How does the Rectangular Survey System primarily reference land?

The Rectangular Survey System, also known as the Public Land Survey System (PLSS), primarily references land by utilizing township lines and principal meridians. This method establishes a grid system across large areas of land, making it easier to identify and locate parcels of real estate.

Township lines run east-west and are designated as either north or south of a baseline, while principal meridians run north-south and are established to create a referencing point for the townships. Each township is further divided into sections, allowing for precise identification of land locations. This systematic approach is especially useful in areas that were originally surveyed and mapped by the government, providing a standardized method for describing land that is both efficient and widely understood within the real estate sector.

The other approaches mentioned do not align with the foundational principles of the Rectangular Survey System, as there is no use of circles or historical markers in this grid-based system, and fractional titles are not a defining feature of the survey method itself.