How are townships formed in the rectangular survey system?

In the rectangular survey system, townships are established through the use of range and township lines. This system divides land into a grid of squares, where each township is typically six miles by six miles, comprising 36 square miles. The method employs horizontal lines called township lines that extend east-west, and vertical lines known as range lines that extend north-south. The intersection of these lines creates a grid, effectively forming individual townships.

Township lines are parallel to the base line, while range lines are parallel to the principal meridian. This creates a systematic approach to land surveying that allows for precise legal descriptions and delineations of property boundaries. Each township is then subdivided into sections for further division and management of land. In contrast to the other methods mentioned, rivers and lakes do not create townships; they may influence the division of land but do not form the foundation of the survey system. Metes and bounds are a different and older method of land survey that relies on physical markers and boundaries rather than a grid system. Thus, range and township lines are the correct mechanisms behind the formation of townships in the rectangular survey system.