Final answer:
The Land Ordinance of 1785 divided land into townships and then into thirty-six sections per township, with thirty-five for sale and one for schools.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Land Ordinance of 1785 was key legislation that established a standardized system for land division in the Northwest Territory. This ordinance divided the area north of the Ohio River and west of the Appalachians into townships, which were each 6 miles squared. These townships were further subdivided into thirty-six sections, with thirty-five designated for sale and one reserved for public schools. Each section was 640 acres, and the minimum selling price was set at $1.00 per acre. The structure laid down by the Land Ordinance of 1785 formed a pattern for orderly settlement and has significantly shaped the American landscape.