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.
The "square foot (US survey)" is a unit of area used in the United States primarily for land surveying and mapping purposes. It differs from the standard square foot because it is based on the U.S. survey foot, which is a historical unit of length used in land surveying in the United States. The U.S. survey foot is slightly different from the international foot.
One square foot (US survey) is equal to approximately 0.0929034119223 square meters (m²) or about 0.111111 square yards (yd²).
This unit is used in various land-related applications, particularly in the United States, where the U.S. survey foot and the square foot (US survey) are still employed for legal and historical reasons in certain land surveys and property descriptions. It's essential to be aware of the specific units being used when dealing with land measurements to avoid any discrepancies or errors.