How to read a township and range
Township and range coordinates locate a survey township on the grid relative to a baseline and a principal meridian.
The basics
Township numbers count north or south of the baseline; range numbers count east or west of the meridian. Together they pin down a ~six-mile-square township, then a section and quarter refine the location.
Frequently asked questions
Can a legal land description produce GPS coordinates?
Often, yes. The coordinates should come from a parser or authoritative map source after the correct system and reference fields are known.
Why does the meridian matter for GPS coordinates?
Township and range numbers repeat across meridians, so the same numbers can point to different locations without the correct meridian.
Last reviewed June 2026. General information about survey systems — not legal, title, or survey advice.
Sources: US BLM — Cadastral Survey (PLSS), Natural Resources Canada — About Canada Lands surveys.