The United States' Land Ordinance of 1785 was a law that established a standardized system for surveying and dividing public lands in the newly formed United States. It divided land into townships and sections, which were then sold or given to settlers.
Related terms
Township: A township is an area measuring six miles by six miles, consisting of 36 sections. Each township was further divided into smaller parcels called sections.
Section: A section is one square mile (640 acres) within a township. Sections were allotted for sale or distribution to settlers.
Homestead Act: The Homestead Act was passed in 1862, allowing individuals to claim up to 160 acres of public land for free if they improved it within five years.
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