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This page last updated: 04/11/2007
Metadata created using Minnesota Geographic Metadata Guidelines
| Originator | Minnesota Land Management Information Center (LMIC) |
| Abstract | Beginning in the late 1840s, the federal government began surveying Minnesota as part of the Public Land Survey System (PLSS). The resulting network of land survey lines divided the state into townships, ranges, sections, quarter sections, quarter-quarter sections and government lots, and laid the groundwork for contemporary land ownership patterns. The TRS digital data set represents the Township, Range, and Section divisions of the state. The township, range and section boundaries were digitized at LMIC from stable base mylars of the U.S. Geological Survey's 30-minute latitude by 60-minute longitude map series (1:100,000-scale). All survey lines were extended across water bodies despite the fact that U.S. Geological Survey base maps depict them only on land. This addition allows all sections and townships to be represented as closed areas (polygons) ensuring that township and range location can be determined for any point in the state. It also means that the data set is not affected if lake levels change over time. |
| Browse Graphic | View a sample of the data. |
| Time Period of Content Date | |
| Currentness Reference | The source for this data set is the USGS 30-minute latitude by 60-minute longitude map series (1:100,000-scale). The following list identifies each of the 71 Minnesota maps in the series by its published map name and the date of map publication. The publication dates range between 1976 and 1994: Ada 1984, Aitkin 1994, Albert Lea 1985, Angle Inlet 1985, Anoka 1985, Austin 1985, Basswood Lake 1977, Battle Lake 1986, Baudette 1976, Bigfork 1976, Blackduck 1978, Brainerd 1986, Brookings 1985, Brule Narrows 1978, Cass Lake 1977, Cavalier 1985, Clear Lake 1985, Crane Lake 1978, Crookston 1984, Detroit Lakes 1986, Duluth 1980, Ely 1994, Fairmont 1985, Fargo 1985, Faribault 1985, Fosston 1985, Glencoe 1986, Grafton 1985, Grand Forks 1985, Grand Marais 1977, Grand Portage 1985, Grantsburg 1985, Grygla 1977, Hallock 1985, Hastings 1985, Hibbing 1978, International Falls 1978, La Crosse 1990, Lake Itasca 1985, Lake Minnewaska 1986, Litchfield 1986, Littlefork 1978, Milbank 1985, Mille Lacs Lake 1985, Montevideo 1986, Mora 1991, New Ulm 1986, Oak Island 1985, Outer Island 1990, Pigeon Point 1985, Pine River 1976, Pokegama Lake 1992, Port Wing 1980, Rochester 1985, Roseau 1976, Saganaga Lake 1976, Saint Paul 1985, Sandstone 1980, Sioux Falls 1985, St. Cloud 1986, Stillwater 1985, Thief River Falls 1985, Tracy 1986, Two Harbors 1976, Upper Red Lake 1978, Vermillion Lake 1994, Wahpeton 1985, Wheaton 1985, Willmar 1986, Winona 1985, Worthington 1985. |
| Access Constraints | None |
| Use Constraints | Redistribution Conditions: In obtaining these data from LMIC, it is understood that you and/or your organization have the right to use them for any internal purpose. If you modify them, you should document those changes in a metadata record that should accompany all redistributed data. If you transmit or provide these data in any form to another user, the data MUST be accompanied by a copy of LMIC's disclaimer NOTICE.TXT and all documentation provided with the original data set including the full metadata record. |
| Distributor Organization | Minnesota Land Management Information Center (LMIC) |
| Ordering Instructions | The data set is available either via free download from the Internet or on CD: 1. Internet option: This data set is distributed on the internet by clicking below after Online Linkage. Doing so will tell your browser to start downloading a self-extracting 'ZIP' file (41.2 megabytes) which will contain the following: - The statewide files in Arc Export format (.e00): MN_TRS, MN_TR (township and range, but no county or sections), MN_CTR (township, range and county), MN_CTY (county boundaries), MN_BNDY (state boundary), MN_LAKE (Lake Superior counties and islands) and MN_100K (30' x 60' tiles). - The same statewide files in shapefile format (.shp, .shx, .dbf). - Metadata (.htm) file for the data set - NOTICE.RTF, an important notice about this data set that can be read by most word processing software, and an ascii text version of the same notice (NOTICE.TXT) After downloading this self-extracting 'zip' file (which will have an 'exe' extension), simply execute (run) the file. (For example, you can double click it from Windows Explorer or File Manager). Doing this will automatically extract the files described above. You can then delete file types that you do not need, if any. 2. CD option: Contact LMIC to place an order. The CD contains three formats: ARC/INFO coverage, ARC/INFO export, and shapefile; it also contains the data in county tiles and 30' x 60' tiles. Also included are several data sets derived from TRS: townships, county boundaries and state boundary. The CD is $50. Pre-payment is required, either by check or purchase order. Please contact LMIC to place a custom order if you need the data in NAD27. |
