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Metes and bounds is a system or method of describing land, 'real' property (in contrast to personal property) or real estate. The system has been used in England for many centuries, and is still used there in the definition of general boundaries. By custom, it was applied in the original 13 colonies that became the United States, and in many other land jurisdictions based on English Common Law.
Typically the system uses physical features of the local geography, along with directions and distances, to define and describe the boundaries of a parcel of land. The boundaries are described in a running prose style, working around the parcel of the land in sequence, from a point of beginning, returning back to the same point. It may include references to other adjoining parcels of land (and their owners), and it, in turn, could also be referred to in later surveys. At the time at which the description is compiled, it may have been marked on the ground with permanent monuments placed where there were no suitable natural monuments.
The term 'metes' refers to a boundary defined by the measurement of each straight run, specified by a distance between the terminal points, and an orientation or direction. A direction may be a simple compass bearing, or a precise orientation determined by accurate survey methods. The term 'bounds' refers to a more general boundary description, such as along a certain watercourse, a stone wall, an adjoining public road way, or an existing building.
The system is often used to define larger pieces of property (e.g. farms), and political subdivisions (e.g. town boundaries) where precise definition is not required or would be far too expensive, or previously designated boundaries can be incorporated into the description.
A typical description for a small parcel of land would be: "From the point on the north bank of Muddy Creek one mile above the junction of Muddy and Indian Creeks, north for 150 yards, then northwest to the large standing rock, west to the large oak tree, south to Muddy Creek, then down the center of the creek to the starting point."
Use in the United States
This system was imported to the original colonies that formed the United States. It is also used in some states that were split from them but in which land was allocated before 1785. These include West Virginia, Kentucky, Maine, and Vermont.
Difficulties Once a such a survey is in place, tradition and long use establishes the boundaries. The description might refer to landmarks such as the large oak tree which could die, rot and disappear. Streams might dry up or change course. Man-made features such as roads, walls, markers or stakes may also have been used to determine the real boundaries. But these features move, change and disappear over time. When it comes time to re-establish these boundaries (for sale, subdivision, or building construction) it can become difficult, even impossible, to determine the original location of the boundary. Court cases are sometimes required to settle the matter.
These kind of problems caused the United States to largely replace this system. Beginning with the Land Ordinance of 1785, it began a transition to the Public Land Survey System (PLSS) used in the central and western states. The eastern, or original states, continue to use the metes and bounds surveys of their founders.
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