PLSS Maps

Source: http://nationalatlas.gov/articles/boundaries/a_plss.html

The PLSS Map stands for The Public Land Survey System. These maps subdivide land in the U.S. It divides the public domain lands- lands that are owned by the Federal Government. Not all states are included in the Public Land Survey System. There are 30 states in total that are included, and the rest rely on the metes-and-bounds system.  It began after The Revolutionary War, with the 13 original states. Land began being surveyed in order to sell it. In addition, soldiers were given land for their service to our country. There was no way to determine what land was given to soldiers and what land was being sold by our government without the Public Land Survey System.

The map I have included above is a great example of how land is divided amongst the state of Ohio. I chose to include a map of an individual state, rather than the U.S. as a whole to give a better understanding. This map is an early depiction of the states boundaries- before the Public Land Survey System was fully developed.