Townships refer to a division of land that was established under the Land Ordinance of 1785 during the Articles of Confederation. They were used as a method to survey and divide western lands in an organized manner.
Related terms
Public Land Survey System: This system was used to survey and divide land into townships, providing a standardized method for settling and selling western lands.
Northwest Ordinance of 1787: This legislation provided a framework for governing territories and outlined the process for admitting new states from the western lands.
Homestead Act of 1862: This act encouraged westward migration by offering free land to settlers who agreed to develop and improve it.