Are Government Lots always exactly 40 acres?

Government Lots do not always constitute exactly 40 acres; they can be “more or less” than that. This is due to the fact that Government Lots are created in situations where standard rectangular surveys do not fit perfectly within the boundaries of a section. For example, a Government Lot may result from irregular or fractional sections, where the available land does not allow for a complete 40-acre lot due to natural features or existing property lines.

In addition, since Government Lots are sometimes designated to make up for areas that are not completely utilized for standard sections, they often vary in size to accommodate the actual land available. This variability emphasizes the principle that these lots are intended to manage and define land use efficiently within the public domain, rather than being rigidly set at a specific acreage.

Understanding this concept is vital for land surveyors, particularly in Oklahoma, where the survey system is based on the Public Land Survey System (PLSS) which may include such lots for effective land management. Thus, the correct reasoning for Government Lots being “more or less” than the standard 40 acres underscores the adaptive nature of land surveying in accommodating the peculiarities of the land.