The initial point on the Cimarron Meridian is at the intersection of the Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Texas borders, at the southwest corner of Cimarron County. The Texas-Oklahoma border is the base line for the Cimarron Meridian, while a line running through Sulphur and Duncan is the base line for the Indian Meridian. The standard parallels are parallel at all points to the base line and at all points perpendicular to the meridians. Guide meridians are established at 24-mile intervals east and west of the principal meridians running true north and perpendicular to the base line and standard parallels. Guide meridians are not continuous as parallels are, but extend only from standard parallels to standard parallel.
Correction lines compensate for the curvature of the earth.
Each 24-mile square unit bordered by two guide meridians and two standard parallels is referred to as a quadrangle or surveyor's check. Each quadrangle is in turn divided into 16 squares called townships each measuring six miles on each side. A column of townships extending north and south is called a range, and ranges are numbered from the principal meridian east or west. Each township contains 25 full sections of approximately 640 acres each. Sections are numbered within a township starting with Number 1 at the northeast corner and proceeding to the west boundary, then down to the next row, numbering to the east boundary, then down and so on in a serpentine manner.