Legal Definitions - sitio ganado mayor

Definition: Sitio ganado mayor is a Spanish and Mexican law term that refers to a square unit of land with each side measuring 5,000 varas, which is about 4,583 yards.

This term is commonly found in old land grants in states that were formerly Spanish provinces or governed by Mexico. A vara is a measure of length equal to about 33 inches, although local usage may vary, so it may sometimes be more or less than 33 inches. In Mexican land grants, the measure is equal to 32.9927 inches.

Example: If a piece of land is described as being one sitio ganado mayor, it means that it is a square piece of land with each side measuring 5,000 varas, or about 4,583 yards.

Explanation: This example illustrates the definition of sitio ganado mayor by showing how it is used to describe a specific size of land. The term is important in old land grants because it helps to define the boundaries and size of the land being granted.