What Is This Tool?
This converter transforms length measurements expressed in foot (US survey) into arpents, a French historical unit used mainly in land surveying. It assists in translating survey data from American legacy systems to French colonial measurements.
How to Use This Tool?
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Enter the length value in foot (US survey) in the input field.
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Select the source unit as foot (US survey).
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Choose the target unit as arpent.
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Start the conversion to receive the equivalent length in arpents.
Key Features
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Converts lengths from foot (US survey) to arpent using exact defined rates.
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Supports interpretation of historical land and cadastral measurements.
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Facilitates understanding of property boundaries in Quebec, Louisiana, and US regions.
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Browser-based and easy to use for legal, surveying, and historical research.
Examples
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Convert 100 foot (US survey) to arpent: 100 × 0.0052083438 = 0.52083438 arpent.
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Convert 500 foot (US survey) to arpent: 500 × 0.0052083438 = 2.6041719 arpent.
Common Use Cases
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Specifying property boundaries in U.S. land surveying and cadastral work.
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Describing frontage lengths of river lots in colonial Quebec and Louisiana.
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Translating historic land descriptions from US survey feet to arpent units for legal clarity.
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Interpreting old cadastral maps and land grants in a French colonial context.
Tips & Best Practices
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Ensure you are using the correct definition of arpent as it varies by region and period.
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Distinguish between US survey foot and the international foot to avoid discrepancies.
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Use the tool primarily for historical or legal document analysis rather than modern surveying.
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Cross-check converted values with local cadastral records where possible.
Limitations
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Arpent length varies historically, so the conversion may not apply uniformly across regions or periods.
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US survey foot differs slightly from the international foot, which can cause minor variation.
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The conversion is less relevant for modern measurements which mostly use metric units.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What is the US survey foot used for?
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It is a length unit historically used mainly in US land surveying and cadastral mapping, defined exactly as 1200/3937 meters.
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Where was the arpent commonly used?
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The arpent was widely used in France and French colonies such as Quebec and Louisiana for land measurement and cadastral purposes.
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Why convert foot (US survey) to arpent?
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Conversion allows interpretation and comparison of historical land measurements recorded in different unit systems for legal, surveying, or historical research.
Key Terminology
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Foot (US survey)
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A length unit used historically in American land surveying, defined exactly as 1200/3937 meters.
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Arpent
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A historical French unit of length used especially in land measurement and cadastral contexts, varying by region and period.
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Cadastral survey
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A survey that establishes land boundaries and property details for ownership and legal descriptions.