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Ten Things You Maybe Didn't Know About the Square Mile

1. It’s the imperial heavyweight for land area

The square mile is the imperial go-to when you’re talking big land — like counties, cities, or vast rural zones. It’s all about scale, and it delivers in spades.

2. One square mile is 640 acres

Yep, a single square mile contains 640 acres. That’s a lot of room to roam — or farm, or build, or map.

3. It’s a square that's one mile on each side

True to its name, a square mile is just a mile by a mile. That makes it super easy to visualize and apply — even if you're trekking it on foot.

4. Iconic in U.S. land planning

The U.S. Public Land Survey System divided large areas of the country into one-square-mile sections. If you’ve ever heard of a “section” of land, this is what it refers to.

5. You’ll find it in city sizes and stats

Major cities in the U.S. often list their total land area in square miles. It's a handy way to compare just how sprawling or compact different cities really are.

6. It’s still used in modern real estate and development

Even with metric pushing in, square miles are still very relevant in real estate, especially when it comes to zoning, mapping, and large-scale property listings.

7. It’s roughly 2.59 square kilometres

If you’re flipping between metric and imperial, remember: 1 square mile ≈ 2.59 km². A must-know conversion for global context.

8. Used for environmental and geographic data

From forest cover to desert size, environmental reports often measure massive land changes in square miles — especially in the U.S. and UK.

9. Shows up in history and literature

Square miles have been used in land grants, old maps, and historical documents for centuries. It’s a unit with legacy.

10. Great for population density figures

Ever seen “people per square mile”? It’s a classic demographic stat, giving you a clear sense of how crowded (or empty) a place is.