List of principal and guide meridians and base lines of the United States


This is a list of principal and guide meridians and base lines of the United States, with the year established and a brief summary of what areas' land surveys are based on each.

List of meridians

Primarily from the United States Government Printing Office Style Manual. State names usually signify only parts of each listed state, unless otherwise indicated.
Based on the BLM manual's 1973 publication date, and the reference to Clarke's Spheroid of 1866 in section 2-82, coordinates appear to be in the NAD27 datum.

Principal Meridians

MeridianLongitudeAssociated BaselineLatitudeAdoptedArea surveyed
First principal84°48′11″W40°59′22″N1819Ohio
First principal84°48′11″W40°59′22″N1819Indiana
Second principal86°27′21″W38°28′14″N1805Illinois
Second principal86°27′21″W38°28′14″N1805Indiana
Third principal89°08′54″WCentralia38°28′27″N1805Illinois
Fourth principal90°27′11″WBeardstown40°00′50″N1815Illinois
Fourth principal 90°25′37″WIllinois–Wisconsin border42°30′27″N1831Minnesota
Fourth principal 90°25′37″WIllinois–Wisconsin border42°30′27″N1831Wisconsin
Fifth principal91°03′07″W34°38′45″N1815Arkansas
Fifth principal91°03′07″W34°38′45″N1815Iowa
Fifth principal91°03′07″W34°38′45″N1815Minnesota
Fifth principal91°03′07″W34°38′45″N1815Missouri
Fifth principal91°03′07″W34°38′45″N1815North Dakota
Fifth principal91°03′07″W34°38′45″N1815South Dakota
Sixth principal97°22′08″W40°00′07″N1855Colorado
Sixth principal97°22′08″W40°00′07″N1855Kansas
Sixth principal97°22′08″W40°00′07″N1855Nebraska
Sixth principal97°22′08″W40°00′07″N1855South Dakota
Sixth principal97°22′08″W40°00′07″N1855Wyoming
Black Hills104°03′16″WBlack Hills43°59′44″N1878South Dakota
Boise116°23′35″W43°22′21″N1867Idaho
Chickasaw89°14′47″W35°01′58″N1833Mississippi
Choctaw90°14′41″WChoctaw31°52′32″N1821Mississippi
Cimarron103°00′07″W36°30′05″N1881Oklahoma
Copper River145°18′37″W61°49′04″N1905Alaska
Fairbanks147°38′25.949″W64°51′50.048″N1910Alaska
Gila and Salt River112°18′19″W33°22′38″N1865Arizona
Humboldt124°07′10″W40°25′02″N1853California
Huntsville86°34′16″W34°59′27″N1807Alabama
Huntsville86°34′16″W34°59′27″N1807Mississippi
Indian97°14′49″W34°29′32″N1870Oklahoma
Kateel River158°45′31.014″W65°26′16.374″N1956Alaska
Louisiana92°24′55″W31°00′31″N1807Louisiana
Michigan84°21′53″W42°25′28″N1815Michigan
Michigan84°21′53″W42°25′28″N1815Ohio
Montana111°39′33″W45°47′13″N1867Montana
Mount Diablo121°54′47″W37°52′54″N1851California
Mount Diablo121°54′47″W37°52′54″N1851Nevada
Navajo108°31′59″WNavajo35°44′56″N1869Arizona
Navajo108°31′59″WNavajo35°44′56″N1869New Mexico
New Mexico principal106°53′12″W34°15′35″N1855New Mexico
New Mexico principal106°53′12″W34°15′35″N1855Colorado
St. Helena91°09′36″W30°59′56″N1819Louisiana
St. Stephens88°01′20″WSt. Stephens30°59′51″N1805Alabama
St. Stephens88°01′20″WSt. Stephens30°59′51″N1805Mississippi
Salt Lake111°53′27″W40°46′11″N1855Utah
San Bernardino116°55′48″W34°07′13″N1852California
San Bernardino116°55′48″W34°07′13″N1852Arizona
Seward149°21′26″W60°07′37″N1911Alaska
Tallahassee84°16′38″W30°26′03″N1824Florida
Tallahassee84°16′38″W30°26′03″N1824Alabama
Uintah109°56′06″W40°25′59″N1875Utah
Umiat152°00′04.551″W69°23′29.654″N1956Alaska
Ute108°31′59″W39°06′23″N1880Colorado
Washington 91°09′36″W30°59′56″N1803Mississippi
Willamette122°44′34″WWillamette45°31′11″N1851Oregon
Willamette122°44′34″WWillamette45°31′11″N1851Washington
Wind River108°48′49″W43°00′41″N1875Wyoming

Guide Meridians

MeridianLongitudeAssociated BaselineLatitudeAdoptedArea surveyed
Ashley guide meridianUtah
Beaverhead guide meridianMontana
Belt Mountain guide meridianMontana
Big Hole guide meridianMontana
Bitterroot guide meridianMontana
Boulder guide meridianMontana
Browning guide meridianMontana
Buffalo Creek guide meridianMontana
Carson River guide meridianNevada
Castle Valley guide meridianUtah
Colorado guide meridianUtah
Columbia guide meridianWashington
Colville guide meridianWashington
Coulson guide meridianMontana
Deer Lodge guide meridianMontana
Deschutes meridianOregon
Emery Valley guide meridianUtah
Flathead guide meridianMontana
Fort Belknap guide meridianMontana
Fremont Valley guide meridianUtah
Grand River guide meridianUtah
Grande Ronde guide meridianOregon
Green River guide meridianUtah
Haystack Butte guide meridianMontana
Helena guide meridianMontana
Henry Mountain guide meridianUtah
Horse Plains guide meridianMontana
Humboldt River guide meridianNevada
Jefferson guide meridianMontana
Judith guide meridianMontana
Kanab guide meridianUtah
Kolob guide meridianUtah
Little Porcupine guide meridianMontana
Maginnis guide meridianMontana
Musselshell guide meridianMontana
New Mexico guide meridianNew Mexico and Colorado
Panguitch guide meridianUtah
Passamari guide meridianMontana
Pine Valley guide meridianUtah
Red Rock guide meridianMontana
Reese River guide meridianNevada
Ruby Valley guide meridianNevada
Sevier Lake guide meridianUtah
Shields River guide meridianMontana
Smith River guide meridianMontana
Snake Valley guide meridianUtah
Square Butte guide meridianMontana
Sweet Grass guide meridianMontana
Teton guide meridianMontana
Valley Creek guide meridianMontana
Wah Wah guide meridianUtah
Willow Springs guide meridianUtah
Yantic guide meridianMontana
Yellowstone guide meridianMontana

Ohio Lands

Some parts of the Ohio Lands were laid out in survey townships, but based on other points not listed above: