Final answer:
The Rectangular Government Survey System (RGSS) is a standardized grid-based land division method that replaced the problematic metes and bounds system, leading to more manageable and uniform land parcels. It is significant in terms of its influence on the culture, politics, and economics of the regions using this system.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Rectangular Government Survey System (RGSS) is a method used for describing land in the United States, which includes specific details like the state, principal meridian, township and range with compass directions, and section numbers. This system was introduced to address the shortcomings of the metes and bounds system, which was based on local landmarks and resulted in irregularly shaped land parcels that were difficult to manage and administer.
The RGSS uses a grid pattern that divides land into uniform square parcels known as townships, which are then further subdivided into sections and quarter sections. Thomas Jefferson introduced the township and range cadastral system to streamline land ownership and create more manageable property divisions.
As an example, in Ross County, Ohio, the division of land west of the Scioto River uses metes and bounds, leading to a jigsaw puzzle pattern of land division. East of the river, a more orderly grid pattern from the township and range system is evident. These different patterns of land division have significant implications on the culture, politics, and economics of each region, influencing how communities develop and interact with each other and the land.