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PLSS🇺🇸 United States

PLSS land descriptions in New Mexico

New Mexico is a Public Land Survey System state. Township-and-range descriptions here are referenced to the New Mexico Principal Meridian and its baseline.

System
PLSS
Principal meridian
New Mexico Principal Meridian
Routes to
Township America

What to know about New Mexico

  • The New Mexico Principal Meridian governs almost the entire state; townships count north/south of its baseline and east/west of the meridian line.
  • A description like Sec 34, T3S, R1W reads: section 34 of township 3 south, range 1 west of the New Mexico meridian.

Example descriptions

Each opens a decoded parcel with a map, coordinates and a plain-English breakdown.

Learn the terms

Related regions

Last reviewed June 2026. General information about survey systems — not legal, title, or survey advice.

Sources: US BLM — Cadastral Survey (PLSS), BLM / GLO — Principal Meridians and Base Lines (map).

Decode New Mexico land for free
Paste a description into the decoder, or open the interactive maps and tools in Township America.