How Big is a Township? Size, Dimensions & Section Breakdown

Quick Answer: A standard township is 6 miles × 6 miles (36 square miles, 23,040 acres). It contains 36 sections of 1 square mile (640 acres) each.

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A standard township is 6 miles by 6 miles, covering 36 square miles or approximately 23,040 acres. Each township contains 36 sections, with each section measuring 1 mile by 1 mile (640 acres).

Township Dimensions at a Glance

Measurement	Value
Length	6 miles
Width	6 miles
Total Area	36 square miles
Acres	23,040 acres
Hectares	~9,324 hectares
Square Kilometers	~93.2 km²
Number of Sections	36

How a Township is Divided

Each township is divided into a grid of 36 sections:

Sections are numbered in a serpentine pattern, starting with Section 1 in the northeast corner.

Section Sizes

Unit	Size	Acres
Section	1 mi × 1 mi	640 acres
Half Section	1 mi × 0.5 mi	320 acres
Quarter Section	0.5 mi × 0.5 mi	160 acres
Quarter-Quarter	0.25 mi × 0.25 mi	40 acres

Breaking Down a Section

Each 640-acre section can be subdivided into quarter sections:

Quarter-Quarter Section Detail

Each quarter can be divided again into 40-acre parcels:

Real-World Size Comparisons

To help visualize township and section sizes:

Area	Comparison
Township (36 sq mi)	About the size of Manhattan (23 sq mi) + Central Park
Section (640 acres)	About 9 city blocks × 9 city blocks
Quarter Section (160 acres)	Traditional homestead size
40 acres	About 30 football fields

Why These Specific Dimensions?

The 6-mile township was chosen because:

1. Surveying practicality - 6 miles could be accurately measured with 18th-century tools
2. Even division - 36 sections divide evenly for sale and administration
3. Section 16 reserved - The center section (16) was set aside for public schools
4. Manageable size - Large enough for farming, small enough to survey efficiently

Variations from Standard Size

Not all townships are exactly 36 square miles. Variations occur due to:

• Earth's curvature - As surveyors moved north, adjustments were needed
• Correction lines - Every 24 miles, special lines reset the grid
• Natural features - Rivers, lakes, and prior land grants created irregular sections
• Survey errors - Historical surveys weren't always perfect

These irregular sections often contain lots instead of standard quarter sections.

How to Find Township Boundaries

Want to see exactly where a township is located? Use Township America to:

1. Search by township and range - Enter 2N 4E 5th Meridian or 2N 4E Logan County OK
2. View on a map - See the 6×6 mile boundary highlighted
3. Explore sections - Click into individual sections
4. Get coordinates - Export the corner coordinates

Find Any Township on the Map →

Common Questions

How many acres in a township?

A standard township contains 23,040 acres (36 sections × 640 acres each).

How long does it take to walk across a township?

At a typical walking pace of 3 mph, it would take 2 hours to walk the 6-mile length of a township.

How long does it take to drive across a township?

At 60 mph, you'd cross a township in 6 minutes. On rural roads at 30 mph, about 12 minutes.

How many townships in a state?

It varies greatly:

• North Dakota has approximately 1,400 townships
• Kansas has about 1,500 townships
• California has around 7,000 townships

Why is Section 16 called the "school section"?

The Land Ordinance of 1785 reserved Section 16 in each township for public education. Revenue from this land funded local schools.

Explore Townships with Township America

Ready to find and map any township in the United States?

Open Township America →

• Search any township and range
• View all 36 sections
• Get GPS coordinates
• Export boundaries to GIS formats