BLM Maps

[CindyR]

Anyone have any expertise, knowledge, documentation, experience with the BLM GLO (General Land Office Records) maps? Working specifically on a parcel in New River with Legal Description referencing those nice antique maps. This one is specifically noted in the original 1953 BLM Survey. I find it on the BLM website but it has no relation to Maricopa County recorder's plat maps.

 

[Jo Ann Meyer Stratton]

No, GLO and BLM plats would not have any assessor or recorders information because they were created prior to Arizona being settled. Every legal description west of the Mississippi River (except Texas) is based on the old original GLO maps which are then updated by the BLM when necessary. The original plats were made by surveyors on horseback with the limited equipment available in the 1870s. When BLM becomes aware of a problem or error then they resurvey a large area and prepare a new map for a section or township.

If you would like to send me the legal description and your questions regarding it, both my husband (registered land surveyor) and I will take a look at it. Use the email address that I use for sending out all my emails to Arizona appraisers. Is it a metes and bounds description or a recorded subdivision? If a recorded subdivision map the boundary of the subdivision is tied to the information in the BLM survey. If a legal description for a single parcel it is also tied into the information on the GLO or BLM plat. One of the first things a surveyor does when receiving an order for a survey is contacting the BLM for the latest plat and the field notes of when that township was surveyed. And researching many documents after that before even going out to the field and start surveying.

 

[Terrel L. Shields]

http://www.historygeo.com/
History Geo will let you track the original "first owner of record" for a parcel west of the Mississippi. Covers most of the West. It is a pay site.

The GLO records can also locate the original deed - mostly less useful for appraisal. Very nice for historical research. I found that the original parcel Sarah Bird Ridge, widow of the Cherokee Chieftain, John Ridge, assassinated during the internal civil war of the Cherokee after removal, purchased in Arkansas was pretty much intact still only a few years ago and operated as a seed company and farm.

BTW, sorry Jo Ann, I wanted to swing thru Stafford and say Hi but I was in short supply for time on my way to Yuma, then went back thru Colorado to see a dying relative.

 

[Amy Perkins]

I wonder if the local public works/DOT has a copy? I would think they would need them if they had any large capital projects to do in the area.

 

[Jo Ann Meyer Stratton]

Original and current GLO plats are available from the BLM. Governing entities would get copies prior to starting any mapping project but the surveyors field notes is what is important. The GLO / BLM plats establish where township, range and section lines are located. Then all legal descriptions go from there.