Certified Pennsylvania Evaluator Practice Exam

Which legal description method is primarily utilized west of the Ohio River?

1. Lot and Block

2. Metes and Bounds

3. Rectangular Survey

4. Survey and Compass

The correct answer is: Rectangular Survey

The correct answer highlights the Rectangular Survey System, which is primarily used for land description in the regions west of the Ohio River, particularly in the western United States. This method, also known as the Public Land Survey System (PLSS), involves dividing land into a grid of townships and sections, which are measured and surveyed to create a consistent legal description of properties. The Rectangular Survey method provides a clear framework for land ownership and can help avoid the ambiguities often associated with more descriptive methods, such as Metes and Bounds. This is especially significant in areas with large expanses of land, where clarity and uniformity are essential for ensuring proper land transfers and ownership understanding. Metes and Bounds is an earlier system used primarily in the original colonies, including areas east of the Ohio River, where land descriptions are based on natural landmarks, distances, and angles. While this method is effective in certain contexts, it is not the preferred system for western territories. Lot and Block pertains to subdivisions in urban areas and is typically used in places where land has been divided into lots, primarily reflecting urban planning rather than extensive agricultural or rural land. Lastly, Survey and Compass is a traditional approach often associated with the Metes and Bounds method and does not represent a