What term defines the origin point of the principal meridians and baseline in public land surveys?

The term that defines the origin point of the principal meridians and baseline in public land surveys is known as the Initial Point. This point serves as a reference for the entire survey system established under the Public Land Survey System (PLSS). Each Initial Point is associated with a specific land survey, marking the location where the principal meridian (which runs north-south) and the baseline (which runs east-west) intersect.

This system is essential for accurately describing the location of land parcels in the United States, particularly in the western states, where such a framework was established to facilitate land division and management. The coordinates of the Initial Point provide the basis for the entire grid of townships and ranges that follow, allowing surveyors to create detailed and organized mappings of land ownership. By setting this reference point, surveyors can ensure consistency and accuracy in land surveying across vast areas.

The other options refer to different concepts in land surveying. A Base Line is specifically the horizontal line from which townships are numbered north or south, and a Principal Meridian is the vertical line for the same purpose running east or west from the Initial Point. A Section Line pertains to the division of townships into sections but does not serve as the origin point itself. Understanding these distinctions