Mission

News

The mission of the Land Survey Program is to develop and provide information required for the accurate and economical location of property boundaries in Missouri.

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 1816 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 of the land from the United States Government to private owners and is the basis for all land transfers and ownership in the state today.

Why are these corners important?
The land corners are the basis for the location of all property in Missouri. Properly monumented, they are a dependable, consistent, accurate source of information for settling property boundary disputes and other boundary related questions. ...more

Attention GPS Users--Read the article, "Getting More from Your Handheld GPS Unit," by department land surveyor, Steven Weible. The article appeared in The American Surveyor magazine.

Missouri Resources Magazine--Read about a rewarding career with the department as a
Professional Land Surveyor.

Sites of Interest

• Land Survey Index
• Horizontal and Vertical Control Maps
• Geographic Reference System Monument Recovery Form
• Land Survey Advisory Committee
• Missouri Minimum Standards Presentation