What are the horizontal lines in townships and sections called?

The horizontal lines in townships and sections are called base lines. In the Public Land Survey System (PLSS) used in the United States, including California, these base lines run east to west and serve as a reference point for surveying land. They are essential in the legal description of land and help to create a grid system of townships and sections, facilitating land division and ownership identification.

Base lines work in conjunction with principal meridians, which are the vertical lines that run north to south. The combination of these lines creates a framework through which land can be systematically organized and recorded. Understanding this system is crucial for anyone involved in real estate, land surveying, or property development, as it impacts land use planning, property rights, and legal boundaries.