Minnesota State Real Estate Practice Test

In which of the following areas is the government survey system generally not used for legal descriptions?

1. The original 13 states

2. Western territories

3. Coastal states

4. Urban zones

The correct answer is: The original 13 states

The government survey system, also known as the Public Land Survey System (PLSS), was primarily developed after the original 13 states were established. The system was designed to survey and divide vast areas of land in the western territories where land was more abundant and needed a standardized method for real estate transactions and property descriptions. In the eastern U.S., particularly in the original 13 states, property boundaries were often established through metes and bounds descriptions or by reference to established landmarks and physical features rather than the systematic grid approach used in the PLSS. The usage of the metes and bounds system was more common due to the historical context of land ownership before the establishment of the survey system. On the other hand, the other areas mentioned—western territories, coastal states, and urban zones—often utilize the government survey system due to the need for a clear and organized method of land description, which is vital for development, zoning, and property transactions in both rural and urban settings. Thus, the government survey system is less applicable in the area of the original 13 states.