Definition
Section (of Land)
A section of land is a square mile area, equivalent to 640 acres, used as a basic unit in the Government Rectangular Survey System. This surveying method is employed primarily in the United States for identifying and locating land parcels. Each township, which is a 6-mile square area, is subdivided into 36 sections.
Examples
Real Estate Parcel Identification: In rural or agricultural regions, land is frequently divided and sold in sections or fractions of sections. An investor purchasing 2 sections in Nebraska is essentially buying 1,280 acres of land.
Farmland Mapping: For agricultural purposes, the measurement of farms in terms of sections is common. A farm consisting of a quarter section would be 160 acres in size.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is the size of one section of land?
A section of land is one square mile or 640 acres.
2. How many sections are in a township?
There are 36 sections in a 6-mile square township.
3. What is the Government Rectangular Survey System?
The Government Rectangular Survey System is a method used to divide and describe land in the United States, creating a grid system of townships and sections.
4. Is a section always a perfect square?
By definition, a section is designed to be a perfect square—one mile by one mile—although natural features and existing land use might cause variations.
5. How is land divided within a section?
A section can be subdivided further into smaller parcels, such as half-sections (320 acres), quarter-sections (160 acres), or smaller depending on needs.
Related Terms
Township
A township in the Government Rectangular Survey System is an area that measures 6 miles on each side, encompassing 36 sections.
Acre
An acre is a unit of area measurement that equals 43,560 square feet. A section contains 640 acres.
Meridian
A meridian is a principal north-south line used in the Government Rectangular Survey System to define townships.
Baseline
A baseline is an east-west line from which ranges are measured in the Government Rectangular Survey System.
Online References
- [Bureau of Land Management: Public Land Survey System (PLSS)](https://www.blm.gov/services/geospatial/GISData/iSample Federal Land)
- National Atlas of the United States - Land Division
- US Geological Survey - Principal Meridians and Base Lines
Suggested Books for Further Studies
- “Township and Range: The Government Survey System” by Charles W. Harrower
- “Law of the Land: The Advent of the Torrens System in Alberta” by Greg Taylor
- “Legal Aspects of Surveying Water Boundaries” by John Briscoe, Steven Hanna
- “Practical Boundary Surveying Handbook” by Paul Gay
Fundamentals of Land Measurement: Real Estate Basics Quiz
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