Go to this url for a very nice picture and explanation: http://www.outfitters.com/genealogy/land/twprangemap.html If for some reason you can't access this, go to Google and type in "township range" without the quotes. The first one that came up is the url above. Linda Hughes On Jan 6, 2004, at 10:48 PM, Cleo Hogan wrote: >> I received the message below and know nothing about these maps. Is >> there >> anyone on the list that can explain what this lady is asking, then we >> will >> both know. >> >> Thanks in advance. Shirley >> >> What do you know about township maps? >> 1. Do they number from left to right or right to left? >> 2. Does township 8 go on right or left of township 9> >> 3. When a census refers to Elkins township is that a town or a 36 >> section township? >> 4. Do you know how to pull up this type of info on Internet? >> >> >> IMHO, this is a northern and western US phenomenon. I lived in NE, >> IA and > MI, and learned of "townships" there; we, to my knowledge, do not have > them > in VA, WV, NC, SC, KY and TN, which are the areas I have lived in (NC, > KY & > TN), and researched in (VA, WV, SC, KY). > > There's some history of the method of surveying that Thos Jefferson was > involved in, that resulted in the "township", "range" and "section" > that was > used in the Northwest Territory that was NOT used in the Territory > South of > the River Ohio, when land grants and deeds were first used. We use the > "metes (sic) and bounds" [creek to rock to tree] system in the South, I > think. A course at a genealogical seminar on land records in the north > would > cover this. Will some surveyor or real estate lawyer step in here? > Cleo in > Clarksville, cdmhogan@usit.net > >