Which is a common form of legal description in older rural areas?

In older rural areas, a prevalent form of legal description is the township, section, and range system. This method originated from the Land Ordinance of 1785, which was designed to facilitate the systematic surveying and sale of land in the United States, particularly in areas that were being opened up for settlement.

Each township is typically six miles square and contains 36 sections, each one mile square. The range helps to identify the township's position relative to a principal meridian, providing a clear, organized framework for land description. This is particularly useful in vast, undeveloped areas where other forms of legal description may not be as effective or practical due to the lack of established landmarks.

The township, section, and range method remains a fundamental way to describe properties in areas that were settled and surveyed during the westward expansion of the United States, catering to the need for precise land identification in less populated spaces.