Section: A One-Mile Square Subdivision within a Township

A detailed explanation of a Section, a one-mile square subdivision commonly used in land surveying within a township.

A Section is a unit of land measurement commonly used in the United States’ Public Land Survey System (PLSS). It represents a one-mile square subdivision within a township, encompassing exactly 640 acres.

Definition and Origin

Land Survey System

The concept of a Section originates from the Public Land Survey System, which was established to systematically divide and distribute land. Each township in the PLSS is typically a 6-mile by 6-mile square and contains 36 sections. Each section is, in turn, 1 mile by 1 mile in size, resulting in 640 acres per section.

Historical Context

The PLSS was developed in the late 18th century to facilitate the sale and distribution of land in the Western United States. The system provided a standardized method for determining land ownership and boundaries, aiding in the westward expansion of the country.

Breakdown of a Section

Mathematical Representation

A section’s area is precisely calculated as follows:

$$ \text{Area of Section} = 1 \text{ mile} \times 1 \text{ mile} = 1 \text{ square mile} = 640 \text{ acres} $$

Subdivision

Sections can be further subdivided into smaller units such as quarter-sections or quarter-quarter sections, commonly used in land parcels and development. This results in descriptions like the “NE 1/4 of Section 10,” indicating the northeastern quarter of Section 10.

Geographical Identification

Within a township, sections are numbered in a specific serpentine pattern beginning with 1 in the northeast corner, ending with 36 in the southeast corner:

 1  2  3  4  5  6
12 11 10  9  8  7
13 14 15 16 17 18
24 23 22 21 20 19
25 26 27 28 29 30
36 35 34 33 32 31

Applicability and Uses

Land Development

Sections are foundational in structuring property plots, particularly in rural and agricultural areas, aiding in legal descriptions of land ownership.

Real Estate Transactions

Clear subdivision into sections simplifies property transfers, assessments, and real estate transactions by providing a uniform land measurement unit.

Government and Regulatory

Government agencies use sections for land grants, zoning, and regulatory purposes, ensuring organized land use and development.

Related Terms

• Township: A 6-mile by 6-mile square containing 36 sections.
• Quarter Section: 160 acres, formed by dividing a section into four equal parts.
• Range: Columns of townships extending north to south.
• Tier: Rows of townships extending east to west.

FAQs

What is the size of a section?

A section is 1 mile by 1 mile, equating to 640 acres.

How many sections are in a township?

There are 36 sections in a standard PLSS township.

How is the numbering of sections within a township organized?

Sections are numbered in a serpentine pattern, starting from the northeastern section (1) to the southeastern section (36).

References

1. “Public Land Survey System,” Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Department of the Interior.
2. White, C. A. (1983). “A History of the Rectangular Survey System,” U.S. Government Printing Office.
3. “Land Subdivision,” American Planning Association.

Summary

A Section is a fundamental land measurement unit in the Public Land Survey System. It standardizes property delineation into one-mile square parcels of 640 acres, streamlining land management, development, and transactions across the United States.

This comprehensive understanding of a section illustrates its essential role in real estate, agriculture, and government regulation, fostering organized land distribution and development.