1926 Iowa highway renumbering

Highway renumbering May 2025 January 2025 In late 1925, the Iowa State Highway Commission, now known as the Iowa Department of Transportation, announced plans to renumber several state highways. The changes to the highway system were a result of the creation of the United States Numbered Highway System. The new U.S. Highways replaced several of the state's primary roads and other routes were renumbered in order to eliminate driver confusion between the two systems. As the new highways were being signed, Iowa's state highways were given a new circular route marker. Previously, the primary road number was stenciled in black onto a telegraph pole over a band of yellow paint. Background left vertical 125 Jefferson Highway marker.svg Jefferson Highway marker Jefferson Highway Iowa Primary 1.svg Primary Road No. 1 route marker Primary Road No. 1 US 65 Iowa 1926.svg US 65 route marker U.S. Highway 65 center In the early days of the automobile, when people still traveled cross-country predominantly by train, auto clubs were created to promote traveling by automobile. These auto clubs would collect dues from cities and in return, they would create an auto trail, such as the Lincoln Highway and Jefferson Highway, and route traffic through those cities. The clubs would then mark the route by painting telegraph poles with the colors and logos of their association. Often, the trails were not the most direct ways to travel between places and as a result, competing auto clubs would spring up to divert traffic from other routes. More often than not, the auto clubs were more interested in collecting dues than improving the roads upon which their trails lay.Weingroff Richard F. From Names to Numbers: The Origins of the U.S. Numbered Highway System https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/infrastructure/numbers.cfm Federal Highway Administration January 12, 2018 Starting in 1920, the Iowa State Highway Commission began marking these auto trails with primary road numbers in order to facilitate wayfinding. This was brought on by the success of a 1917 state law passed in neighboring Wisconsin that created a 5000 mi on numbered state highway system complete with route markers to replace the informal trail system. In Iowa, however, the route numbers did not replace the trail system; they were applied in addition to the trail names; e.g. the Primary Road No. 6 number was applied to the Lincoln Highway. Route numbers were selected in such a way that they corresponded to route numbers that were used in neighboring states. All towns with populations over 1000 residents were connected to the primary road system.Thompson William H. Transportation in Iowa: A Historical Summary 1989 Iowa Department of Transportation Ames, Iowa 0-9623167-0-9 145 Routes were signified on telegraph poles by a painted yellow stripe upon which the outline of Iowa with "Primary Road" and the route number were stenciled in black. By 1924, the state highway commissioned had registered 64 named auto trails. Each of these auto trails were sponsored by dues-collecting associations that produced maps and other promotional materials for their routes. Confusion for the traveler reigned supreme. Nationally, the Bureau of Public Road Engineers, with approval from the American Association of State Highway Officials, began to create a national system of interstate highways. Their original plan was for a system covering 75884 mi, 3000 mi of which were to be in Iowa.Thompson 1989 146 . Several routes in the state would be renumbered to comply with the new interstate system; No. 6 along the Lincoln Highway would change to U.S. Highway 30. Route renumbering had a cascading effect as the state highway commission had a policy of reducing confusion by not duplicating route numbers.U.S. Road Markers Soon to Replace Familiar Primary Road Signs on U.S. System in Iowa