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Cadastral Survey Records

Our office maintains both survey notes and plats for Montana, but only survey plats for North and South Dakota. North and South Dakota are considered "closed" states, and requesters must obtain copies of notes from the appropriate state agency:  North Dakota - North Dakota State Water Commission State Office Bldg 900 East Blvd Bismarck ND 58505 PH 701 328-2750 South Dakota - South Dakota State Archives 900 Governors Dr Pierre SD 57501 605 773-3804  All of North and South Dakota are surveyed, but there are portions of Montana that remain unsurveyed, due to the remoteness and topography of the area. For unsurveyed areas, a protraction diagram will exist. Records are in aperture card format. Surveys are defined as original, resurvey, retracement, and remonumentation. The original survey is the first survey done of an area; it can cover an entire township, or just a portion. Resurveys are any subsequent surveys performed on an area already surveyed. A retracement does not alter the previous survey, but rather confirms the location of the corners. If a previous corner marker is replaced in the location, it's called a remonumentation. Section subdivision surveys were seldom conducted during the course of the original surveys. The boundaries and acreage of aliquot parts and lots of a section were protracted, based on mathematic calculations. Section subdivision surveys are conducted as necessary to identify these boundaries on the ground. Also see Minerals Surveys and Homestead Entry Surveys.