| Online Linkage | Click here to download data. (See Ordering Instructions above for details.) By clicking here, you agree to the notice in "Distribution Liability" in Section 6 of this metadata. |
Go to Section:
1. Identification Information
2. Data Quality Information
3. Spatial Data Organization Information
4. Spatial Reference Information
5. Entity and Attribute Information
6. Distribution Information
7. Metadata Reference Information
| Section 1 | Identification Information | Top of page | ||
| Originator | Minnesota Land Management Information Center (LMIC) | |||
| Title | Public Land Survey System: Sections (TRS), Minnesota | |||
| Abstract | Beginning in the late 1840s, the federal government began surveying Minnesota as part of the Public Land Survey System (PLSS). The resulting network of land survey lines divided the state into townships, ranges, sections, quarter sections, quarter-quarter sections and government lots, and laid the groundwork for contemporary land ownership patterns. The TRS digital data set represents the Township, Range, and Section divisions of the state. The township, range and section boundaries were digitized at LMIC from stable base mylars of the U.S. Geological Survey's 30-minute latitude by 60-minute longitude map series (1:100,000-scale). All survey lines were extended across water bodies despite the fact that U.S. Geological Survey base maps depict them only on land. This addition allows all sections and townships to be represented as closed areas (polygons) ensuring that township and range location can be determined for any point in the state. It also means that the data set is not affected if lake levels change over time. |
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| Purpose | Many irregularities occur when the theory of the PLSS is applied to land surveys on the ground. However, the PLSS acts today as the structure around which all legal descriptions of land parcels in Minnesota are based. It is, therefore, an important framework for most geographic investigations that require information about land ownership. PLSS information is intended to be used for regional studies conducted at the county or multi-county level. The section lines are not meant to be used as legal records. | |||
| Time Period of Content Date | ||||
| Currentness Reference | The source for this data set is the USGS 30-minute latitude by 60-minute longitude map series (1:100,000-scale). The following list identifies each of the 71 Minnesota maps in the series by its published map name and the date of map publication. The publication dates range between 1976 and 1994: Ada 1984, Aitkin 1994, Albert Lea 1985, Angle Inlet 1985, Anoka 1985, Austin 1985, Basswood Lake 1977, Battle Lake 1986, Baudette 1976, Bigfork 1976, Blackduck 1978, Brainerd 1986, Brookings 1985, Brule Narrows 1978, Cass Lake 1977, Cavalier 1985, Clear Lake 1985, Crane Lake 1978, Crookston 1984, Detroit Lakes 1986, Duluth 1980, Ely 1994, Fairmont 1985, Fargo 1985, Faribault 1985, Fosston 1985, Glencoe 1986, Grafton 1985, Grand Forks 1985, Grand Marais 1977, Grand Portage 1985, Grantsburg 1985, Grygla 1977, Hallock 1985, Hastings 1985, Hibbing 1978, International Falls 1978, La Crosse 1990, Lake Itasca 1985, Lake Minnewaska 1986, Litchfield 1986, Littlefork 1978, Milbank 1985, Mille Lacs Lake 1985, Montevideo 1986, Mora 1991, New Ulm 1986, Oak Island 1985, Outer Island 1990, Pigeon Point 1985, Pine River 1976, Pokegama Lake 1992, Port Wing 1980, Rochester 1985, Roseau 1976, Saganaga Lake 1976, Saint Paul 1985, Sandstone 1980, Sioux Falls 1985, St. Cloud 1986, Stillwater 1985, Thief River Falls 1985, Tracy 1986, Two Harbors 1976, Upper Red Lake 1978, Vermillion Lake 1994, Wahpeton 1985, Wheaton 1985, Willmar 1986, Winona 1985, Worthington 1985. |
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| Progress | Complete | |||
| Maintenance and Update Frequency | As needed | |||
| Spatial Extent of Data | State of Minnesota (does not extend beyond state boundaries) | |||
| Bounding Coordinates | -97.5 -89.0 49.5 43 |
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| Place Keywords | Minnesota | |||
| Theme Keywords | planningCadastre, boundaries, Public Land Survey System, PLSS, PLS, State Boundary, County Boundaries, Township Boundaries, Section Boundaries, TRS | |||
| Theme Keyword Thesaurus | ISO 19115 Topic Category | |||
| Access Constraints | None | |||
| Use Constraints | Redistribution Conditions: In obtaining these data from LMIC, it is understood that you and/or your organization have the right to use them for any internal purpose. If you modify them, you should document those changes in a metadata record that should accompany all redistributed data. If you transmit or provide these data in any form to another user, the data MUST be accompanied by a copy of LMIC's disclaimer NOTICE.TXT and all documentation provided with the original data set including the full metadata record. | |||
