Which legal description method involves dividing land into rectangular sections?

The rectangular survey system, also known as the Public Land Survey System (PLSS), involves dividing land into a grid of rectangular sections. This method was established in the late 18th century to standardize land descriptions across public lands in the United States.

In this system, land is divided into townships, which are then further divided into sections, each typically measuring one square mile, or 640 acres. The townships are organized in a north-south and east-west configuration, making it easier to identify specific parcels of land using coordinates. This method is particularly useful for identifying larger tracts of land and is common in rural areas.

In contrast, the metes and bounds method relies on physical features of the land and specific measurements to define property boundaries. Geographic identification involves using geographic coordinates for specifying locations, and lot and block is often used in urban settings to refer to a specific piece of land within a subdivision or a recorded plat. Each of these methods serves its own purpose but does not utilize the rectangular system dividing land into sections as the correct answer does.