PLSS Map

The PLSS actually consists of a series of separate surveys. Most PLSS surveys begin at an initial point, and townships are surveyed north, south, east, and west from that point. The north-south line that runs through the initial point is a true meridian and is called the Principal Meridian. Shown here is a map of the US. States not in color were surveyed prior to the Revolutionary War, with the exception of Texas.