Franklin
County Surveying and Land History
To understand the evolution of Franklin
County, one must explore Ohio’s rich surveying history and how it influenced
the measurement and division of our local land.
Long before Ohio
became a state, it was a Native American territory that was eventually claimed
by different nations and colonies. The variety and number of these claims caused
Ohio
to have more original surveys than any other state.
The first
surveyors lived a hard life threatened by
the perils of the wilderness far from civilization and family.
The endless forests, tall grasses, and rugged
terrain of Ohio
made tracking difficult. With only
a chain for measurement and a compass for navigation, it is easy to understand
why there are discrepancies in some of the original surveys.
Following
the American Revolution, the federal government appointed "Deputy Surveyors" to
oversee and implement the first survey standards.
Typical compensation, shared by
surveyors and their
crews, was two to three dollars for each mile measured. In some cases, surveyors
were paid with land, which resulted in making them original settlers with large
land holdings.
Surveyors
guided the development of the new frontier as they clarified land titles and
property boundaries, and helped to layout the first roadways and towns that
would become the fabric of our state and county. We invite you to explore this fascinating
history through our Surveyor's Journal web pages.
Surveyor's
Journal
Surveying
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