In the area west if the Appalachians, they made what were called "tomahawk claims". This was done by marking trees as the boundaries. This was a very inexact practice and as areas became settled and courts appeared, they were tied up in courts all of the time. You also have to remember that with a sparse population there was plenty of room so they didn't build right next to each other.
Bubbert73 t1_itlafxw wrote
Reply to ELI5: How did early settlers know the boundaries of their land claims? by GreenKeel
In the area west if the Appalachians, they made what were called "tomahawk claims". This was done by marking trees as the boundaries. This was a very inexact practice and as areas became settled and courts appeared, they were tied up in courts all of the time. You also have to remember that with a sparse population there was plenty of room so they didn't build right next to each other.