Surveying Facts

When Surveying began, it actually began in Iowa. The very first surveyors set up standards of measurements for themselves that became the standards for surveying from then on.

The measurements that they used in the original surveys done in Iowa, and still in use today, are below.

One Rod               16.5 Feet  (or 25 Links)
Two Pole Chain     33 Feet  (or 50 Links)
Four Pole Chain     66 Feet  (or 100 Links)
Surveyor's Chain   66 Feet  (or 100 Links)
One Link               0.66 Feet
1/4 Mile               1320 Feet (or 20 Chains or 80 Rods)
1/2 Mile               2640 Feet (or 40 Chains or 160 Rods)
One Mile               5280 Feet (or 80 Chains or 320 Rods)
1/4 Section          160 Acres
1/2 Section          320 Acres
One Section          640 Acres (or one Square Mile)
One Township       36 Sections, 6 Miles Square or 36 Square Miles