Who is credited with the development of the rectangular survey system?

The development of the rectangular survey system is attributed to the federal government. This system was established as a means to provide a structured method for surveying and selling public lands in the United States, especially in the vast territories acquired during westward expansion. Implemented through the Land Ordinance of 1785, the rectangular survey system divided land into a grid of squares or rectangles, characterized by a series of parallel and perpendicular lines referenced by a principal meridian and base line.

This system was significant because it facilitated the easier sale, distribution, and settlement of land, allowing for a more organized development pattern compared to earlier methods that tended to rely on metes and bounds, which were often confusing and lacked standardization. The approach helped govern land sales and allocation effectively, becoming a foundational principle for how land was managed in many states primarily in the Midwest and West.

State governments, local municipalities, and land developers all have roles in land use and development but did not create the foundational survey system in the same manner or with the same overarching impact as the federal government.