Iowa State Highway Commission Service Bulletin Oct–Nov–Dec 1925 10–11–12 XIII 1925 ISHC Bulletin 1925 3, 5 Since No. 30 was in use in northwest Iowa, that road was renumbered Iowa Highway 140.ISHC Bulletin 1925 9 . The highway commission had planned for route markers to be changed over to the new route numbers by July 1, 1926, however, this was not the case. In Davenport, for instance, signs for the new U.S. Highways were installed in October 1926. Property owners thought the new signs were gaudy and did a disservice to the beauty of their streetscapes. Complains were lodged to local auto clubs, but since this was a state project, the auto clubs deflected any responsibility.Great Flocks of Road Signs Swoop Down Upon City and Glare Ugly https://newspaperarchive.com/anonymous-other-articles-clipping-oct-31-1926-518164/ January 12, 2018 Davenport Democrat and Leader October 31, 1926 3 Newspaperarchive.com While the efficiency of wayfinding was greatly improved by the addition of route numbers, motor club officials wished for the names of their highways to not be forgotten. Charles M. Hayes of the Chicago Motor Club urged people to use a hybrid system of route numbers and names in order to preserve the historical significance and sentimental value of the routes. Hayes liked the removal of trail names to railroad engineers numbering train routes while the public calls the routes by their names.Names of Noted Roads Changed https://newspaperarchive.com/anonymous-other-articles-clipping-aug-19-1926-518175/ January 12, 2018 Blockton News August 19, 1926 Blockton, Iowa 2 Newspaperarchive.com Hayes got his wish as the automobile associations disbanded, motorists continued to refer to the routes with their trail names. New routes length Route mileage is determined by comparing the 1927 and 1932 state highway maps.note 1932 was the first year that Iowa state highway maps showed route mileage.1932 6 January 12, 2018 no compare The 1926 Iowa state highway map was published before route changes took place. Route changes are shown by comparing the 1926 and 1927 Iowa state highway maps.1927 January 10, 20181926 January 10, 2018 no IA IA 1926 1 98 Iowa 3 near Keosauqua US 161 in Iowa City 1926 Formerly No. 11 IA IA 1926 6 1926–1931 104 Route 5 near Cincinnati US 32 in Des Moines 1926 1931 Formerly No. 17 and No. 59 IA IA 1926 8 14 Iowa 59 in Traer US 218 near Garrison 1926 Formerly No. 58 IA IA 1926 16 1920–1930 238 Route 29 near Redding TH 5 near Ledyard 1926 1930 Formerly No. 15, No. 25, No. 17, No. 90, and No. 16 IA US 1926 18 287 ISHC Bulletin 1925 3 . US 75 near Hull US 18 at McGregor 1926 Formerly No. 19 IA US 1926 20 331 US 20 at Sioux City US 20 at Dubuque 1926 Formerly No. 5 and No. 23 IA IA 1926 22 24 Iowa 38 near Muscatine US 61 in Davenport 1926 Formerly No. 2 IA IA 1926 23 1926–1968 5 Route 15 south of Milton Iowa 3 at Milton 1926 1968-12-31 Formerly No. 11 IA IA 1926 25 68 US 34 at Creston US 30 near Scranton 1926 Formerly No. 16 IA IA 1926 28 19 Iowa 24 at Martensdale US 32 / Iowa 7 in Des Moines 1926 Formerly No. 15 IA US 1926 30 369 US 30 / US 75 at Council Bluffs US 30 at Clinton 1926 Formerly No. 6 IA US 1926 32 322 US 30 / US 75 at Council Bluffs US 32 at Davenport 1926 1931 Formerly No. 7 and No. 2; now US 6 IA US 1926 34 283 US 30 / US 75 at Council Bluffs US 34 at Burlington 1926 Formerly No. 8 IA IA 1926 40 4 Allerton Iowa 3 north of Allerton 1926 2003 Formerly No. 14 IA US 1926 53 123 US 20 / US 61 at Dubuque US 53 near Burr Oak 1926 1926 Formerly No. 20; became US 55 before highway was signed IA IA 1926 53 1926–1949 3 Iowa 10 near Clarksville Clarksville 1926 1949 Formerly No. 55 IA US 1926 55 123 US 20 / US 61 at Dubuque US 55 near Burr Oak 1926 1934 Formerly US 53; now US 52 IA US 1926 61 201 US 61 at Keokuk US 61 near Dubuque 1926 Formerly No. 20 IA US 1926 63 129 US 63 south of Bloomfield US 32 in Des Moines 1926 Formerly No. 