Definition
A Section (of Land) is a unit of area measurement in the Public Land Survey System (PLSS) predominantly used in the United States. A section is one square mile, which equates to 640 acres. Thirty-six sections form a Township, which measures six miles by six miles.
Examples
- Residential Development: In planning residential communities, developers might purchase multiple sections of land, totaling thousands of acres, to build neighborhoods, parks, and commercial areas.
- Agricultural Use: Farmers often own or lease several sections of land to cultivate crops such as wheat, corn, or soybeans.
- Land Surveying: Surveyors often reference sections to describe specific parcel locations within a larger tract of land.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the size of a section in acres?
A section is 640 acres.
How many sections are there in a Township?
A Township contains 36 sections.
How are sections used in modern land transactions?
Sections provide a standardized unit of land measurement often used in legal descriptions of land ownership and transfers.
What system utilizes sections as a unit of measurement?
The Public Land Survey System (PLSS) uses sections.
Is the concept of sections used globally?
The concept of sections largely applies in the United States within the context of the PLSS. Other countries may have different systems for land measurement.
Related Terms
- Government Rectangular Survey: A method developed to divide public lands into a series of rectangular parcels.
- Township: A six-mile by six-mile square that contains 36 sections, used in the PLSS to organize land division.
- Acre: A unit of land area in the US that is equivalent to 43,560 square feet.
- Range: A measure used in PLSS to describe the east-west position of a Township in relation to a meridian.
Online Resources
- Bureau of Land Management (BLM) - PLSS
- United States Geological Survey (USGS)
- National Map - USGS
- PLSS Education and Tutorials
References
- “Principles and Procedures of the Public Land Survey System” by C. Albert White. (US Government Printing Office)
- “Legal Research in Real Property Law” by Noel Stevenson.
Suggested Books for Further Studies
- “Surveying Essentials” by Oswald Adams.
- “Land Development: Current Issues and Current information” by Robert W. Burchell.
- “Real Estate Dictionary” by Jae K. Shin and Dale J. Stovall.
Real Estate Basics: Section (of Land) Fundamentals Quiz
### How many acres are in one section of land?
- [x] 640 acres
- [ ] 320 acres
- [ ] 1280 acres
- [ ] 2560 acres
> **Explanation:** One section of land is equivalent to 640 acres, a standardized measurement utilized in the PLSS.
### How many sections are in a Township?
- [x] 36 sections
- [ ] 24 sections
- [ ] 12 sections
- [ ] 6 sections
> **Explanation:** A Township, which measures six miles by six miles, contains 36 sections, each one square mile in size.
### In what land measurement system is a section used?
- [x] Public Land Survey System (PLSS)
- [ ] Metric System
- [ ] British Imperial System
- [ ] Global Positioning System (GPS)
> **Explanation:** The section is a unit of area measurement used in the Public Land Survey System (PLSS) predominantly in the United States.
### How wide is a Township square?
- [ ] 1 mile by 1 mile
- [ ] 3 miles by 3 miles
- [x] 6 miles by 6 miles
- [ ] 10 miles by 10 miles
> **Explanation:** A Township square measures six miles by six miles and contains 36 sections.
### What is the standardized unit of area within a Township?
- [x] Section
- [ ] Range
- [ ] Quadrant
- [ ] Block
> **Explanation:** Within a Township, the standardized unit of area is a section, which is one square mile in size.
### How many square miles are there in one Township?
- [ ] 6 square miles
- [ ] 120 square miles
- [x] 36 square miles
- [ ] 144 square miles
> **Explanation:** There are 36 square miles in one Township as each Township is a six-mile by six-mile square unit.
### What is the north-south intervals division in the PLSS called?
- [ ] Range
- [x] Township
- [ ] Block
- [ ] Quadrant
> **Explanation:** In the PLSS, the north-south intervals are divided into Townships, which measure six miles per side.
### What determines the east-west position of a Township in PLSS?
- [x] Range
- [ ] Section
- [ ] Block
- [ ] Quarter section
> **Explanation:** In the PLSS, the east-west position of a Township is determined by its Range.
### How many acres are two sections of land?
- [ ] 320 acres
- [ ] 800 acres
- [x] 1280 acres
- [ ] 2560 acres
> **Explanation:** Since a section of land is 640 acres, two sections would total 1280 acres.
### Does the PLSS apply globally for land measurement?
- [ ] Yes, it's used worldwide.
- [x] No, it is specifically used in the United States.
- [ ] It applies to North America only.
- [ ] Only some parts of Europe use it.
> **Explanation:** The PLSS is specifically used in the United States for systematic land division and does not apply globally.
