Statute mile

Statute mile is a unit of length in a number of different systems including the Imperial system of units and the United States customary units. Its size can vary from system to system, but it is most commonly defined as 5,280 feet, 1,760 yards, or approximately 1.609 kilometers.

History

The term "statute mile" originated during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I of England, who passed a statute in 1593 that defined the mile as 5,280 feet. This was to standardize the mile, as the definition had previously varied. The statute mile was introduced to ensure uniformity across the country.

Usage

Today, the statute mile is commonly used in countries that do not use the metric system, such as the United States and the United Kingdom. It is used in various fields such as transportation, aviation, and broadcasting.

In the United States, the statute mile is commonly used to measure distances in everyday situations, such as driving distances. It is also used in aviation to measure altitude.

In the United Kingdom, the statute mile is used on road signs and is the official unit of measure for speed limits.

Conversion

The statute mile can be converted to other units of length. For example, one statute mile is equivalent to:

• 5,280 feet
• 1,760 yards
• Approximately 1.609 kilometers

See also

• Imperial system
• United States customary units
• Kilometer
• Foot (unit)
• Yard