| Contact Person Information | Norman Anderson,
Research Analyst Minnesota Land Management Information Center (LMIC) 658 Cedar Street, Room 300 St. Paul, MN 55155 Phone: 651-201-2483 FAX: 651-296-3698 E-mail: clearing.house@state.mn.us | |||
| Browse Graphic | View a sample of the data. | |||
| Browse Graphic File Description | Sample of T30 R22W, showing county, township and range, and section boundaries | |||
| Associated Data Sets | Note: Except for TRSQ, the following Minnesota PLS data sets are all free online: Section level data sets: 1. Mn/DOT BaseMap This 1:24,000-scale PLS township and section data does not include attributes, and sections are built as lines, not polygons. See http://www.dot.state.mn.us/tda/basemap/index.html 2. SECTIC-24K: Section Corner Database SECTIC-24K is a digital file of the PLS section corners of Minnesota from the U.S. Geological Survey's 1:24,000-scale quadrangle maps. Also included are software utilities that: 1. provide user-specified section corner extraction from the SECTIC-24K database by county, quadrangle or township, 2. convert among PLSS, UTM and latitude/longitude coordinates, and between NAD27 and NAD83 datum values, and 3. create user-defined output files in dBASE format. See: http://www.lmic.state.mn.us/chouse/metadata/sectic.html 3. Section-level Public Land Survey This file was derived from SECTIC24K section corner data, using a routine which inserts line segments between point section corners. See http://deli.dnr.state.mn.us/metadata/pls_sectpy3.html Quarter-quarter section level data sets: 1. Control Point Generated PLS This 1:24,000-scale quarter-quarter section and government lot data set was constructed using section corner coordinates from the Control Point Inventory as well as information from the original General Land Office surveyors' notes and plat maps. Note: the PLS lines do not cross water bodies. See http://deli.dnr.state.mn.us/metadata/pls_fortypy3.html 2. TRSQ (Township, Range, Section, Quarter-quarter) This data set contains Minnesota county, township, range, and section boundaries digitized from USGS 1:100,000-scale maps. Quarter-section and quarter-quarter section subdivisions were calculated. See http://www.lmic.state.mn.us/chouse/metadata/trsq.html |
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| Section 2 | Data Quality Information | Top of full metadata | Top of page | |
| Attribute Accuracy | All township and range numbers and sample section identifiers were plotted at a 1:100,000-scale to test for proper label assignments. All codes were checked for consistency across sheets by dissolving polygons by 1:100,000-scale sheet and by county. Dissolves were reviewed for miscoding and then the miscodes were corrected after reviewing the surrounding sections. Frequencies were run on all items in the statewide data set to make sure that all values were within their proper range (e.g., all section numbers were between 1 and 36). | |||
| Logical Consistency | Data have been topologically structured and verified. | |||
| Completeness | Township, range, and section areas are complete statewide. | |||
| Horizontal Positional Accuracy | The USGS National Mapping Division's Mid-Continent Mapping Center estimated the horizontal positional accuracy to be .007 inch on the map (within 58 feet on the ground). USGS tested township, range and section lines for two files, Anoka and Battle Lake, in August of 1993. The following evaluation was submitted to LMIC on September 1, 1993 in a letter from Mapping Center Chief Merle E. Southern: 'The positional accuracy of the Minnesota LMIC PLSS data evaluated met most of our recently adopted acceptance/rejection criteria. Tests of three thirty-minute segments all showed standard errors for x and y to be 5-mils [0.005 inch] or less. Tracking test on two segments were generally acceptable -- one line was encountered that was 12-mils off. No deviations of more than 11-mils are allowed. Shaping of line work was acceptable.' | |||
| Vertical Positional Accuracy | Not applicable | |||
| Lineage | The TRS data set was developed at LMIC as part of the 1992 Control Point Inventory program funded by the Legislative Commission on Minnesota Resources - - see 'Associated Datasets' for more information on the program. LMIC used the following procedure: 1. Section lines were digitized from USGS 1:100,000 stable base mylar maps for the 71 30-by-60-minute quadrangles that cover the state of Minnesota. Maps were registered using the 30' x 60' quadrangle corners. The RMS error was less than .004 using the tolerance command with a tic match of 6 meters. Maps are all in the NAD27 datum. 2. Checkplots were made at a scale of 1:100,000. Lines were reviewed using visual editing to ensure that the checkplot and mylar lines were within a line width of each other. 