What is a Range in Real Estate Property Surveying?
I love explaining the nuts and bolts of real estate surveying, and Range is one of those fundamental concepts that makes our property system work smoothly. Let me break this down for you in a way that'll make perfect sense.
Range: A Range is a six-mile-wide strip of land that runs north to south as established by the government's rectangular survey system. These strips are numbered based on their position east or west of a principal meridian and help create a standardized way to identify and describe property locations.
Historical Background
The Public Land Survey System (PLSS) came about from a brilliant idea by Thomas Jefferson and his team back in the 1780s. They needed a systematic way to divide and sell land as the United States grew. The six-mile measurement wasn't random - it was chosen because it created manageable chunks of land that could be further subdivided while still being practical for surveyors to measure with the tools available at that time.
The system started in Ohio and spread westward as the nation expanded. Surveyors would brave rough terrain, weather, and wilderness to mark these boundaries, often using simple tools like chains and compasses. Their work forms the foundation of how we identify property today.
Components of Range System
Principal Meridians serve as the starting points for measuring Ranges. Think of them as the backbone of our surveying system - they run north-south and act as reference lines. From these meridians, surveyors count the Ranges either east or west.
The numbering system works like this: If you're looking at Range 3 East, you're looking at a six-mile strip that's the third strip east of the Principal Meridian. Simple, right? These Ranges work together with Townships (which run east-west) to create a grid system, much like the coordinates on a map.
Practical Applications
You'll see Ranges mentioned in property deeds, legal descriptions, and land surveys. They're critical for:
Writing accurate property descriptions
Creating legal documents for land transfers
Planning new developments
Determining exact property boundaries
Common Misconceptions
People often mix up Ranges and Townships. Here's the simple way to remember it: Ranges run north-south and are measured east or west from a Principal Meridian. Townships, on the other hand, run east-west and are measured north or south from a baseline.
Some folks think this system applies everywhere in the U.S., but states like the original 13 colonies often use different systems, such as metes and bounds.
Modern Usage and Technology
While the Range system remains unchanged, the tools we use to measure and map them have gone high-tech. GPS technology now helps surveyors pinpoint exact locations within Ranges. Digital mapping systems make it easier to visualize these boundaries, and modern real estate software incorporates Range information into property listings and maps.
Related Real Estate Concepts
Understanding Ranges goes hand-in-hand with other property concepts:
Legal descriptions: Written explanations of property boundaries
Metes and bounds: An older system using physical landmarks
Property boundaries: The actual limits of ownership
Land surveying: The process of determining property lines
Conclusion
Ranges might seem like a technical concept, but they're fundamental to how we identify and describe property locations in the United States. Whether you're buying, selling, or just curious about your property boundaries, understanding Ranges helps you make informed real estate decisions.
At Bellhaven Real Estate, we're ready to help you navigate property boundaries and legal descriptions. Our team can guide you through the details of property location and boundaries during your next real estate transaction.