California state routes were first signed in 1934. The signed route numbers were not the same as the numbers used in the legislative definition of the routes (LRNs), and not all LRNs were signed. The general algorithm for assigning numbers was as follows:
These rules applied to the initial assignment of numbers, and where possible, to other assignment of numbers as the space was filled in. As time went on, numbers were just assigned sequentially, so it is difficult to see the pattern in present-day routes. On July 1, 1964, all state routes were renumbered to account for the assignment of numbers to Interstates, as well as to make their legislative numbers adjusted to agree with their signed numbers.
Note: A specification sheet for the pre-1964 signage was posted to the AAroads forum. See this post by Quillz on 7/16/2016.
When following links in the table below, note that the link will take you the page for the Post-1964 version of the route. Use the page menu, and look for the sections titled "Pre 1964 Signage History" (which have the graphic shown to the left) for information on the route prior to the 1964 renumbering. If the route changed numbers in 1964, this section will be talking first about the pre-1964 signed route number that corresponded to the post-1964 number of that page. Read a bit further down looking for the white bear-shield graphic. That signals the start of the discussion of the route that had the indicated number before the "Great Renumbering".
Signed Route | Signage Usage | LRN | Current Route | Part of State | North or South | Pre-Freeway Routing/Notes |
Route 1 | 1934- | LRN 56 | Route 1 | Cross-State | N/S | Present route includes former US 101A (nee Route 3) |
Route 2 | 1934- | LRN 162, LRN 161, LRN 61, LRN 59 | Route 2, Route 138 | Southern CA: LA | E/W | Portions at one time were US 66. |
Route 3 | 1934-193x | LRN 60 | Route 1 | Southern CA: LA | N/S | Resigned as US101A. |
Route 4 | 1934- | LRN 106, LRN 75, LRN 24 | Route 4 | Northern CA | E/W | |
Route 5 | 1934-1963 | LRN 55 | Route 35, I-280 | Northern CA | N/S | Skyline Blvd. |
Route 6 | 1934-1937 | LRN 173 | I-10 | Southern CA: LA | E/W | Resigned as Route 26 when US 6 was signed circa 1937. |
Route 7 | 1934-1963 | LRN 73, LRN 29, LRN 95, LRN 23, LRN 4, LRN 158, LRN 164 | I-405, I-5, Route 14, US 395, Route 107 | Cross-State, Southern CA | N/S | In LA: Sepulveda Blvd, Sawtelle Blvd. Originally ran to Nevada Border; truncated to US 101A to US 99 when US 395 and US 6 were signed. |
Route 8 | 1934-1963 | LRN 5, LRN 34 | Route 26, Route 88 | Northern CA | E/W | |
Route 9 | 1934- | LRN 116, LRN 42, LRN 114, LRN 113, LRN 69, LRN 5 | Route 9, Route 17, Route 85, Route 237, Route 238, Route 262, I-680, I-880 | Northern CA | N/S | Other past signage for this route includes Route 21 and US 101A. Saratoga-Sunnyvale Road is also part of former Route 9. |
Route 10 | 1934-195? | LRN 174 | Route 90, I-105; Route 42, I-5 | Southern CA: LA | E/W | Manchester Blvd, Firestone Blvd, Santa Ana Ave. Later renumbered as Route 42. Route 42 routings later reassigned to Route 90 and I-105. |
Route 11 | 1934-1978 | LRN 165, LRN 205 | Route 159, Route 110, I-110 |
Southern CA: LA | N/S | At one time cosigned with US 66 and US 6. |
Route 12 | 1934- | LRN 104, LRN 51, LRN 8, LRN 53, LRN 24 | Route 116, Route 12 | Northern CA | E/W | |
Route 13 | 1934- | LRN 5, LRN 239, LRN 69 | Route 17, I-880 | Northern CA | N/S | |
Route 14 | 1934-1963 | LRN 175, | Route 91 | Southern CA: LA | E/W | Artesia Blvd, Orangethorpe. Some was cosigned as US 91. |
Route 15 | 1934-1963 | LRN 167 | I-710 | Southern CA: LA | N/S | |
Route 16 | 1934- | LRN 50, LRN 11, LRN 54 | Route 16, Route 84, I-5, US 50 | Northern CA | E/W | |
