Abstract: The present invention is a method and system for defining surrogate addresses that translate land descriptions used in the subdivision of public domain lands, including descriptions more recently extended into non-public domain areas, as set forth in the U.S. Public Land Survey System (PLSS), commonly known as the system of Townships and Ranges (T/R). This system of local coordinate (surrogate) addresses translates existing township and range quarter section declarations to a pair of positive integers, thereby eliminating cardinal point references while, substituting the lengthy legal descriptions of the existing (T/R) system, with a more versatile, useful, and more commonly understood grid coordinate identification system of location identifiers. The advantages of the system are numerous, including ease of visualization and ease of locating places on coordinated maps as well as, the enhanced capability relating to the automated processing of geospatial data.