Convert Square Pole (pole²) to Section (section) instantly.
About these units
Square Pole (pole²)
A square pole is yet another equivalent to the square rod and square perch. The triple terminology reflects different regional dialects and occupational vocabularies within the British Isles. The persistence of three names for the same unit illustrates the decentralized nature of early measurement standards, where local custom often outweighed national regulation. Although modern metrication has replaced these units, they remain historically important when examining rural land divisions and genealogical land records.
Section (section)
A section is a unit of area equal to one square mile, or 640 acres, derived from the PLSS township system. Each township contains 36 sections arranged in a 6-by-6 grid. Sections were historically granted to settlers, railroads, and states for development, education funding, and agricultural expansion. Because a section is large but manageable, it provided a logical unit for dividing land among homesteaders. Even today, the section persists as a foundation of rural property boundaries. Many farms, ranches, and municipal boundaries reference section lines, reflecting how 19th-century surveying still shapes 21st-century land use.