What Is This Tool?
This converter helps transform lengths measured in links (li), a historic surveying unit, into chains (US survey) (ch), a traditional unit used in U.S. land surveying. It facilitates interpreting old land measurement data accurately.
How to Use This Tool?
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Enter the length value in links (li) you want to convert
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Select the 'link [li]' as the input unit
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Choose 'chain (US survey) [ch]' as the target unit
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Click the convert button to get the equivalent length in chains
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Use the output to analyze or map historic land records
Key Features
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Converts lengths from link [li] to chain (US survey) [ch] precisely
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Supports historic surveying and cadastral measurement conversions
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Easy-to-use interface for entering values and converting
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Browser-based tool accessible without installation
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Ideal for interpreting and mapping legacy land survey data
Examples
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Convert 50 links: 50 × 0.00999998 = 0.499999 chains (US survey)
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Convert 100 links: 100 × 0.00999998 = 0.999998 chains (US survey)
Common Use Cases
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Surveying with Gunter's chain for historical land measurement
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Interpreting distances in old land deeds and cadastral documents
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Reconstructing historical property boundaries and maps
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Converting legacy survey data to modern mapping units for GIS
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Documenting land boundaries in rural property and right-of-way surveys
Tips & Best Practices
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Verify historic measurement context when converting units
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Cross-check conversions when integrating with modern data
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Use the tool for educational and land research purposes
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Consider surveying standards and foot definitions in historic records
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Refer to cadastral survey documents to confirm unit usage
Limitations
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Link is a historic unit rarely used today
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Differences in foot definitions can cause small errors
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Care is needed when merging historical data with modern measurements
Frequently Asked Questions
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What is a link (li) unit?
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A link is a historic English surveying unit equal to 1/100 of Gunter's chain, mainly used in 18th–19th century land measurement.
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What does chain (US survey) [ch] represent?
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Chain (US survey) is a traditional length unit equal to 66 US survey feet (one Gunter's chain), used in historical U.S. land cadastral surveys.
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Why convert from link to chain units?
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Converting helps interpret and map historical survey data more commonly recorded in chains for legal land descriptions.
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Is the link unit still in use today?
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No, the link is mostly a historic unit and seldom used in modern measurements.
Key Terminology
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Link (li)
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A historic survey unit equal to 1/100 of a Gunter's chain, used mainly in 18th and 19th century land measurements.
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Chain (US survey) (ch)
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A traditional length unit equal to 66 US survey feet, commonly used in historical U.S. cadastral surveys.
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Gunter's chain
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A measuring device used historically in land surveying, composed of 100 links, defining the link and chain units.
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Cadastral survey
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A survey focused on defining land ownership boundaries and property records.