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
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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.
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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.
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
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
### What is the area of one section of land?
- [ ] 320 acres
- [x] 640 acres
- [ ] 480 acres
- [ ] 160 acres
> **Explanation:** One section of land is equivalent to 640 acres. This area is derived from the Government Rectangular Survey System, where one section is one square mile.
### How many sections make up a standard township?
- [ ] 24 sections
- [ ] 18 sections
- [x] 36 sections
- [ ] 12 sections
> **Explanation:** A standard township contains 36 sections, each measuring one square mile, making up the 6 by 6-mile square township.
### What governmental system is used to describe sections of land?
- [ ] Metric Survey System
- [x] Government Rectangular Survey System
- [ ] Dominion Land Survey
- [ ] Global Land Timber Survey System
> **Explanation:** The Government Rectangular Survey System is used in the United States to describe land sections. It is also known as the Public Land Survey System (PLSS).
### What is the total area of a township in square miles?
- [ ] 24 square miles
- [x] 36 square miles
- [ ] 48 square miles
- [ ] 60 square miles
> **Explanation:** A township measures 6 miles by 6 miles, giving it a total area of 36 square miles.
### How are sections numbered within a township?
- [x] Sequentially from 1 to 36 in a boustrophedon (back-and-forth) pattern.
- [ ] Randomly assigned by local authorities.
- [ ] Starting from the corners towards the center.
- [ ] Continuously from the northeast to the southwest corner.
> **Explanation:** Sections within a township are numbered sequentially in a boustrophedon pattern, which follows a serpentine or back-and-forth method.
### What does each section approximately measure in feet?
- [ ] 43560 feet by 43560 feet
- [ ] 309 feet by 309 feet
- [ ] 3500 feet by 3500 feet
- [x] 5280 feet by 5280 feet
> **Explanation:** Each section measures approximately 5280 feet by 5280 feet, as one mile is equal to 5280 feet.
### In which survey system is the concept of baselines and meridians used?
- [ ] Metric Survey System
- [x] Government Rectangular Survey System
- [ ] British Survey System
- [ ] Japanese Survey System
> **Explanation:** The concept of baselines and meridians is used in the Government Rectangular Survey System, commonly for land descriptions in the United States.
### What fractions are commonly used within sections for land division?
- [ ] Halves and seventh
- [ ] Quarters and thirds
- [x] Halves and quarters
- [ ] Tenths and eighths
> **Explanation:** Sections are often divided into halves and quarters, such as quarter-sections which equal 160 acres.
### How is a township identified in the Government Rectangular Survey System?
- [x] By its range and township number relative to a principal meridian and baseline.
- [ ] By the name of the primary landowner.
- [ ] By specific coordinates using latitude and longitude.
- [ ] By the compass direction of its diagonal line.
> **Explanation:** A township is identified by its range and township number relative to a principal meridian and baseline.
### Which of the following is not a unit of area commonly used with sections of land?
- [ ] Acres
- [ ] Square miles
- [ ] Quadrant
- [x] Yards
> **Explanation:** Yards are not commonly used as a unit of area for sections of land. Acres and square miles are standard units.
Thank you for diving deep into the intricacies of land measurement with us! Keep exploring these foundational concepts along your real estate journey.
