What is defined as a township in land surveying?

A township in land surveying specifically refers to a square area of land that measures six miles on each side, resulting in a total area of 36 square miles. This definition is rooted in the Public Land Survey System (PLSS) used primarily in the United States, which divides land into measurable and manageable sections for both administrative and land ownership purposes. Each township is further divided into sections and these sections can then be subdivided for sale or development, allowing for orderly growth and development.

This understanding is crucial in land surveying as it provides a systematic framework for identifying and describing land plots. The concept of a township helps facilitate land transactions, zoning, and planning within a region. Without this structured approach, tracking land ownership and usage would be significantly more complicated.