Agriculture and the Cultural Landscape

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

Dominant Land Survey Systems in the U.S.

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.

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?

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

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?

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

Dominant Land Survey Systems in the U.S.

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?

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

Dominant Land Survey Systems in the U.S.

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

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

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

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

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