Township and Range made easy! Use this free township and range locator to search by address, place, land parcel description or GPS coordinates (latitude, longitude). View and search the Public Land Survey System (PLSS), also known as Congressional townships or survey townships, all the way down to the section, quarter section and quarter quarter section level, all overlaid on a fully interactive Google Map. Optionally, add section township range labels, and overlay counties and cities as well!
Find out what Section Township and Range you are CURRENTLY IN based on GPS location
Quick Tips for using this California Section Township and Range map tool
- There are four ways to get started using this California Section Township and Range map tool
- In the “Search places” box above the map, type an address, city, etc. and choose the one you want from the auto-complete list
- Click the map to see the Section, Township and Range for where you clicked (Monthly Contributors also get Dynamic Maps)
- Use the “Find parcel” tool below the map to search for a known Section, Township and Range, for example from a land deed. Tip: You don’t have to specify a Section if you only know the Township and Range. Also, you can leave the PM (Prime Meridian) set to “any” and the tool will let you know if there are multiple matches.
- To search using GPS coordinates use the “Find lat long” box in the top right above the map*
- Click the ◉ button in the upper right corner of the map to use your current location. Click the ◉ button again to automatically update your location every 1, 5 or 10 minutes (Monthly Contributors also get an option to update every several seconds, shown as ◉A for Active).**
As you click on townships, sections and aliquot parts smaller than a section (such as quarter sections), the approximate area in acres (square miles for townships) will be shown for the blue-highlighted unit. Only use this acreage as an approximate, as it is a GIS-computed area and may not correspond with the official survey-recorded area. - Check the “Show labels” checkbox in the lower left corner of the map to see the names of township and range, section and quarter quarter section on the map. More labels will appear as you zoom in.
- NEW! Use the SHOW OTHER LAYERS panel in the lower left corner of the map to show county lines, US city limits, US civil townships and US ZIP Codes on the map, overlaid on the township range map.
- Subscribe to receive notification of tool updates and usage tips
* You can search using various formats of latitude longitude, including degrees, minutes and seconds; degrees and decimal minutes; or decimal degrees
** The “Locate” button will be more accurate on smartphones and other devices containing a GPS; desktop browsers typically show an approximate location
Section Township Range is part of the U.S. Public Land Survey System (PLSS), which is administered by the United States Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The PLSS is a system of land surveying that was created by the United States government in the early 1800s. The system divides land into rectangular parcels, which are then further subdivided into smaller parcels. The PLSS is used to survey much of the land in the United States, including land that is owned by the federal government, state governments, and private individuals.
The following states use the BLM’s PLSS and are covered by this Section Township Range map tool: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio (partial), Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming. The remaining U.S. states typically use the older metes and bounds system and are therefore not covered by this tool.
Why would you need a map with section, township and range?
Here are several example uses for section, township and range on Google Maps (see disclaimer):
- Real Estate and Development: Developers, realtors, and prospective buyers can gain insights into property locations, approximate sizes and associated boundaries such as city limits and county lines, essential for planning.
- Land Parcel Identification: Section, township and range provides a system for land ownership and description, enabling the identification of land parcels.
- Agricultural Planning: Farmers and agri-businesses can understand plot divisions better, aiding in crop planning, irrigation, and land use decisions.
- Historical Research: For historians and researchers, the section, township and range system offers a glimpse into land allocation, settlement patterns, and historical land use.
- Legal and Surveying Work: Attorneys, surveyors, and land managers rely on the section, township and range system for legal documentation, dispute resolution, and land management tasks. This tool does not serve as a replacement for such services, but it may be useful in the initial gathering of background information.
- Environmental Studies: Scientists and conservationists can use section, township and range to study specific land sections, assess environmental impacts, or plan conservation efforts.
- Infrastructure Projects: Understanding section, township and range is crucial for large-scale infrastructure projects, ensuring accurate land acquisition, project planning, and construction.
- Resource Exploration: Companies involved in mining, oil, or other resource explorations can pinpoint locations and potential extraction sites.
- Land Taxation: Governments and local agencies can use section, township and range for property tax assessments.
- Educational Insights: Geographers, educators, and students can better understand land division systems, aiding in studies related to geography, history, and land management.
- Outdoor Recreation: Adventurers, hunters, or campers can use section, township and range for precise navigation and understanding land permissions in wilderness areas.
- Community and Regional Planning: Local governments and urban planners can leverage the section, township and range system for community development, zoning, and land use planning.
Why was this tool created? Many people have requested to be able to search by section, township and range, and be able to see them displayed on top of Google Maps. While some other tools show Section Township Range on Google Earth, requiring downloads and installation, this free tool shows Section Township Range on Google Maps in a web browser, requiring no downloads and no installation. And you can even use it on your smart phone or tablet!
Find Sections, Townships and Ranges by radius or by drawing a line or shape
- To find Sections, Townships and Ranges within a radius or near a line or shape you draw*:
- Click the “Selection Tools” button in the lower left corner of the map
- – RADIUS SELECT: To find Sections, Townships and Ranges within a radius, specify the mileage in the “Select map features within x miles of the shapes I draw” box, then use the Point “Add a marker” tool to draw a point in the middle of the radius
– TOUCHING A LINE OR SHAPE: To find Sections, Townships and Ranges that touch a line or a shape you draw, use the Line tool or Shape tool to draw the shape, double-clicking when finished
– WITHIN DISTANCE OF A LINE OR SHAPE: To find Sections, Townships and Ranges that are within a distance of a line or a shape you draw, first specify the mileage in the “Select map features within x miles of the shapes I draw” box, then use the Line tool or Shape tool to draw the shape, double-clicking when finished - The Sections, Townships and Ranges will be highlighted and listed in a “Results from map” box below the map, where you can copy the selected Sections, Townships and Ranges for use in a spreadsheet or other document
– Optionally, keep drawing shapes to select more Sections, Townships and Ranges - When you are finished selecting Townships and Ranges, click the “Done Selecting” button in the lower left corner of the map
* Sections, Townships and Ranges will get selected if any part of the shape you draw falls within the Section, Township and Range
FAQs for California Section Township Range
How do you find the township and range of a California address?
Type the address in the 'Search place' box above this California Section Township Range Finder map tool. The section township and range of the address will be displayed above the map.
Why might I need to know the California Section Township Range for a given place or address?
You might need to know the township range section for a California address or place to: - determine a location based on a legal land description - know what county a given township and range is in - determine the California quarter quarter section of a given spot on the map - to identify and locate a parcel of land - record township and range information when conducting field research using GPS coordinates (see * above) - find your ancestor's farm based on old BLM GLO records
How do I see California quarter quarter section information for a location?
The source of the data for this tool is the BLM; if that source data contains California quarter quarter section information (also called aliquot parts) for the area you are searching, that detail will be shown in the information panel above the map when you click a spot on the map (it will list something like SW 1/4 of the NE 1/4 of...). Also, in those areas, the California quarter quarter section lines will draw on the map as you zoom in.
How do I use this California Section Township Range finder?
Use the 'Find parcel' tool near the bottom of this California Township Range locator map. Click 'GO!' and the map will center on your section township and range and the lines will draw. TIP: leave PM set to 'any' for best results.
