Which system uses legal descriptions that include township, range, and section numbers?

The Rectangular Survey System, also known as the Public Land Survey System (PLSS), is designed to provide a standardized method of dividing and describing land in the United States. This system organizes land using a grid structure defined by township and range lines, with each township further divided into sections.

In this system, a township is typically six miles by six miles and is identified by its location relative to a baseline and meridian. Ranges run parallel to the meridian, while sections are one-mile by one-mile plots within each township. This method allows for precise land identification and is particularly useful in rural areas where metes and bounds descriptions can be cumbersome or ambiguous.

In contrast, the Metes and Bounds System relies on physical features and markers to describe the land, the Lot and Block System utilizes subdivided lots within a recorded plat map, and the Geographic Coordinate System employs latitude and longitude for location identification. Each of these systems has its specific applications and contexts, making the Rectangular Survey System uniquely identifiable through its use of township, range, and section numbers.