What does the United States Public Land Survey cover?

The correct answer is that the United States Public Land Survey covers U.S. land not settled at the time of the Land Ordinance of 1785. This survey system was designed to manage and organize the vast tracts of land acquired by the United States, primarily in the westward territories, following the Revolutionary War.

The Land Ordinance of 1785 established a systematic method for surveying and selling land in the newly acquired territories, especially those areas that were not yet developed or populated. The survey divided the land into townships and sections, making it easier to allocate and sell land to settlers. As a result, regions that were already settled or established prior to this ordinance were not included in the Public Land Survey system.

This method was critical for facilitating the westward expansion of the United States and played a significant role in the development of the country. The intent was to promote organized settlement and development in areas that had not yet been cultivated or inhabited, which aligns with the correct answer's focus on land not settled at the time of the ordinance.