Legal Definitions - range

Definition: In land law, a range is a strip of public land that runs due north to south. It consists of a row of townships that are spaced six miles apart. The abbreviation for range is R.

Example: In the United States, the government conducts surveys to divide public land into townships and ranges. For example, a survey might show that a particular piece of land is located in Township 2 North, Range 3 West. This means that the land is in the second row of townships north of the baseline and the third row of ranges west of the principal meridian.

Explanation: The example illustrates how ranges are used in U.S. government surveys to identify the location of public land. By dividing the land into townships and ranges, it becomes easier to manage and sell the land. The six-mile intervals between townships and ranges also make it easier to measure and divide the land into smaller parcels.