2, No. 24, and No. 13 IA US 1926 65 242 US 65 south of Leon US 65 north of Northwood 1926 Formerly No. 1 and No. 3 IA US 1926 69 20 US 69 south of Leon US 65 at Leon 1926 Formerly No. 1 IA US 1926 71 250 US 71 at Braddyville US 71 north of Spirit Lake 1926 Formerly No. 4, No. 23, and No. 18 IA US 1926 75 111 US 30 / US 75 at Council Bluffs US 75 north of Rock Rapids 1926 Formerly No. 22 and No. 12 IA IA 1926 90 1926–1932 16 Iowa 14 at Grundy Center Iowa 59 near Voorhies 1926 1932 Formerly No. 58 IA IA 1926 136 33 US 61 near Delmar US 30 in Lyons 1926 Formerly No. 61 IA IA 1926 137 1926–1934 21 US 34 at Lucas US 65 near Indianola 1926 1934 Formerly No. 65 IA IA 1926 138 3 Iowa 3 near Mystic Mystic 1926 1973 Formerly No. 69 IA IA 1926 139 1926–1929 21 US 161 in Iowa City Iowa 38 near Rochester 1926 1929 Formerly No. 74 IA IA 1926 140 25 US 20 at Moville Iowa 5 at Remsen 1926 Formerly No. 30 IA IA 1926 141 68 South Dakota state line at Sioux City Iowa 4 at Denison 1926 Formerly No. 34 IA IA 1926 142 1926–1968 3 Moulton Iowa 3 near Moulton 1926 1968 Formerly No. 71 IA IA 1926 143 2 Iowa 5 near Marcus Marcus 1926 Formerly No. 75 IA IA 1926 144 18 US 30 at Grand Junction Iowa 47 near Gowrie 1926 Formerly No. 16 IA IA 1926 145 1926–1931 5 Iowa 5 near Cleghorn Cleghorn 1926 1931 Formerly No. 32 IA IA 1926 146 24 Iowa 59 in New Sharon US 32 in Grinnell 1926 Formerly No. 63 IA IA 1926 147 13 Iowa 14 near Rockford US 18 near Nora Springs 1926 2003 Formerly No. 53 IA IA 1926 148 32 Missouri state line south of Bedford US 34 at Corning 1926 Formerly No. 16 IA IA 1926 149 61 US 63 near Hedrick US 32 at South Amana 1926 Formerly No. 13 IA IA 1926 150 1926–1930 19 US 32 at Homestead US 30 near Cedar Rapids 1926 1930 Formerly No. 13 IA IA 1926 151 13 US 71 at Auburn Iowa 17 near Lake City 1926 1938 Formerly No. 35 IA IA 1926 152 1926–1980 2 US 34 near Murray Murray 1926 1980 Formerly No. 8 IA US 1926 161 195 US 61 at Keokuk US 61 at Key West 1926 1938 Formerly No. 28 and No. 40; now US 218 and US 151 IA US 1926 218 139 US 30 south of Vinton US 218 near Mona 1926 Formerly No. 40 former Former primary roads name length https://iowadot.gov/maps/msp/historical/pdf/1914_1925_Highway.pdf Iowa Registered Highway Routes 1914–1925 Iowa Department of Transportation 1986 January 12, 2018 compare local IA Primary 1 236 Missouri state line near Lamoni Minnesota state line near Northwood 1920 1926 Jefferson Highway Became US 65 local IA Primary 6 369 Nebraska state line at Council Bluffs Illinois state line at Clinton 1920 1926 Lincoln Highway Became US 30 local IA Primary 8 283 No. 6 in Council Bluffs Illinois state line at Burlington 1920 1926 Blue Grass Route Became US 34 local IA Primary 16 255 Missouri state line south of Bedford Minnesota state line near Ledyard 1920 1926   Became Iowa 148, US 34, Iowa 25, US 30, Iowa 47, Iowa 144, and Iowa 16 local IA Primary 18 148 Missouri state line at Braddyville No. 23 at Sac City 1920 1926 M.C. Trail Became US 71 local IA Primary 20 324 Illinois state line at Keokuk Minnesota state line near Burr Oak 1920 1926 Mississippi Valley Highway Became US 61 and US 55 local IA Primary 22 34 No. 5 at Le Mars Minnesota state line north of Rock Rapids 1920 1926 King of Trails Became US 75 local IA Primary 23 130 South Dakota state line at Sioux City No. 16 at Fort Dodge 1920 1926 Hawkeye Cut-Off Became US 20 local IA Primary 25 20 No. 15 / No. 24 at Winterset No. 2 / No. 17 at Adel 1920 1926 Became Iowa 16 local IA Primary 28 72 No. 6 / No. 11 in Cedar Rapids No. 5 / No. 20 in Dubuque 1920 1926 Red X Route Became US 161 local IA Primary 30 25 No. 23 at Moville No. 5 at Remsen 1920 1926 Became Iowa 140 local IA Primary 32 5 No. 5 near Cleghorn Cleghorn 1920 1926 Became Iowa 145 local IA Primary 34 68 No. 4 at Denison No. 12 at Sioux City 1920 1926 Dension–Sioux City Cut-Off Became Iowa 141 local IA Primary 40 262 No. 20 in Keokuk Minnesota