The original colonies' land surveys were based on the English system 
of metes and bounds. The new nation established the Rectangular Land 
Survey System for public lands west of the original colonies, to 
guide their orderly disposal through sale. The survey, also called 
Public Lands Survey System, began at Stuebenville OH in 1785 and, 
with some partial exceptions, applied to all westerly lands except 
Texas. The Wikipedia article is a good summary of the nature and 
historical importance of public lands survey. It's really more 
interesting than you might think! :-)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_Land_Survey_System#Non-PLSS_regions

--John

>On  Mon, 14 Feb 2011 Mary E. Stewart <[log in to unmask] wrote>
>
>Virginia still uses metes and bounds and that is how my land is described in
>my deed.
>
>Mary
>
>On Fri, Feb 11, 2011 at 11:03 AM, Joy Fisher <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
> > Hello:
> >
> > I have collected some of the old surveys for lands in Virginia. They were
> > done in the 1700's using metes and bounds. "N30W 100 poles to a white oak
> > sapling, etc."
> >
> > What system does VA now use as a legal land description? Has VA adopted a
> > rectangular survey system of some type?
> >

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