Which land division system used in the Midwest uses a grid of square parcels?

• A. Township and Range System
• B. Long-Lot Survey System
• C. Metes and Bounds System
• D. Linear Grid System

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is a standardized land surveying method that creates a precise, uniform grid across large inland areas. In the Midwest, land was divided using the Township and Range System, part of the Public Land Survey System. This approach uses principal meridians and baselines to form townships that are six miles on each side, with each township divided into 36 sections of one square mile (640 acres). The result is a grid of square parcels that covers vast regions, making land ownership and sale straightforward.

This grid pattern contrasts with other systems. Metes and bounds relies on natural landmarks and creates irregular, winding boundaries. Long-Lot Survey spreads land into long, narrow strips along rivers or roads. The term Linear Grid System isn’t the standard historical method used in the Midwest. The Township and Range System’s square parcels are why the Midwest landscape often appears as a neat checkerboard of lots.