Final answer:
Parcels in the recorded plat system are individual lots that combine to form a subdivision. Different cadastral systems, such as the Long Lots system and the grid system, define how land is divided and have influenced property rights and community responsibilities.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the recorded plat system, parcels are individual lots that combine to make a subdivision. In this system, a larger piece of land is divided into lots, streets, and public areas, which are then legally recorded to establish the map of property lines and streets. Throughout history, various cadastral systems have been used to define property boundaries and land ownership. For example, the Long Lots system used by the French in North America consisted of narrow parcels one-tenth as wide as they are long, positioned along transportation corridors like rivers. In contrast, the grid system, also known as the Rectangular Survey System, proposed by Thomas Jefferson uses a logical and ordered division of land into townships and further into square mile sections and smaller sub-sections.
Different regions have utilized different systems, such as 'metes and bounds', which led to irregular divisions resembling a jigsaw puzzle. These differences in cadastral systems have also shaped regional mindsets concerning individual and community rights and responsibilities regarding land use.