An arpent is a unit of length and a unit of area. It is a pre-metric French unit based on the Roman actus. It is used in Quebec as well as in some areas of the United States that were part of French Louisiana.

Definition[link]

Unit of length[link]

There were various standard arpents. The most common ones were of 180 French feet, used in French North America, and 220 French feet, used in Paris.

1 arpent = 180 French feet (of approximately 32 centimetres) = about 192 English feet = about 58.47 metres

Unit of area[link]

• Historically, in North America, 1 (square) arpent = 32,400 French square feet = about 3419 square metres
• In Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida, the official conversion is 1 arpent = 0.84628-acre (3,424.77365-square-metre)^{[citation needed]}
• In Arkansas and Missouri, the official conversion is 1 arpent = 0.8507-acre (3,442.66076-square-metre) square metres^{[citation needed]}

Arpents in U.S. land descriptions (Louisiana)[link]

In Louisiana, parcels of land known as arpent sections or French arpent land grants also pre-date the Public Land Survey System (PLSS), but are treated as PLSS sections. An arpent is a French measurement of approximately 192 feet (59 m), and a square arpent (also referred to as an arpent) is about 0.84 acres (3,400 m²).

French arpent land divisions are long narrow parcels of land usually found along the navigable streams of southern Louisiana, and also found along major waterways in other areas. This system of land subdivision was begun by French settlers in the 18th century, according to typical French practice at the time and was continued by both the Spanish and by the American government after the acquisition of the Louisiana Purchase. A typical French arpent land division is 2 to 4 arpents wide along the river by 40 to 60 arpents deep, while the Spanish arpent land divisions tend to be 6 to 8 arpents wide by 40 arpents deep.

This method of land division provided each land-owner with river frontage as well as land suitable for cultivation and habitation. These areas are given numbers just like standard sections, although the section numbers frequently exceed the normal upper limit of 36.^[1]

See also[link]

• Acre
• Morgen
• Units of measurement in France before the French Revolution
• Voltaire famously dismissed Canada as Quelques arpents de neige, "some acres of snow".
• Weights and Measures Act (R.S. 1985)

References[link]

1. ^ The Public Land Survey System (PLSS)

Garrett Smith (born December 14, 1967 in Seattle, Washington) is a former U.S. soccer defender who played professionally in the Western Soccer League, American Professional Soccer League, Major Indoor Soccer League and Continental Indoor Soccer League. Since 1992, he has served as an assistant coach with the University of Portland’s men’s and women’s soccer teams. In 2003, he became the head coach of the women’s team, winning the 2005 National Championship. He was 2007 NCAA Coach of the Year.

High school and college[link]

Smith attended Nathan Hale High School where he played on the school’s soccer team while also playing with the Washington State U-19 State team. He then attended the University of Portland where he played on the men’s soccer team under Clive Charles from 1986 to 1989. Smith was a 1989 first team All-West Coast Conference and a three time All-Northwest Collegiate Soccer Conference selection. The most Notable team of that era was the 1988 team which went 22-1, their only loss being a 1-0 loss in the semi-finals to eventual NCAA champions Indiana.

Professional[link]

While still in college, Smith played a single season with the Portland Timbers of the Western Soccer League in 1989.^[1] In 1990, he signed with the Seattle Storm of the American Professional Soccer League.^[2] On November 23, 1990, he signed with the San Diego Sockers of the Major Indoor Soccer League.^[3] When his contract expired at the end of the season, Smith left professional soccer. On April 28, 1993, the Portland Pride of the Continental Indoor Soccer League drafted Smith.^[4] He retired from professional soccer after the 1995 season.

Coaching[link]

In 1992, Smith was hired by the University of Portland as an assistant coach to Clive Charles for the women’s soccer team. When Charles died from cancer in 2003, Smith was promoted to head coach, a position he holds today. In 2005, he led the team to the NCAA Women's Soccer Championship. In 2007, he was named the NCAA Coach of the Year. In addition to his duties as head coach for the Pilot’s women’s team, Smith has served as the university’s associate director for soccer since 2003.^[5]

References[link]

External links[link]

• Portland Pilots coaches profile
• Garrett Smith '91: Coach, Pilot Women’s Soccer, 2007 National Coach of the Year
• MISL stats