1. Agriculture and the Cultural Landscape

2. Agriculture reflects culture and makes an imprint on the landscape
Cadastral
surveys document the boundaries of land ownership/sets property lines.
Rectangular/Township and Range System
Land Ordinance of 1785 sets pattern for distribution of land to settlers

3. Dominant Land Survey Systems in the U.S.

4. The Land Ordinance of 1785
adopted by the U.S Congress (Articles of Confederation)
goal to raise $ by sale of land in the unmapped NW Territory (today’s Midwest)
divided into sq. "townships", six miles on a side.
sub-divided into thirty-six "sections“ (one sq. mile or 640 acres)
further subdivided for sale to settlers and land speculators.
also a significant mechanism for funding public ed.
Sect. 16 in each township rsvd for public schools.

7. Agriculture reflects culture and makes an imprint on the landscape
Cadastral
Rectangular/Township and Range System
Land Ordinance of 1785 sets pattern for distribution of land to settlers
How is this reflected on the landscape?

10. Agriculture reflects culture and makes an imprint on the landscape
Cadastral
Rectangular/Township and Range System
Land Ordinance of 1785 sets pattern for distribution of land to settlers
How is this reflected on the landscape?
establishes checkerboard pattern = 75% of US

11. Agriculture reflects culture and makes an imprint on the landscape
Cadastral
Metes and Bounds Survey
uses natural features to demarcate parcels of land
“beginning with a corner at the intersection of two stone walls near an apple tree on the north side of Muddy Creek road one mile above the junction of Muddy and Indian Creeks, north for 150 rods to the end of the stone wall bordering the road, then northwest along a line to a large standing rock on the corner of the property now or formerly belonging to John Smith, thence west 150 rods to the corner of a barn near a large oak tree, thence south to Muddy Creek road, thence down the side of the creek road to the starting point."
How will this look on the landscape?

13. Agriculture reflects culture and makes an imprint on the landscape
Cadastral
Metes and Bounds Survey
uses natural features to demarcate parcels of land
“beginning with a corner at the intersection of two stone walls near an apple tree on the north side of Muddy Creek road one mile above the junction of Muddy and Indian Creeks, north for 150 rods to the end of the stone wall bordering the road, then northwest along a line to a large standing rock on the corner of the property now or formerly belonging to John Smith, thence west 150 rods to the corner of a barn near a large oak tree, thence south to Muddy Creek road, thence down the side of the creek road to the starting point."
How will this look on the landscape?
irregular shapes, like a jigsaw puzzle

14. Dominant Land Survey Systems in the U.S.

15. Agriculture reflects culture and makes an imprint on the landscape
Cadastral
Long-lot Survey System:
Divides land into narrow parcels stretching back from rivers, roads, or canals
prevalent in French America (Louisiana, Mississippi Valley, Quebec and Canadian Maritimes
Why is this system seen as fair?

17. Agriculture reflects culture and makes an imprint on the landscape
Cadastral
Long-lot Survey System:
Divides land into narrow parcels stretching back from rivers, roads, or canals
prevalent in French America (Louisiana, Mississippi Valley, Quebec and Canadian Maritimes
Why is this system seen as fair?
Allows access to important means of transporting goods or supplying water/irrigation

18. Dominant Land Survey Systems in the U.S.

19. Agriculture reflects culture and makes an imprint on the landscape
Lot fragmentation depends on use of “primogeniture”
eldest son inherits
lot sizes stay intact
Northern Europe and colonized areas
land divided amongst heirs
fragmented lots
Asia, Africa and parts of Southern Europe

20. Rural Settlement Patterns
Clustered rural
settlement pattern
≈ 50% of global population lives in rural clusters
crossroads, hamlets, villages
nucleated
centered around focal point
Courtyard, intersection, church etc.
protected (older)
Circular (cattle corral)
hilltops (leaves level land for farms)
sometimes walled for protection
Grid pattern (newer)
linear = non-nucleated

23. Rural Settlement Patterns
Clustered rural
settlement pattern
≈ 50% of global population lives in rural clusters
crossroads, hamlets, villages
nucleated
centered around focal point
Courtyard, intersection, church etc. (“cluster”)
protected (older)
round (Africa =cattle corral)
hilltops (leaves level land for farms)
sometimes walled for protection
Grid pattern (newer)
linear = non-nucleated

26. Rural Settlement Patterns
Clustered rural
settlement pattern
Dispersed rural
settlement pattern
Family farmstead surrounded by farm buildings and farmland
NW Europe
England, Germany
Typical in Midwest, Western US
New England originally clustered but became more dispersed as community ties and protection needs decreased
less chance of attack by Native Americans
population became more diverse
≈ 50% of global population lives in rural clusters
crossroads, hamlets, villages
nucleated
centered around focal point
Courtyard, intersection, church etc.
protected (older)
circular
hilltops (leaves level land for farms)
sometimes walled for protection
Grid pattern (newer)
linear = non-nucleated

28. You can see both a nucleated and dispersed rural settlement patterns in the photo below