What is the term for the meridian used in land description within the rectangular survey method?

The term for the meridian used in land description within the rectangular survey method is known as the principal meridian. In the rectangular survey system, which is commonly used in the United States for land description, land is divided into townships and ranges based on a grid system established by these meridians and baselines.

The principal meridian serves as a reference line from which the coordinates of land parcels are determined. Each principal meridian is associated with a specific area or region and is named accordingly to facilitate navigation and land sale processes. Understanding the concept of principal meridian is vital to grasping how land is surveyed, described, and categorized, which is crucial knowledge for anyone entering the real estate field.

The other terms, while related to land description, denote different aspects of the survey system. For instance, a baseline is a horizontal line run east-west, and townships and range lines further define the divisions within the surveyed area. However, the principal meridian itself is the primary vertical reference line that defines the east-west orientation of the land parcels.