California Real Estate Practice Exam

What is the number of the section that is always located in the northeast corner of a township?

1. 36

2. 1

3. 12

4. 30

The correct answer is: 1

The section that is always located in the northeast corner of a township is numbered 1. In the Public Land Survey System (PLSS), which is used to divide land in the United States, townships are laid out in a grid of 36 sections, each section typically measuring one square mile. Starting from the northeast corner, the numbering of the sections proceeds in a zigzag pattern across the township. Therefore, section 1 is designated as the northeast section, with subsequent sections following in a west-to-east fashion, moving down each row of sections. This specific layout assists in the organization and identification of land within townships and provides a uniform system for referencing parcels of land. Understanding this system is crucial for those studying real estate, as it plays a pivotal role in land descriptions, transactions, and property assessments. The other options correspond to sections found in various locations throughout the township, but section 1's specific placement in the northeast corner is definitive.