The square mile (abbreviated as sq mi and sometimes as mi2)[1] is an imperial and US unit of measure for area. One square mile is equal to the area of a square with each side measuring a length of one mile.[2]

square mile
Various units of area, with square mile being represented as a yellow square
General information
Unit systemImperial, United States customary units
Unit ofarea
Symbolmi2, sq mi
Conversions
1 mi2 in ...... is equal to ...
   Imperial/US   
  • 4.0145×109 sq in
  • 2.7878×107 sq ft
  • 3.0976×106 sq yd
  • 640 acres
   SI units   
  • 2.59×106 m2
  • 2.59 km2

Equivalents

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One square mile is equal to:

One square mile is also equivalent to:

Similarly named units

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Miles square

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Square miles should not be confused with miles square, a square region with each side having a length of the value given. For example, a region which is 20 miles square (20 miles × 20 miles) has an area of 400 sq mi; a rectangle of measuring 10 miles × 40 miles also has an area of 400 sq mi, but is not 20 miles square.

Section

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In the United States Public Land Survey System, "square mile" is an informal synonym for section.

References

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  1. ^ Rowlett, Russ (September 1, 2004). "S", How Many? A Dictionary of Units of Measurement. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Retrieved February 22, 2012.
  2. ^ Davies, Charles (1872). Mathematical dictionary and cyclopedia of mathematical science. Original from Harvard University: A.S. Barnes and co. p. 582.
  3. ^ François Cardarelli (2003). Encyclopaedia of scientific units, weights, and measures: their SI equivalences and origins. Springer. p. 3. ISBN 978-1-85233-682-0. Retrieved 22 February 2012.