Final answer:
The lot-and-block method of land description is used for subdivided developments, but in Illinois, it is not prescribed solely by the parcel size. It is applied when land is divided into lots and blocks within a subdivision, as recorded on a plat plan. Larger, rural land areas are described differently, using the Public Land Survey System.
Step-by-step explanation:
The lot-and-block method of land description is typically required when dealing with subdivided developments or urban areas, where it is necessary to reference a particular plot of land within a larger tract that has been divided into lots, blocks, and streets. Each lot within a block is identified by a unique lot number in a plat, which is a map of the land division.
In Illinois, this method is not necessarily tied to a particular size of a parcel being smaller or larger, but rather to the nature and division of the property. For example, lots within a subdivision would be described this way regardless of their size, following the recording of a plat plan with associated lot numbers, block designations, and streets. In contrast, larger, undeveloped or rural tracts of land may be described using the Public Land Survey System (PLSS), which references townships, sections, and quarter-sections.
Homesteaders frequently purchased lands referred to as quarter sections, which are 160 acres in size. Smaller parcels, like those in suburban or urban areas divided into individual lots, would typically use the lot-and-block system.