Public Land Survey – Sections

This data layer indicates the boundaries for the Public Land Survey (PLS) Sections. It was developed by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MN DNR). The Public Land Survey typically divided land into six mile by six mile townships. Townships were divided into one mile by one mile sections that are approximately 640 acres in size. They were mapped using information that included Government Land Office plat drawings and survey notes, official resurveys, and PLS control points from MN DNR Control Point Inventory database. They were adjusted to more closely match MN DNR land records. The PLS system shapes ownership and development patterns throughout the state.