How far apart are common parallels in a legal land description?

In legal land descriptions, common parallels refer to the lines that run east and west in the rectangular survey system of land description, also known as the Public Land Survey System (PLSS). These parallels are established at intervals that serve to divide land into manageable sections.

The correct answer, six miles, reflects the standard distance between these parallels, which is integral to the grid layout of land parcels. Each township within this system is typically six miles by six miles, creating a total area of 36 square miles. This division is crucial not only for surveying but also for establishing property boundaries and ownership delineations.

While other distances may be applied in different contexts or systems of land measurement, six miles is the standardized interval for common parallels in the legal land description framework, making it essential knowledge for anyone working with land ownership and property assessments.