How is a section defined in the rectangular government survey system?

In the rectangular government survey system, a section is defined as an area of 640 acres. This system divides land into a grid of sections in a manner that is systematic and uniform, facilitating land description and identification. Each township, which is usually 6 miles by 6 miles, is further broken down into 36 sections, with each section representing one square mile. Therefore, since one square mile equals 640 acres, each section, by definition, encompasses that total area.

Understanding this definition is crucial, as it lays the foundation for more complex land measurement and property transactions within the framework of the rectangular survey system.