In modern day, the unit is often used to describe the length and breadth of cities as well as countries. The Old City of Jerusalem is almost 1 square kilometre in area, the area enclosed by the walls of many European medieval cities were about one square kilometre. These walls are often either still standing or the route they followed is still clearly visible.

Some of the most famous parks in the world are also almost exactly one square kilometre in area namely Kiest Park, Dallas, Texas, Brierley Forest Park, UK. Golf courses across the world are also built in an area of about one square kilometre. These include the Manchester Golf Club in the UK and the Trophy Club in the US.