What Is This Tool?
This converter allows users to change area values from square mile (US survey) units to square chain [ch^2] units, commonly used in United States land surveying and historical cadastral documents.
How to Use This Tool?
-
Enter the area value in square mile (US survey) units you want to convert.
-
Select square mile (US survey) as the from unit and square chain [ch^2] as the to unit.
-
Click the convert button to view the corresponding area in square chain [ch^2].
-
Review the result along with example conversions to understand values better.
Key Features
-
Converts from square mile (US survey) to square chain [ch^2] using exact historical definitions.
-
Supports land measurements relevant to U.S. Public Land Survey System and cadastral mapping.
-
Facilitates interpretation of legacy GIS, property boundaries, and historic documents.
-
Browser-based and easy to use with no installation required.
-
Includes precise conversion rate and matching examples.
Examples
-
1 square mile (US survey) equals approximately 6400.03 square chain [ch^2].
-
0.5 square mile (US survey) equals about 3200.01 square chain [ch^2].
Common Use Cases
-
Describing sections and townships in the U.S. Public Land Survey System where one section equals one square mile.
-
Recording legal property boundaries and historic cadastral data using US survey units.
-
Converting legacy land-record and GIS data that involve both US survey and imperial chain measurements.
-
Documenting areas on historical maps and property records referencing chains.
Tips & Best Practices
-
Carefully verify which units your source data uses before converting to avoid confusion.
-
Use this converter to analyze legacy records that include US survey and chain-based units for accuracy.
-
Be mindful that modern survey methods and international standards differ from US survey units.
-
Cross-check conversions if comparing results against metric or international units due to possible discrepancies.
Limitations
-
The converter assumes exact historical unit definitions and may not reflect modern measurement updates.
-
Minor differences exist between US survey units and international standard units that could affect results.
-
Old records may contain rounding or measurement variations leading to slight conversion inaccuracies.
-
This tool does not convert to or from units other than square mile (US survey) and square chain [ch^2].
Frequently Asked Questions
-
What is a square mile (US survey)?
-
It is the area of a square with sides of one US survey mile, used in US land surveying and equal to 640 survey acres.
-
What does one square chain represent?
-
A square chain is an area unit equal to a square with one chain (66 feet) per side, exactly one-tenth of an acre.
-
Why convert between these units?
-
Converting helps interpret and analyze legacy land records and cadastral data that use US survey and imperial units.
Key Terminology
-
Square mile (US survey)
-
An area unit defined by a square with sides of one US survey mile, used primarily in US land surveying.
-
Square chain [ch^2]
-
An imperial area unit defined by a square with sides of one chain (66 feet), equal to one-tenth of an acre.
-
US survey foot
-
A foot measurement unit used in US land surveying, defined as 1200/3937 metres.