Gunter's Chain
Definition and meaning of Gunter's Chain in real estate.
Gunter's chain is a historical measuring device and unit of length equal to sixty-six feet used by surveyors to map out property boundaries and public lands in the United States. One chain is composed of one hundred metal links, making each link seven and ninety-two hundredths inches long.
In more detail
Introduced in the seventeenth century, this measurement system is deeply embedded in early land surveys across North America, including the Public Land Survey System. Because of its historical use, modern surveyors and title examiners often encounter references to chains when researching old deeds and legal descriptions.
Eight Gunter's chains equal one furlong, and exactly eighty chains make up a statute mile. While modern surveyors use electronic instruments and GPS, understanding this unit remains essential for resolving property line disputes involving historic plots.
Key facts
| Category | Legal, Titles & Closing |
|---|---|
| Standard length | Sixty-six feet or one hundred links |
| Usage context | Historical land surveys and old legal property descriptions |
| Relationship to mile | Exactly eighty chains make up one mile |
A real estate attorney reviewing a nineteenth-century deed notes that the northern boundary of the property is described as extending three chains and four links from a historic oak tree.
Frequently asked questions
Why was a Gunter's chain sixty-six feet long?
The length of sixty-six feet was chosen because it made mathematical calculations simple. Ten square chains equal exactly one acre, which allowed surveyors to quickly calculate land area.
Are chains still used in modern property surveys?
No, modern land surveyors use digital tools, lasers, and GPS systems to measure distances in feet or meters, but they still translate old chain measurements when reading historical deeds.