Blog · September 27, 2026
What Is a Quarter Section
A quarter section is one fourth of a section, about 160 acres, described as the northeast quarter or another quarter.
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Deeds divide further into quarter-quarters, about 40 acres, and then into irregular remnants. The words 'NE 1/4 of the SW 1/4' are that smaller square.
On the recorded sheet
The aliquot description assumes a regular section. Many sections are not regular because of the curve of the earth and old survey error. The measured acreage can differ.
The mix-up to avoid
A 'quarter section' in conversation is not a substitute for the full call on the deed.
Find the county map
Search the county on the Platbookmapper home page. The directory links to the official parcel viewer. It does not draw the lots, and the line on the screen is an assessment map, not a survey.
Not a survey. County GIS and tax parcel maps are assessment and planning layers. They are not a substitute for a recorded plat, deed, or licensed survey.