Route 17 | 193?- | LRN 5, LRN 239, LRN 69 | Route 17, I-880, I-580, Route 251 | Northern CA | N/S | Not a route in 1934. Replaced Route 13. Portions later renumbered as I-880, I-580, and Route 251 (unconstructed). |
Route 18 | 1934-196? | LRN 43, LRN 178, LRN 168 | Route 18, Route 19, Route 38, Route 91, Route 159, Route 214, I-215 | Southern CA: LA | E/W | Portions were cosigned as US 91. Only remaining portion is in San Bernardino. |
Route 19 | 1934- | LRN 168 | Route 19 | Southern CA: LA | N/S |
Route 20 | 1934- | LRN 15 | Route 20, US 40A, US 99E | Northern CA | E/W | |
Route 21 | 193x-1976 | LRN 5, LRN 108, LRN 75, LRN 74 | I-680 | Northern CA | N/S | Not an original 1934 sign route. |
Route 22 | 1934- | LRN 179, LRN 182 | Route 22 | Southern CA: LA | E/W | |
Route 23 | 1934- | LRN 155 | Route 23 | Southern CA | N/S | |
Route 24 | 1934- | LRN 75, LRN 11, LRN 50, LRN 232, LRN 87, LRN 21 | Route 4, Route 16, Route 24, Route 70, Route 84, Route 99, Route 113, Route 160, Route 242 | Northern CA | E/W | Was once part of Alternate US 40. |
Route 25 | 1934- | LRN 119 | Route 25 | Northern CA | N/S | |
Route 26 | 1934-195? | None | Southern CA | E/W | Ocean Blvd between Route 1 and US 101 (I-5). | |
195?-1963 | LRN 173 | I-10 | Southern CA | E/W | Olympic Blvd. Not an original state sign route. | |
Route 27 | 1934- | LRN 156 | Route 27 | Southern CA | N/S | Topanga Canyon Blvd. |
Route 28 | 1934-1953 | LRN 48, LRN 103, LRN 49, LRN 8, LRN 7, LRN 90 | Route 12, Route 29, Route 121, Route 128, I-80, I-505 | Northern CA | E/W | By 1953, the Lake Tahoe Route 28 was in existance. |
Route 29 | 1934- | LRN 74, LRN 8, LRN 49, LRN 89, LRN 243 | Route 29, Route 221, Route 175 | Northern CA | N/S | |
Route 30 | 193?- | LRN 190, LRN 207 | Route 30, Route 330, Route 210 | Southern CA | E/W | Foothill Blvd, Claremont. |
Route 31 | 19??-198? | LRN 193 | I-15 | Southern CA | N/S | Millikan Ave. |
Route 32 | 1934- | LRN 47 | Route 32 | Northern CA | E/W | |
Route 33 | 1934- | LRN 138, LRN 57, LRN 10, LRN 238, LRN 41 | Route 33, Route 140, Route 166 | Northern CA | N/S | Originally started in Maricopa. Portions were US 399. Later started in Ventura. |
Route 34 | 193?- | LRN 153 | Route 34 | Southern CA: Ventura | E/W | Lewis Road |
Route 35 | 1934-1963 | LRN 170 | I-605 | Southern CA | N/S | Puente Ave, Workman Mill Blvd, Norwalk Blvd. |
Route 36 | 1934- | LRN 35, LRN 29 | Route 36 | Northern CA | E/W | |
Route 37 | 1934- | LRN 8, LRN 6 | Route 37, Route 121 | Northern CA | N/S | Route is now E/W and includes former Route 48 (not US 48). N/S portion renumbered. |
Route 38 | 193?- | LRN 190 | Route 38 | Southern CA | E/W | |
Route 39 | 1934- | LRN 191, LRN 62 | Route 39 | Southern CA | N/S | San Gabriel Canyon |
Route 40 | Skipped to prevent conflict with US 40 | |||||
Route 41 | 1934- | LRN 125, LRN 33 | Route 41, Route 46 | Northern CA | N/S | Portions were later US 466. |
Route 42 | 195?-19?? | LRN 174 | Route 90, I-105 | Southern CA: LA | E/W | Manchester Blvd, Firestone Blvd, Santa Ana Ave. Renumbered from Route 10. Route 42 routings later reassigned to Route 90 and I-105. |
Route 43 | 193?- | LRN 139, LRN 135 | Route 43 | Northern CA | N/S | Not an original 1934 sign route. |
Route 44 | 1934-193? | LRN 20, LRN 28 | Route 299 | Northern CA | E/W | Later renumbered as US 299. |
193?- | LRN 83, LRN 20 | Route 44 | Northern CA | E/W | Lassen Natl Park to US 395 | |
Route 440 | 1934-195? | LRN 20 | Northern CA | E/W | Later renumbered as a segment of Route 44 | |
Route 45 | 1934- | LRN 88 | Route 45, Route 20 | Northern CA | N/S | |
Route 46 | 193?- | LRN 33 | Route 46 | Northern CA | E/W | Not an original 1934 sign Route. Current Route 46 was Route 41 and US 466. |
