Final answer:
The Public Land Survey System (PLSS) describes the most land in the U.S., utilizing a rectangular grid system, differing from the irregular metes and bounds system used during the colonial era.
Step-by-step explanation:
The surveying system used to describe the most land in the United States is the Public Land Survey System (PLSS), also known as the Rectangular Survey System. This system, proposed by Thomas Jefferson, organized land into a rectangular grid system to create a well-ordered method for distributing land, particularly to create equal-sized farmsteads and promote a democratic society of yeoman farmers. It was a stark contrast to the metes and bounds system used during the colonial period, which described parcels of land using natural landmarks resulting in irregular plot sizes and shapes.
When you look at cadastral patterns from an aerial view over the United States, these patterns can clearly be seen, particularly in rural farmlands that make up a significant portion of the country's surface area. The USGS has been instrumental in mapping the nation's landscape through topographic maps, which also reflect the cadastral systems employed.