3. Each section polygon was labeled with its county, township, range, direction (east or west), and section (CTRS) identification. 4. Another 1:100,000-scale checkplot was made and the CTRS polygon codes were reviewed and corrected as needed. 5. Section corner tics were added by snapping the 1:24,000-scale tics from the Control Point Inventory to the intersection of the TRS digitized section lines. 6. A final 1:100,000-scale color plot was produced and reviewed, and corrections were made as needed. 7. Several statewide files were created from the 30' x 60' tiles by dissolving on each of the CTRS items in succession. The resulting files contained CTRS, CTR, county boundaries, and state boundary. The statewide files were reviewed for errors during the dissolve process and then by running frequencies and by visually reviewing on screen. 8. Files were converted to the NAD83 datum. 9. A series of related files were generated by county: TRS, TR, and county boundary. |
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| Source Scale Denominator | 100000 | |||
| Section 3 | Spatial Data Organization Information | Top of full metadata | Top of page | |
| Native Data Set Environment | ARC/INFO, Version 7.2.1 | |||
| Geographic Reference for Tabular Data | None | |||
| Spatial Object Type | Vector | |||
| Vendor Specific Object Types | Arc, Polygon, Node, Label Point | |||
| Tiling Scheme | Statewide, county, and 30' x 60' geographic areas corresponding to the USGS 1:100,000-scale base map series coverage. | |||
| Section 4 | Spatial Reference Information | Top of full metadata | Top of page | |
| Horizontal Coordinate Scheme | UTM | |||
| Ellipsoid | GRS80 | |||
| Horizontal Datum | NAD83 | |||
| Horizontal Units | Meters | |||
| Distance Resolution | Unknown | |||
| Altitude Datum | Not applicable | |||
| Altitude Units | Not applicable | |||
| Depth Datum | Not applicable | |||
| Depth Units | Not applicable | |||
| UTM Zone Number | 15E | |||
| Coordinate Offsets or Adjustments | None | |||
| Section 5 | Entity and Attribute Information | Top of full metadata | Top of page | |
| Entity and Attribute Overview | The Public Land Survey System features described in this data set are represented as attributed polygons and label points. The following information is included for each polygon: 1. FIPS_COUN: the Federal Information Processing Standard three-digit county code. Values are 1-173. 2. COUN: a two digit county code. Values are 1-87. 3. TOWN: a three digit PLSS township number. Values are 26-168. The direction is assumed to be north. Township 58 1/2 in Range 17 (St. Louis County) is numbered 58. See FRACTION_TWP code to distinguish from Township 58. 4. RANG: a two digit PLSS range number (values are 1-51). Range 42 1/2 in Townships 159 and 160 (Roseau County) is numbered 42. See FRACTION_TWP to distinguish from Range 42. 5. DIR: a one digit direction indicator: East = 1, West = 2. 6. SECT: a two digit PLSS section number. Values are 1-36. 7. FRACTION_TWP (FRACTION_T in shapefile format): a flag to indicate whether the township is a fractional (half) one. Y = YES; N = NO. 8. ACRES: area in acres calculated from the data set for each PLSS subdivision. This value represents a calculated value from the digital data set. It DOES NOT represent the results of a land survey. 9. CTRS: Combination of attributes 1, 3 - 6, showing County, Township, Range, Direction and Section. 10. TRS: Combination of attributes 3 - 6, showing Township, Range, Direction and Section. 11. X-COORD and Y-COORD: the x, y coordinates of an internal label point for each quarter-quarter section recorded in UTM units: meters, extended zone 15, NAD 83. 12. MATCH: Open field that can be used in relating. 13. Township and Range Label (TWP_LABEL) - TR FILES ONLY - A character item to use when creating township and range labels. Includes the characters: T, R and range direction, e.g., T164 R51W. |
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| Entity and Attribute Detailed Citation | ||||
| Section 6 | Distribution Information | Top of full metadata | Top of page | |
| Publisher | Minnesota Land Management Information Center (LMIC) | |||
| Publication Date | 1999 | |||
| Contact Person Information | Nancy Rader GIS Data Coordination Specialist Minnesota Land Management Information Center (LMIC) 658 Cedar Street, Room 300 St. Paul, MN 55155 Phone: 651-201-2489 FAX: 651-296-3698 E-mail: clearing.house@state.mn.us |
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| Distributor's Data Set Identifier | TRS | |||
