Introduction and Origins of the Public Land Survey System
November 27, 2017
The PLSS has a long history in the U.S. as the dominant system of describing and dividing land west of the Eastern seaboard.
Tagged As: PLSS
Public Land Survey System: A system of land division used in the United States.
PLSS Work Group
The PLSS Workgroup was formed by individuals and organizations in Wisconsin to advocate and advance the purpose and importance of the Public Land Survey System. Our goal is to educate and encourage State, County and Municipal agencies in improving, advancing and maintaining the Public Land Survey System statewide.
Land Surveying and PLSS Topics
November 24, 2017
Links and topics of interest related to the profession of land surveying.
Survey Monument Maintenance
Surveying relies on physical reference objects placed in the ground. While temporary stakes are what the public may see most often in conjunction with construction work, the enduring reference marks (usually called monuments) are much less prominent. Monuments serve to mark points used for geodetic control networks as well as points used to reference property boundaries. Monuments can take a variety of forms.
PLSS: Curiosities and Trivia
August 21, 2017
Interesting facts related to the Public Land Survey System (PLSS).
PLSS Origins in Wisconsin
The PLSS in Wisconsin was put in place essentially continuously beginning in 1832 and concluding in the north in the 1866. Township boundaries were surveyed first; sections were filled in later.
Final Report, 2015 Surveying-Parcel Forum
August 1, 2017
Report on a public forum entitled, “Aligning County Surveying and Parcel Mapping Efforts in Wisconsin,” hosted by the Wisconsin State Cartographer’s Office on March 12, 2015, at UW-Stevens Point.
Mapping European Settlement in Wisconsin
This study of washington Island was presented by Will Craig at the WLIA (Wisconsin Land Information Association) Fall Regional Conference in Oshkosh in October, 2015. The study focuses on the processes used to collect and map the dates of initial land transfers on Washington Island, Wisconsin.
Public Land Survey System (PLSS) Maps
July 13, 2017
A variety of map types include a representation of the PLSS. These maps cover a range of scales and accuracies.
Learning Center
We answer hundreds of technical mapping-related questions every year from both the general public and geospatial professionals. This page provides more information on some of the most common questions we receive from map and GIS users.