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Introduction to Highway Numbering Signing in California/ Signing Standards Eisenhower Interstate Numbered Routes Federal Highway System California State Routes Exit Numbers Post Miles Business Routes Forest Routes

Before 1964, California routes had two distinct numbers: the number with which the route was signed, and the number with which the legislature identified the routes (LRN). A single LRN could be used over different sign routes, and vice-versa.

Legislative routes were initially established with legislation in 1909, when routes 1 through 25 were defined. They have been extended by legislative acts over the years. The original legislative numbers were never posted along highways, but appeared on state maps until 1958 – at which time there were 240 such routes. While the state had one of the best highway marking programs in the country, the roads were marked primarily with the old trail signs – such as “Lincoln Highway”, “Old Spanish Trail and “National Old Trails – rather than numbers.”

Before 1934, the only routes that were signed in California were the US Highway routes (signage of these started in 1928). Once US Highways began to be signed, the state Division of Highways met with representatives of the auto clubs to adopt a route marker for state highways. The group selected a "bear shield" design, which resembled a miner's spade and displayed a grizzly bear taken from the California Bear Flag. In 1934, the state began assigning sign route numbers to routes in the state, after which the auto clubs began signing routes. The initial route numbering system for signed routes was as follows:

• The odd/even to direction relationship is the same as for US Highways (i.e., odd is North/South, even is East/West).
• Route numbers are not duplicated with US Highway numbers signed in 1934.
• Smaller numbers are used primarily in major metropolitan areas.
• Route numbers are assigned in groups of two: two for Northern California, two for Southern California, two for Northern California, etc.
• Space has been left in the numbering plan for future routes.

As routes got added, an attempt was made to follow this, although it soon fell by the wayside, except for the even/odd usage.

As the state highway network grew, and existing roads became longer, each new segment was given its own number (but was an extension of the original signed route). This resulted in some state highways having up to 13 different legislative route numbers along their length. For example, Santa Monica Boulevard from the junction with US 101 was listed as Legislative Route Number 162 [LRN 162], State Signed Route 2 [Route 2], and US 66.

In 1959-60, all the old "miner's spade" "Grizzly Bear" highway markers were replaced by plain white "miner's spade" shields, without the Bear. This was the exact design of today's shields, except white in color instead of green. There are a few of these shields still around; in particular, around Route 126 in Ventura and the older portions of Route 134 in Glendale.

In 1964, all state routes were renumbered to bring their legislative route number in sync with their signed route number. There was also a renumbering to retire some US highway numbers, and to sign with Interstate route numbers [There is a good article on this renumbering at http://www.gbcnet.com/ushighways/history/1964_hwy_renumbering_contents.html]. This removed any remaining semblance of order in the numbering of state highways. The routes were signed with a green shield, still in the shape of a miner's space, but lacking the grizzly bear.

Numbering: Federal Highway System

Exit Numbers

©1996-2004 Daniel P. Faigin.
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