northeast corner and goes west for 1-6.  Section 7 is located immediately south of section 6.

• A section is 1 mile square and contains 1 square mile
• 1 square mile contains 640 acres
• 1 acre contains 43,560 square feet

Plat Method

• known as the "lot and block" method, used to identify small parcels of property in subdivisions and cities.
• the subdivision or city map is based on a survey, then cut into streets, lots and blocks