What do the terms "metes and bounds" refer to?

The term "metes and bounds" relates specifically to a method of surveying that is used to define property boundaries. This approach involves outlining the perimeter of a parcel of land using distances and angles or directions. "Metes" refers to the measurement of distance, while "bounds" refers to the boundaries or landmarks that mark the edges of the property.

This method is one of the oldest forms of land description and is particularly useful in areas where traditional rectangular surveying methods, such as the Public Land Survey System, are not applicable. By using physical features of the land, such as trees, rivers, and roads, along with precise measurements, metes and bounds can provide a clear and legal description of a specific tract of land.

In contrast, the other options do not accurately describe what metes and bounds refer to. A legal description based on historical use pertains more to different types of property descriptions but does not involve the specific surveying process that "metes and bounds" entails. Determining property values in real estate and estimating land area using topography are both related to valuation and assessment practices rather than to the direct method of land boundary definition provided by metes and bounds.