Learn about the PLSS Overlay, including the definition, benefits, tips, coverage and update frequency.
Available with any of the following subscriptions:
- All plans
Definition
Township, section, and range are terms used in the United States Public Land Survey System (PLSS) to organize and describe land parcels. A township is a square area measuring 6 miles by 6 miles, divided into 36 sections, each roughly 1 mile by 1 mile. Sections are further divided into smaller parcels for land management and ownership purposes. Ranges are columns of townships located east or west of a reference point called a principal meridian. These divisions provide a standardized method for identifying and locating land parcels across vast territories.
Key Benefits
Offers standardized land parcel description and location methods, aiding efficient administration and reducing legal disputes
Tips:
- Each sections is labeled with the township, range and section numbers
- You can search the T-R-S Overlay using the search bar.
- For Texas maps, you can view and search by the Abstracts Overlay.
Limitations: This overlay should be used for reference only. Users should be cautious of potential temporal lags in updates, omissions and positional precision errors.
Coverage
- Contiguous United States (excludes Hawaii and Alaska)
- Texas uses the Abstracts Overlay which serves the same purpose, but it is based on the Original Texas Land Survey instead of the PLSS. Texas is its own country after all!
Update Frequency
As updates are available