How many acres are contained in a standard Section according to the PLSS?

A standard Section in the Public Land Survey System (PLSS) contains 640 acres. This is a fundamental measurement in land surveying and is critical for understanding land division and use in the United States. A Section is defined as a one-square mile area, which is equivalent to 5,280 feet on each side.

To visualize this, consider that one square mile equals 27,878,400 square feet. When you divide this measurement by the number of square feet in an acre (43,560), you arrive at 640 acres per Section. This standardization is vital for consistency in land transactions and property descriptions across the country, providing a uniform reference point for measuring land.

Understanding this concept is essential for anyone studying land surveying, as it establishes a basis for subdividing land into smaller parcels, which then can be used for various purposes, such as agriculture, development, or conservation.