| Distribution Liability | DISTRIBUTION LIABILITY STATEMENT For data delivered on-line or by physical media by The Land Management Information Center Limitations: Although extensive effort has been made to produce error free and complete data, all geographic information has limitations due to the scale, resolution, date and interpretation of the original source materials. You should consult available data documentation (metadata) for these particular data to determine their limitations and the precision to which they depict distance, direction, location or other geographic characteristics. These data may be subject to periodic change without prior notification. No Warranty: These data are provided as is, without any warranty whatsoever, including but not limited to any warranty as to their performance, merchantability, or fitness for any particular purpose. Liability: The entire risk as to the results of the use of these data is assumed by the user. LMIC is not responsible for any interpretation or conclusions based on these data made by those who acquire or use it. LMIC shall not be liable for any direct, indirect, special, incidental, compensatory or consequential damages or third party claims resulting from the use of these data, even if LMIC has been advised of the possibility of such potential loss or damage. In States that do not allow the exclusion or limitation of incidental or consequential damages, you may not use these data. Redistribution Conditions: In obtaining these data from LMIC, it is understood that you and/or your organization have the right to use them for any internal purpose. If you modify them, you should document those changes in a metadata record that should accompany all redistributed data. If you transmit or provide these data in any form to another user, the data MUST be accompanied by a copy of this disclaimer and all documentation provided with the original data set including the full metadata record. Data Delivered on Electronic Media: If these data have been requested from LMIC on magnetic media, CD-ROM or any other physical media, LMIC will deliver this product in the computer-readable format agreed upon with the requestor. LMIC will re-issue these data if they are determined unreadable by correctly adjusted computer input devices, or when the medium is delivered in a damaged condition. Requests for re-issue of this digital data product must be made within 30 days of the date shipped from LMIC. |
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| Transfer Format Name | ARC/INFO coverage, ARC/INFO export or shapefile | |||
| Transfer Format Version Number | 7.2.1 | |||
| Transfer Size | A zipfile with all state files is 41.2 megabytes. TRS (unzipped) is 59.6 megabytes (.e00 format); 29.1 megabytes (shapefile format). | |||
| Ordering Instructions | The data set is available either via free download from the Internet or on CD: 1. Internet option: This data set is distributed on the internet by clicking below after Online Linkage. Doing so will tell your browser to start downloading a self-extracting 'ZIP' file (41.2 megabytes) which will contain the following: - The statewide files in Arc Export format (.e00): MN_TRS, MN_TR (township and range, but no county or sections), MN_CTR (township, range and county), MN_CTY (county boundaries), MN_BNDY (state boundary), MN_LAKE (Lake Superior counties and islands) and MN_100K (30' x 60' tiles). - The same statewide files in shapefile format (.shp, .shx, .dbf). - Metadata (.htm) file for the data set - NOTICE.RTF, an important notice about this data set that can be read by most word processing software, and an ascii text version of the same notice (NOTICE.TXT) After downloading this self-extracting 'zip' file (which will have an 'exe' extension), simply execute (run) the file. (For example, you can double click it from Windows Explorer or File Manager). Doing this will automatically extract the files described above. You can then delete file types that you do not need, if any. 2. CD option: Contact LMIC to place an order. The CD contains three formats: ARC/INFO coverage, ARC/INFO export, and shapefile; it also contains the data in county tiles and 30' x 60' tiles. Also included are several data sets derived from TRS: townships, county boundaries and state boundary. The CD is $50. Pre-payment is required, either by check or purchase order. Please contact LMIC to place a custom order if you need the data in NAD27. |
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| Online Linkage | Click here to download data. (See Ordering Instructions above for details.) By clicking here, you agree to the notice in "Distribution Liability" above. | |||
| Section 7 | Metadata Reference Information | Top of full metadata | Top of page | |
| Metadata Date | 04/11/2007 | |||
| Contact Person Information | Nancy Rader,
GIS Data Coordination Specialist Minnesota Land Management Information Center (LMIC) 658 Cedar Street, Room 300 St. Paul, MN 55155 Phone: 651-201-2489 FAX: 651-296-3698 E-mail: clearing.house@state.mn.us |
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| Metadata Standard Name | Minnesota Geographic Metadata Guidelines | |||
| Metadata Standard Version | 1.2 | |||
| Metadata Standard Online Linkage | http://www.lmic.state.mn.us/gc/stds/metadata.htm | |||
This page last updated: 04/11/2007