Why is a mile exactly 5,280 feet?
In ancient Rome land distances were measured in paces, one pace being defined as two steps, or approximately 5 feet. The largest unit of land measure used by the Romans was the “milia passuum,”
which is Latin for ‘a thousand paces.’ As one pace equaled 5 feet, a ‘milia passuum’ was 5,000 feet.
Once a part of the Roman Empire, Great Britain adopted the milia passuum but abbreviated it to “mile.” The British also used another unit of land measure called the furlong, which was defined as 660 feet, which was the approximate length of a plowed furrow in an ordinary field. The furlong was used extensively in surveying, and when it became apparent the mile would also be used in surveying, it was decided the mile should be a whole number of furlongs. Since the mile was 5,000 feet and the furlong was 660 feet, it was decided to change the mile to exactly 8 furlongs, or 5,280 feet.
In 1575, Queen Elizabeth I passed a law making the mile exactly this number.
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