How big is a block?

Question

Is it from streetlight to streetlight or what?

Answer 1

I agree it is corner to corner, by definition; although the distance between corners is relative to the city or rural location.

In a city, a rule of thumb is: 12 blocks = 1 mile

In a flat-grid countryside, like the cow fields of Wisconsin, the corn fields of Iowa, and the cotton fields of Texas, each block is 1 mile.

Answer 2

im from NYC and a block is from corner to corner.. regardless of length.

Answer 3

Depends on the block.

Country blocks are longer than city blocks.

It's not an exacting measurement, it's just an American Colloquialism (jargon).  

It can be taken as light to light, or street to street.  I mean, do you count driveways or alleys?  What about dead ends?  

It's one of those things that's intuitive, but not precise.