110k views
3 votes
In the Land ordinance of 1785, how many sections were there and how big were they?

User PrepareFor
by
8.5k points

1 Answer

6 votes

Final answer:

The Land Ordinance of 1785 divided the Northwest Territory into townships six miles squared, which were each further divided into thirty-six sections of 640 acres. Thirty-five sections were for sale and one was reserved for public schools.

Step-by-step explanation:

The Land Ordinance of 1785 was a significant piece of legislation that structured the settlement and governance of the Northwest Territory. This ordinance mandated that the land north of the Ohio River Valley and west of the Appalachians be divided into townships, each six miles squared. These townships were further subdivided into thirty-six sections, with each section measuring 640 acres. Of these sections, thirty-five were to be sold, and one was designated for public schools. The minimum price for land was set at $1.00 per acre, facilitating the sale and settlement of these lands.

User Nitesh Kumar
by
8.1k points