Corner Master Index Help



Table of Contents

What is the Public Land Survey System?

How are sections marked?

Corner index grid

How do I search for records by township and range?

How do I purchase these records?



What is the Public Land Survey System?

The United States Public Land Survey System (USPLSS) in Missouri is an extension of the system adopted by the United States Congress in 1785. Between 1815 and 1855, Missouri was surveyed into one mile squares called sections. Thirty-six sections in a block of land measuring six miles on each side is called a township. This created the basis for the transfer for the land from the United States Government to private owners and is the basis for all land transfers and ownership in the state today.

Back to Top


How are sections marked?

The sections were originally marked with wood posts, rocks or mounds of earth. This record of the original survey called the General Land Office (GLO) survey is found in the original field notes and plats. Today, new permanent monuments are placed at the section and 1/4 section corners (halfway between section corners). These monuments may also be aluminum pipes, iron rods, concrete markers or iron pipes with caps stamped to identify the corner. The Missouri Department of Agriculture, county surveyors and private surveyors will have set some of these monuments. They will have a witness post and sign set near the corner marker to identify the corner.

Back to Top


Corner index grid

The corner index grid shows the proper positioning of the corner locations referred to in the Corner Master Index. The grid is marked A-Z running north-south and 1-25 running east-west.
Click here for a PDF copy of the Index Grid: Index Grid

Back to Top


How do I search for records by township and range?

Enter Township, Range, Direction for the search criteria.

Back to Top


How do I purchase these records?

Ordering from the CMIS is easy. Follow the online instructions or see the PDF instructions below. Be sure to download your documents before leaving the CMIS page.
Click here for a PDF copy of instructions: Ordering Instruction LSI/CMI

Back to Top

PDFcopy of Help file