What is a chain in surveying?

A chain is a traditional surveying length unit equal to 66 feet, commonly used historically to lay out land parcels and measure distance.

Where was the arpent unit used?

The arpent was a French unit of length historically used for land measurement in France and its colonies, such as Quebec and Louisiana.

Why convert chain to arpent?

Converting chain to arpent allows accurate interpretation of historical land deeds and cadastral records within French colonial contexts.

How to Convert from Chain [ch] to Arpent?

Convert units of length from chain [ch] to arpent using this easy-to-use online converter designed for cadastral surveying and historical land measurement contexts.

Chain [ch]

Arpent

Please check your input. It must be a valid numeric value.

Chain [ch] to Arpent Conversion Table

Chain [ch]	Arpent

Custom Unit Conversion Table Generator – Instant Printable Conversion Tables

Start Value

Enter the starting number (positive decimal or integer ≥ 0). Example: 0.1, 1, 5.

End Value

Enter the ending number (positive decimal or integer > Start Value). Example: 10, 50, 100.

Interval

Enter the step size (positive decimal > 0 and < End Value – Start Value). Example: 1.0, 2.5.

Chain [ch] to Arpent Conversion Table
Chain [ch]	Arpent

Explore More Length Units Converter

What Is This Tool?

This is a length unit converter that helps transform values measured in chains, a traditional surveying unit, into arpents, a historical French measure widely used in land measurement. It's particularly useful for interpreting and converting historic land and cadastral records.

How to Use This Tool?

Enter the length value measured in chains [ch].
Select 'chain [ch]' as the input unit and 'arpent' as the output unit.
Click convert to see the equivalent length expressed in arpents.
Use the result to assist in historical land data analysis or survey interpretation.

Key Features

Simple conversion between chain and arpent units.
Relevant for cadastral surveying and historical land research.
Browser-based tool requiring no installation.
Useful for interpreting historical land deeds and survey plans.
Supports conversion aligned with legacy imperial and French colonial measurement systems.

Examples

5 Chains converts to 1.71875 Arpent.
10 Chains converts to 3.4375 Arpent.

Common Use Cases

Translating historical surveying measurements for modern GIS mapping.
Interpreting old property deeds using imperial surveying units.
Analyzing historical land grants and cadastral maps in Quebec and Louisiana.

Tips & Best Practices

Confirm the historical context to understand which arpent length applies.
Use this tool primarily for research or archival conversion, given chain is outdated.
Consult multiple sources when precise measurement accuracy is crucial.

Limitations

The arpent unit length varies by region and historical period, impacting accuracy.
Chain is an obsolete surveying unit rarely used in modern measurements.
Exact precision depends on the historical record sources and definitions employed.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a chain in surveying?: A chain is a traditional surveying length unit equal to 66 feet, commonly used historically to lay out land parcels and measure distance.
Where was the arpent unit used?: The arpent was a French unit of length historically used for land measurement in France and its colonies, such as Quebec and Louisiana.
Why convert chain to arpent?: Converting chain to arpent allows accurate interpretation of historical land deeds and cadastral records within French colonial contexts.

Key Terminology

Chain: A traditional surveying unit of length equal to 66 feet, often subdivided into 100 links, historically used in land measurement.
Arpent: A historical French unit of length used mainly for land measurement in France and its colonies, varying by location and time period.
Cadastral Surveying: The process of surveying land parcels to define boundaries for ownership, taxation, and land registration purposes.

Quick Knowledge Check

What is the length of one chain in feet?

100 feet

66 feet

50 feet

In which regions was the arpent primarily used?

Quebec and Louisiana

England and Scotland

California and Texas

What is the approximate conversion rate from chain to arpent?

1 chain = 1.5 arpent

1 chain = 0.34375 arpent

1 chain = 2 arpent

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