What type of legal description includes the name of a principal meridian?

The type of legal description that includes the name of a principal meridian is the Rectangular Government Survey. This system is used primarily in the United States and divides land into a series of townships and ranges. Each township is identified by its position relative to horizontal lines (base lines) and vertical lines (meridians). The principal meridian serves as a reference point for locating townships and identifying sections within those townships.

In this system, land is described by specifying the township and range, which directly references the principal meridian in use. This method provides a systematic way to convey land dimensions and boundaries across vast areas, facilitating the understanding of borders based on a standardized grid.

The other types of legal descriptions do not utilize a principal meridian in their formulation. Metes and Bounds descriptions define land using physical features and measurements, while Lot and Block involves reference to recorded plats and subdivisions instead of using meridians. Similarly, Subdivision Description refers specifically to properties subdivided from a larger tract and detailed in plat maps, lacking the context of principal meridians.