The Public Land Survey System (PLSS) is a method of surveying and describing the land and has traditionally been used to determine parcel ownership. The system is applied to most of the U.S. States, particularly those that lie west of the Mississippi River.
Using a rectangular grid system derived from a base line that runs east-west and a Principal Meridian that runs north-south within each survey area, the PLSS creates a series of 6-square-mile Townships. These are identified by a Township (TWP) number and direction indicator (N or S) relative to the base line and range number and direction indicator (E or W) relative to the Principal Meridian.
Sections
Townships are normally divided into 36 1-square-mile Sections that are assigned a sequential number value.
Reference Format
The resulting Township, Range, and Section designation is commonly referred using the following method:
T140S R630W S27
In this case, the area in question is Township 140 south of the survey's Base Line, Range 630 west of the Principal Meridian and Section 27.
This is unofficial:
Neighbors in Ellerbe Road Estates Section #17 should have their lot described as being in:
T16N R13W S17 Caddo Parish, Louisiana.
This is not official, but if you receive a lease with anything different from this, you should question it.
