What term is used to describe townships along the prime meridians that may have partial sections of land?

The term "Fractional Townships" is used to describe townships that have areas of land that are not complete sections, often occurring near the edges of surveyed sections due to the curvature of the Earth or other surveying adjustments. This designation is particularly relevant in the Public Land Survey System, where land is divided into townships and sections, with a standard section being one square mile.

Fractional Townships may arise along prime meridians or borders of a surveyed region, where the normal grid pattern of sections is interrupted. Since these townships contain less than the standard 36 sections due to such factors, they are labeled “fractional.” This understanding is essential for land surveyors and real estate professionals who deal with land descriptions and property boundaries, especially in rural settings where such irregularities can significantly affect land use and ownership.

The other terms refer to different concepts related to land surveying and property descriptions. Correction lines deal with adjustments made to maintain the grid system’s accuracy due to the Earth's curvature, while settlement plans and metes and bounds focus on various methods of describing land parcels rather than the specific cases of fractional sections. Understanding these distinctions enhances clarity when navigating the complexities of rural land surveys.