Link
Definition and meaning of Link in real estate.
A link is a traditional unit of linear measurement equal to 7.92 inches, or exactly one-hundredth of a surveying chain. It was commonly used in historical land surveys across the United States to describe property boundaries.
In more detail
Understanding this measurement is important when reading older deeds and historical legal descriptions. Surveys conducted in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries frequently used chains and links to establish parcel sizes. A full chain measures sixty-six feet, meaning one hundred links make up one chain. Modern surveyors convert these historical measurements into feet or meters when preparing new plats and title updates.
Key facts
| Category | Legal, Titles & Closing |
|---|---|
| Equivalent length | 7.92 inches or 0.66 feet |
| Historical context | Gunter's chain system of measurement |
| Applies to | Historical deeds and rural boundary descriptions |
A buyer reviewing a deed from the nineteenth century notes that the eastern boundary of the parcel is described as extending three chains and fifty links.
Frequently asked questions
How do you convert links to feet?
To convert links to feet, multiply the number of links by 0.66, since one link is exactly 0.66 feet long.
Are links still used in modern property surveys?
Modern surveyors use electronic tools and measure in feet or meters, but they must understand links to interpret historical land records.
Related terms
Sources & references
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