What is the difference between a township and a range in the rectangular survey?

A township is a horizontal row of land measured north or south from a base line, identified by its distance in six-mile increments such as Township 3 North. A range is a vertical column of land measured east or west from a principal meridian, identified similarly as Range 2 West. Together they create a grid where each six-by-six-mile square is called a township and can be uniquely identified by combining both numbers. The intersection of Township 3 North and Range 2 West identifies one specific 36-square-mile area containing 36 sections.