RPLS Public Land Survey System (PLSS) 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: How many sections are contained in a standard PLSS township?
- 16
- 25
- 36 (Correct answer)
- 48
Correct answer: 36
A standard township contains 36 sections, arranged in a 6×6 grid and numbered 1 through 36.
Question 2: What is an 'aliquot part' in PLSS land descriptions?
- A government lot assigned a specific acreage by the GLO
- A regular fractional division of a section such as a half or quarter (Correct answer)
- A correction applied to irregular boundary sections
- A parcel created by a court subdivision order
Correct answer: A regular fractional division of a section such as a half or quarter
An aliquot part is a regular, legally recognized fractional division of a section (e.g., NW1/4, S1/2) that results in a standard acreage.
Question 3: Which sections in a standard PLSS township most commonly contain fractional government lots?
- Sections 1–6 and sections 31–36
- Sections 1–7 and sections 18, 19, 30, and 31 (Correct answer)
- Only the four corner sections (1, 6, 31, 36)
- Sections 13, 18, 24, and 31
Correct answer: Sections 1–7 and sections 18, 19, 30, and 31
Fractional lots appear along the north tier (sections 1–6) and west column (sections 6–7, 18–19, 30–31), where the township absorbs excess or deficient measurements.
Question 4: A legal description reads 'NW1/4, SW1/4, Section 14.' How many acres does this parcel contain?
- 160 acres
- 80 acres
- 40 acres (Correct answer)
- 20 acres
Correct answer: 40 acres
The NW quarter of the SW quarter equals 1/4 × 1/4 × 640 acres = 40 acres.
Question 5: In PLSS notation, 'T3N, R2W' means:
- 3rd township north of the baseline, 2nd range west of the principal meridian (Correct answer)
- 3rd range north, 2nd township west of the state line
- Township 3, Range 2, northwest quadrant
- 3rd tier north, 2nd guide meridian west
Correct answer: 3rd township north of the baseline, 2nd range west of the principal meridian
'T3N' indicates the 3rd township tier north of the baseline and 'R2W' indicates the 2nd range west of the principal meridian.
Question 6: What is the acreage of the S1/2, NE1/4 of a standard PLSS section?
- 160 acres
- 80 acres (Correct answer)
- 40 acres
- 20 acres
Correct answer: 80 acres
The S1/2 of the NE1/4 equals 1/2 × 1/4 × 640 = 80 acres.
Question 7: Government lots in the PLSS are typically found:
- Only in sections along the eastern boundary of a township
- Along navigable bodies of water and at the north and west edges of townships where closures create irregular parcels (Correct answer)
- Only in townships adjacent to state or international boundaries
- In interior sections where soil surveys required special designations
Correct answer: Along navigable bodies of water and at the north and west edges of townships where closures create irregular parcels
Government lots are created where sections cannot be subdivided into standard aliquot parts due to navigable water bodies or irregular closures along the north and west township boundaries.
RPLS Public Land Survey System (PLSS) 2
How many sections are contained in a standard PLSS township?