state line near Mona 1920 1926 Red Ball Route Became US 161, US 30, and US 218 local IA Primary 53 13 No. 14 near Rockford No. 19 near Nora Springs 1920 1926 Became Iowa 147 local IA Primary 55 3 No. 10 near Clarksville Clarksville 1920 1926 Became Iowa 53 local IA Primary 61 73 No. 28 at Anamosa No. 6 in Lyons 1920 1926 Lincoln Hawkeye Pike Became Iowa 117 and Iowa 136 local IA Primary 63 24 No. 59 in New Sharon No. 7 in Grinnell 1920 1926 Became Iowa 146 local IA Primary 65 21 No. 8 at Lucas No. 1 south of Indianola 1920 1926 Became Iowa 137 local IA Primary 69 3 No. 3 near Mystic Mystic 1920 1926 Became Iowa 138 local IA Primary 71 3 Moulton No. 3 near Moulton 1920 1926 Became Iowa 142 local IA Primary 75 2 No. 5 near Marcus Marcus 1920 1926 Became Iowa 143 local IA Primary 90 40 No. 17 near Bouton No. 16 at Harcourt 1920 1926 Became Iowa 16 Route changes This table represents sections of routes that were eliminated or reassigned to or from another route in the primary highway system.ISHC Bulletin 1925 7–9 {|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" !scope="col" rowspan=2 | Number !colspan=2 class=unsortable|Change in length !scope="col" class="unsortable" rowspan=2 | Southern or western terminus !scope="col" class="unsortable" rowspan=2 | Northern or eastern terminus !scope="col" rowspan=2 | Formed !scope="col" rowspan=2 | Removed !scope="col" class="unsortable" rowspan=2 | Notescompare |- !scope="col" data-sort-type="number" | mi !scope="col" data-sort-type="number" | km |- IA IA 1926 2 1920–1939 -202 US 32 in Council Bluffs US 63 in Oskaloosa 1920 1939-02 Became US 32 and US 63 IA IA 1926 4 1920–1968 -91 US 20 near Schaller US 71 north of Spirit Lake 1920 1968-12-31 Became US 71 IA IA 1926 5 1920–1968 -201 Iowa 16 at Fort Dodge US 55 / US 61 in Dubuque 1920 1968 Became US 20 IA IA 1926 7 1920–1939 -181 US 32 / US 65 in Des Moines US 32 at Davenport 1920 1939 Became US 32 IA IA 1926 10 -35 compare1926 Route mileage is determined by comparing the 1926 and 1932 state highway maps.note Iowa 13 in Strawberry Point US 18 / Iowa 13 in McGregor 1920 Duplication with Iowa 13 removed between Strawberry Point and McGregor IA IA 1926 11 -141 compare1926 Route 15 south of Milton US 161 in Cedar Rapids 1920 1941 Duplication with US 161 removed; rest became Iowa 1 and Iowa 23 IA IA 1926 12 -77 US 30 / US 75 at Missouri Valley US 75 in Sioux City 1920 Became US 75 IA IA 1926 13 -148 Route 63 south of Bloomfield US 161 in Marion 1920 Became Iowa 150, Iowa 149, and US 63 IA IA 1926 14 -22 Route 65 at Lineville Iowa 3 in Corydon 1920 Replaced by US 65 and Iowa 40 IA IA 1926 15 1920–1935 -131 compare1926 Route 29 near Redding US 30 / US 65 in Ames 1920 1935 Became Iowa 16 and Iowa 28 IA IA 1926 17 1920–1968 -82 Iowa 59 in AlbiaIowa 9 in Estherville US 32 / Iowa 16 in AdelUS 71 / Iowa 9 in Spirit Lake 1920 1968 Became Iowa 6 and US 32; duplication with Iowa 9 removed IA IA 1926 19 1926 -287 US 75 near Doon US 18 at McGregor 1920 1926 Rest of Iowa 19 became US 18 later in 1926 IA IA 1926 24 1920–1927 -32 US 63 in Oskaloosa US 63 in Ottumwa 1920 1927 Duplication with US 63 removed IA IA 1926 35 1920–1948 -37 US 71 near Lake View Iowa 17 near Lake City 1920 1948 Duplication with US 71 removed; rest became Iowa 151 IA IA 1926 47 1920–1940 3 Iowa 144 near Gowrie Iowa 16 at Harcourt 1920 1940 Extended along No. 16 IA IA 1926 58 -23 Iowa 14 near Grundy Center US 218 near Garrison 1920 Duplication with Iowa 14 and Iowa 59 removed; became Iowa 90 and Iowa 8 IA IA 1926 74 1920–1941 -28 US 161 in Iowa City Iowa 38 in Tipton 1920 1941 Duplication with Iowa 38 removed; rest became Iowa 139 IA IA 1926 117 1920–1936 35 US 161 at Anamosa US 61 at Maquoketa 1920 1936 Extended along No. 61 former Notes References 30em Category:Iowa transportation-related lists Category:Highway renumbering in the United States Category:1926 in transport Category:1926 in Iowa