How are townships oriented relative to meridians?

Townships are oriented east and west relative to meridians. In the Public Land Survey System (PLSS) used in North America, townships are defined as six-mile by six-mile areas that are established based on the principal meridian and base line. The township lines run parallel to the base line, which is situated horizontally, while the range lines run vertically along the meridian.

Understanding the orientation of townships is key in real estate as it helps in accurately locating parcels of land and navigating property descriptions. This knowledge also plays an important role in land use planning, zoning, and development, as well as in various real estate transactions. Knowing that they run east and west clarifies how land is measured and surveyed in these systematic frameworks, reinforcing the importance of geographic orientation in real estate practices.