What do meridians and ranges represent in rural land legal descriptions?

Meridians and ranges are terms used specifically in the context of the Public Land Survey System (PLSS) in the United States, which is a method to describe land. Meridians are the north-south lines that are used as reference points for land surveying, while ranges are the east-west rows of townships that relate to these meridians. This system enables precise legal descriptions of land parcels, facilitating their identification and boundaries.

The use of meridians and ranges is fundamental in establishing the geographical layout and boundaries of land ownership. They allow for a standardized method to describe large tracts of land, which is essential for legal purposes, property assessments, tax assessments, and land management.

Other options do not align with the primary function of meridians and ranges. Property valuation involves various factors beyond mere coordinates, while residential zoning regulations pertain to how land may be used rather than how it is laid out in a legal context. Thus, recognizing meridians as longitudinal lines reflects their role in the grid system used for legal descriptions of land, but the broader implications point to the establishment of boundaries for land ownership.