Land Surveys History

Land Surveys began in Saskatchewan with the Dominion Land Survey System, which started in 1871. This survey system was based on the method used by the United States to allocate lands in the western part of the country after the American Revolution. The system divided land into townships that were six square miles each in terms of surface area. All land was surveyed — not just agricultural land.

Saskatchewan started to be surveyed in 1871 with the First System of Survey. The Second System of Survey was done in 1880 with the intent of making all quarters surveyed up to that point roughly the same size. The Third System of Survey began in 1881 and is still in use today. This Third System was actually modified in 1919 to 1920 to benefit veterans of the First World War, who were allocated an additional 80 acres adjoining their quarter sections, held in reserve until they developed their home quarters.

Early surveyors in Saskatchewan compiled their information from these surveys into Field Books, documents that show what markings were made by the surveyors, detailing structures, water bodies, roads and other features on the land that was surveyed.

Find out more about land surveying in Saskatchewan by visiting the following pages:

Land TITLES History

The history of Saskatchewan Land Titles begins in 1869 with the Dominion Land Survey. Long before Saskatchewan’s birth as a province in 1905, the survey was used to subdivide the Western plains (then known as the Northwest Territories) in order to prepare the land for settlers and immigrants. Soon after the surveying started, the Dominion Land Act of 1872 and the accompanying manual detailed how prairie land should be subdivided and allotted.

An orderly system by which people could acquire land was necessary. You can imagine the problems that would arise if people were allowed to stake claim on any piece of land they chose! Hundreds of surveyors were hired by the government to work in the prairie wilderness. They would ‘survey’ or assess the land by measuring it and dividing it.

When settlers arrived they were given a unique description of their land and sometimes surveyors helped them find their section. There were no power lines, roads, fences or buildings by which to locate their allotment, so finding it proved to be difficult.

The following pages provide more information on the origin and history of Saskatchewan's Land Titles: