Convert Furlong (US Survey) (fur (US)) to Furlong (fur) instantly.
About these units
Furlong (US Survey) (fur (US))
The US Survey Furlong is defined as 660 US Survey Feet (~201.168 meters), exactly 10 US survey chains. It was historically used in land measurement, agriculture, and railroads. Furlongs remain relevant for interpreting historical property layouts and land grants, particularly in rural and agricultural contexts. The unit's convenience derives from its direct relationship with the acre and chain, facilitating rapid calculation of large land areas. While the furlong is largely obsolete in modern measurement, it persists in legal and historical survey references, bridging imperial traditions and contemporary land-use documentation.
Furlong (fur)
A furlong, equal to 10 chains or 660 feet, originated as the distance a team of oxen could plow before needing rest. Its name derives from "furrow-long," indicating the length of a typical plowed furrow in medieval agriculture. This agricultural basis linked the furlong to the acre: a rectangle one furlong long and one chain wide equaled one acre in area. Today, the furlong is most notably used in horse racing, where race distances are often measured in furlongs rather than miles. This tradition reflects both the unit's historical importance and its suitability for describing moderate distances. While archaic in most contexts, the furlong remains a culturally iconic measure that connects modern sports to medieval agricultural practices.