Range Lines

To create the government survey grid, surveyors drew vertical lines that run north and south. These lines, called range lines, are placed every six miles and run parallel to the principal meridian (PM). These range lines divide the land into long vertical strips that are six miles wide. Each of these strips is called a range. Ranges are located on both sides of the principal meridian.Ranges are numbered starting at the principal meridian and moving outward.The first strip of land east of the PM is called Range 1 East (R1E).The next strip farther east is R2E, then R3E, and so on.The same numbering system applies to the west side of the PM:The first strip of land west of the PM is Range 1 West (R1W).The next is R2W, then R3W, continuing farther away from the PM.