A square perch, often referred to as a "square pole" or simply "perch," is an obsolete unit of land area measurement. It was historically used in some English-speaking countries, including the United States and the United Kingdom, for land surveying and property descriptions.
One square perch is equivalent to one square rod or one square pole. In terms of modern measurements, one square perch is approximately equal to 25.29285264 square meters (m²) or 0.00625 acres.
Like other obsolete units of land area measurement, the square perch has largely been replaced by more standardized systems of measurement, such as square meters and square feet, in modern times. It is rarely encountered in contemporary land transactions or legal documents.
A township can have different meanings depending on the country and context in which it is used:
United States and Canada (North America): In North America, a township is a specific type of administrative division used in land survey systems. In the United States, townships are most commonly used in the Midwest and some other parts of the country. In Canada, townships are used primarily in the eastern provinces. These townships are typically a square area of land, typically six miles by six miles (36 square miles), or a similar configuration depending on the specific survey system used. Townships can be further divided into smaller units, such as sections, for land management and ownership purposes.
South Africa: In South Africa, a township refers to a residential area established during the apartheid era for non-white citizens. These areas were segregated from the main cities and towns and often experienced poor living conditions. Today, many townships have evolved and have improved living conditions, but the term is still associated with historically segregated communities.
Australia: In Australia, the term "township" is often used to refer to small rural towns or settlements. These are typically smaller than cities or larger towns and often serve as centers for local communities.