An imaginary line that runs east and west and crosses the principal meridian at a specified point; it is used by surveyors as a reference point to locate and describe land under the rectangular survey system. Beginning at the initial point and the number 1 on a rectangular system grid, each township is designated as being a number of six-mile units (“Townships”) north or south of the baseline, and so many six-mile units (“Ranges”) east or west of the meridian.
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