Why Indiana Land Has So Many “Straight Lines”

If you’ve ever looked at an Indiana parcel map and thought, “Why does everything look like a grid?”—you’re not imagining it.

Much of Indiana was surveyed in a standardized system that favored straight boundaries, square-mile sections, and predictable road spacing. That grid still influences:

Property boundaries

• Road placement

• Farm field shapes

• Where towns expanded

Seller Note (Callout Box):
If your parcel has clean, straight boundaries, it’s often easier to describe, map, and market. If it’s irregular or “metes and bounds,” it can still sell—buyers just want clarity.