Beginning Point of the U.S. Public Land Survey

The Beginning Point of the U.S. Public Land Survey is a monument near East Liverpool standing at the tri-state border between Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. It marks the starting location for the grid system that would be applied to map and divide vast territories across the expanding nation.

Established in 1785, this location served as the origin point for measuring and organizing the Northwest Territory into a systematic grid. The survey method created here became the foundational approach for mapping and distributing land throughout the westward expansion.

The survey system introduced by this monument transformed how Americans measured, documented, and distributed land across the expanding nation after the Revolutionary War.

The site is easily accessible and serves as a good reference point for visitors exploring the tri-state border area. An informational marker at the location provides background on the surveying system and its importance to American land development.

The original survey point now lies submerged in the Ohio River, while the monument on shore preserves its historical location. This water boundary made it a practical choice for launching a system that would eventually standardize how millions of land parcels were defined across America.

GPS coordinates: 40.64251,-80.51897

Latest update: December 8, 2025 20:02