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.
A hectare (ha) is a unit of area commonly used in many countries, especially in agriculture and land management. It is equal to 10,000 square meters (m²) or 0.01 square kilometers (km²). The term "hectare" is often used to describe the size of large land areas, such as agricultural fields, parks, and estates.
To provide some perspective, a hectare is approximately the size of a square field with sides that are 100 meters (about 328 feet) long. It's a convenient unit for measuring land area in situations where using square meters or square kilometers would result in very large or small numbers.