---
title: "Search & autocomplete - Township America"
description: "Convert PLSS and Texas descriptions, reverse lookup GPS coordinates, and suggest locations."
url: https://townshipamerica.com/api/docs/search
---

# Search & autocomplete

Convert PLSS and Texas descriptions, reverse lookup GPS coordinates, and suggest locations.

Search API

## Convert Legal Description to Coordinates

Convert PLSS or Texas TXSS legal descriptions to coordinates and vice versa. Responses include `survey_system: "PLSS"` or `"TXSS"`.

### GET /search/legal-location

##### Parameters

| Name     | Type   | Required | Description                                                                    |
| -------- | ------ | -------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| location | string | Required | PLSS or Texas TXSS legal land description (auto-detected) 14S 15E 6th Meridian |

##### Example Response

response.json

```
{
  "type": "FeatureCollection",
  "features": [{
    "type": "Feature",
    "geometry": { "type": "Polygon", "coordinates": [...] },
    "properties": {
      "shape": "grid",
      "search_term": "14S 15E 6th Meridian",
      "legal_location": "14S 15E 6th Meridian",
      "unit": "Township",
      "survey_system": "PLSS",
      "county": "...", "state": "..."
    }
  }]
}
```

#### Texas TXSS example response

```
{
  "type": "FeatureCollection",
  "features": [{
    "type": "Feature",
    "geometry": { "type": "Polygon", "coordinates": [...] },
    "properties": {
      "shape": "grid",
      "search_term": "A-175 Reeves County",
      "legal_location": "Abstract 175 Reeves County Texas",
      "survey_system": "TXSS",
      "abstract_no": "175",
      "county": "Reeves",
      "state": "TX"
    }
  }]
}
```

## Convert Coordinates to Legal Description

Get the legal land description for any GPS coordinate. Returns PLSS inside PLSS states and Texas TXSS inside Texas.

### GET /search/coordinates

##### Parameters

| Name     | Type   | Required | Description                                                                            |
| -------- | ------ | -------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| location | string | Required | Coordinates as lng,lat or lat,lng \-118.267644,42.105493                               |
| unit     | string | Optional | Filter by land unit type (PLSS only) Township , First Division , Second Division , all |

Autocomplete API

## Smart Suggestions

Real-time suggestions as users type PLSS or Texas TXSS descriptions.

### GET /autocomplete/legal-location

##### Parameters

| Name      | Type    | Required | Description                                            |
| --------- | ------- | -------- | ------------------------------------------------------ |
| location  | string  | Required | Partial PLSS or Texas TXSS description 16N 12E         |
| limit     | integer | Optional | Max results (1-10, default: 3)                         |
| proximity | string  | Optional | Bias results toward coordinates \-118.267644,42.105493 |