Land MeasurementsUnderstanding land measurement and terms is vital to genealogy research. I hope this wil

How to read land descriptions

OLD SURVEY MEASUREMENTS.

Old surveys were often measured using a Surveyors Chain. These were literally chains madelink was 0.666 of a foot...or 7.92" To convert the distances on a plat measured in chains (abbr66. Another common unit of measurement was the Pole. The Pole is exactly what it sounds like;the distances on a plat measured in poles (abbreviated P) you must multiply the distance by 1surveys.

MILES

A mile is defined as being 5,280 feet in length. AREA MEASUREMENTS

The standard unit of measuring land in the United States is the ACREAn Acre is equal to 43,560 square feet (Sq. Ft.) of area. An acre is also equal to 10 square charods (16.5 x 16.5 x 160 = 43,560 Sq. Ft.)There are exactly 640 Acres in one square mile.Seeing how older units of measurement like the chain and the pole can be converted into acreand 16.5') really did make sense.

WHAT DOES AN ACRE LOOK LIKE?If you had a parcel of land that was exactly 1 acre in size and was perfectly square it would berectangle 100' wide it would be 435.60' feet deep (long).

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MMaannuuaall ooff IInnssttrruuccttiioonnss ffoorr tthhee SSuurrvveeyy ooff tthhee PPuubblliicc LLaannddss ooff ttPPrreeppaarreedd bbyy tthhee BBuurreeaauu ooff LLaanndd MMaannaaggeemmeenntt,, TTeecchhnniiccaall BBuulllleettiinn

MMeetthhooddss ooff SSuurrvveeyy

The methods described in this chapter comprise the specifications for determining the length a

DDIISSTTAANNCCEE MMEEAASSUURREEMMEENNTT

Units

2-1. The law prescribes the chain as the unit of linear measure for the survey of the public lasystem are made in the true horizontal distance in miles, chains, and links. (Exceptions are spsurveys, chapter VII, and mineral surveys, chapter X.)

UUnniittss ooff LLiinneeaarr MMeeaassuurree1 chain 1 chain1 mile 1 mile

UUnniittss ooff AArreeaa

1 acre= =

1 square mile=

The chain unit, devised in the seventeenth century by Edmund Gunter, an English astronomer,one acre. In the English colonial area of the United States the boundaries of land were usuallyfrequently expressed in poles. One pole is equal to 25 links, and four poles equal one chain. Tsouthern States show the distance in "perches," equivalent to poles. The term now commonly

Land measurements http://www.gloverfamily.com/docs/landmeasurements.htm

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Land grants by the French crown were made in arpents. The arpent is a unit of area, but the description. The Spanish crown and the Mexican Government granted lands which were usuavara have slightly different values in different States. The conversions most often needed are

Surveying measurements compiled by Margie over the yearsSSuurrvveeyyiinngg MMeeaassuurreemmeennttss

1 yard = 3 ft = 0.9144 meter1 rod, perch, or pole = 25 links = 16.5 ft4 rods = 1 chain1 chain = 4 rods = 66 ft = 100 links10 chains = 1 furlong1 link = 1/100 of surveyor's chain = 7.92 inches25 links = 1 rod = 16.5 ft100 links = 1 chain = 66 ft1 furlong = 10 chains = 1/8 mile = 220 yards = 660 ft = 201.168 meters8 furlongs = 1 mile1 mile = 80 chains = 320 rods = 1,760 yards = 5,280 ft = 1,609.344 metersleague = 3 statute miles = 4,828.032 meters

Land Longitude Square and Surveyors Mea

7.92Ins.-----------------------------------------------------------Link12 Ins.--------------------------------------------------------------

144 Sq. Ins.---------------------------------------------------Sq. Ft.

3Ft.---------------------------------------------------------------

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9 Sq Ft. ---------------------------------------------------- Sq. Yard

6 Ft. (A mans reach)--------------------------------------- Fathom

25 Links-----------------------------------------------------------Rod

5 1/2Yds.---------------------------------------------------------Rod

16 1/2Ft.----------------------------------------------------------Rod

30 1/4 Sq. Ft. --------------------------------------------1 sq. Rod

16 1/2 Ft. ----------------------------------------------------Perch

40 Sq. rods ----------------------------------------------------

600 Ft.(100 Fathoms) ----------------------------------------cables length

100 Ft.------------------------------------------------------ 1section66 Ft. ------------------------------------------------------------chain4 rods------------------------------------------------------------chain4 perches -------------------------------------------------------chain

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4 poles ---------------------------------------------------------chain100 links --------------------------------------------------------chain4 Roods ---------------------------------------------------------acre

Long Measure Sq. Measure SurveyorsMeasure

12 ins.-----------------------1ft.

144 Sq.Ins.-----------1 Sq.Ft.

7.92Ins.---------Link

3 Ft.---------------------- 1Yd.

9 Sq. Ft.-------------1 Sq.Yd.

25 Links--------

5 1/2 Yds. ------------- 1 Rod 30 1/4 Sq. Yd -- ---1sq. Rod10 Chains 1 Acre

40 Rods------------- 1 Furlong 40 Sq. Rods---------- 1 Rood

160 Sq. Rods--1 acre

8 Furlongs -------------- 1 Mile4 Roods---------------- 1Acre

640 AcresSq. Mi.

3 Miles ------------- 1 League 640 Acres -----------1 Sq. Mi.

3366 mmiilleess SSqq..TToowwnnsshhiipp

6 Mi.Sq.Township

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