Ribbon farm

[2] These early German long lots were cut through forests or marshes, rather than along rivers, allowing for clustering of houses along a central road.

[2] From Germany, the pattern spread, notably to western France, where forest, marsh, and river long lots were well-established by the time the French began colonizing the Americas.

In areas where rivers provided the main form of transportation, the ribbon farm layout gave multiple landowners access to the waterway.

[7] Finally, in those places in the New World where ribbon farms were platted, the division of land into long rectangles was relatively easy to survey and establish boundaries.

[6] One disadvantage was that the agricultural land of a single farmer was awkwardly spread out, often over two or more linear miles, necessitating a long travel time to reach rear parts of the lot.

Ribbon farms along the Detroit River in 1796, where modern Detroit and Windsor, Ontario , now stand. Fort Detroit is on the north side of the river at center left, and Belle Isle is to the right.
Ribbon grants along the Swan River of Western Australia between Perth and Guildford