Route 47 | 19??- | LRN 167, LRN 270 | Route 47 | Southern CA | N/S | Not an original 1934 sign route. Only "Terminal Island Freeway" is constructed |
Route 48 | 1928-1935 | Not assigned to prevent conflict with US 48 | US 48 later renumbered as part of US 50 | |||
193?-1963 | LRN 208 | Route 37 | Northern CA | E/W | ||
Route 49 | 1934- | LRN 65, LRN 17, LRN 25, LRN 233 | Route 49, Route 20, Route 89 | Northern CA | N/S | |
Route 50 | Skipped to prevent conflict with US 50 | |||||
Route 51 | Unknown | Unknown | Business Route 80 | Northern CA | E/W | Not an original 1934 sign route |
Route 52 | 19??- | LRN 279 | Route 52 | Southern CA: San Diego | E/W | Not an original 1934 sign route |
Route 53 | 19??- | LRN 49 | Route 53 | Northern CA | E/W | Not an original 1934 sign route |
Route 54 | 19??- | LRN 280 | Route 54 | Southern CA: San Diego | E/W | Not an original 1934 sign route |
Route 55 | 1934- | LRN 43 | Route 55 | Southern CA | N/S | |
Route 56 | 19??- | LRN 278 | Route 56 | Southern CA: San Diego | E/W | Not an original 1934 sign route |
Route 57 | 19??- | LRN 273, LRN 19, LRN 272 | Route 57 | Southern CA: Orange County | N/S | Not an original 1934 sign route |
Route 58 | 193x- | LRN 58 | Route 178, Route 58 | Northern CA: Bakersfield | E/W | Not an original 1934 sign route Portions were US 466. |
Route 59 | 19??- | LRN 123 | Route 59 | Northern CA | N/S | Not an original 1934 sign route |
Route 60 | Skipped to prevent conflict with US 60 | |||||
Route 61 | 19??- | LRN 226; LRN 258 | Route 61 | Northern CA | N/S | Not an original 1934 sign route |
Route 62 | 19??- | LRN 187; LRN 218 | Route 62 | Southern CA (Twentynine Palms) | E/W | Not an original 1934 sign route |
Route 63 | 19??- | LRN 132 | Route 63 | Northern CA (Tulare) | N/S | Not an original 1934 sign route |
Route 64 | 19??- | LRN 265 | Route 64 (unsigned) | N/S | Southern CA | Not an original 1934 sign route |
Route 65 | 1934- | LRN 129; LRN 249 | Route 65, Route 69 | Northern CA | N/S | |
Route 66 | Skipped to prevent conflict with US 66 | |||||
Route 67 | 19??- | LRN 198 | Route 67 | Southern CA: San Diego | N/S | Not an original 1934 sign route |
Route 68 | 19??- | LRN 262, LRN 171 | Route 68 | Northern CA: Salinas | E/W | Not an original 1934 sign route |
Route 69 | No signed route before 1964. Current route was LRN 129, and part of Route 65. Now Route 245. | |||||
Route 70 | Skipped to prevent conflict with US 70 | |||||
Route 71 | 1934- | LRN 77; LRN 78; LRN 19 | Route 57, Route 60, Route 71, Route 83, Route 142, I-15, I-215 | Southern CA | N/S | Originally started at US 80 (I-8) in San Diego. The portion betwen US 80 and Temecula was renumbered as part of US 395 in 1939, and a new Route 71 extension was created using present-day Route 79 and Route 371, along LRN 78 and LRN 277. |
Route 72 | 19??- | LRN 2 | Route 72 | Southern CA | E/W | Not an original 1934 sign route. Whittier Blvd. Surface route for US 101 once freeway constructed. |
Route 73 | 19??- | LRN 184 | Route 73 | Southern CA: Orange County | N/S | Not an original 1934 sign route |
Route 74 | 1934- | LRN 64 | Route 74 | Southern CA | E/W | Later combined with Route 740 |
Route 740 | 1934- | LRN 64 | Southern CA | E/W | Later combined with Route 74 | |
Route 75 | 19??- | LRN 199 | Route 75 | Southern CA: San Diego | N/S | Not an original 1934 sign route |
Route 76 | 19??- | LRN 195 | Route 76 | Southern CA: San Diego | E/W | Not an original 1934 sign route |
Route 77 | 19??- | LRN 235 | Route 77 | Northern CA | N/S | Not an original 1934 sign route |
Route 78 | 1934- | LRN 196; LRN 197; LRN 198 | Route 78 | Southern CA: San Diego | E/W | |
Route 79 | 1934- | LRN 78 | Route 79, Route 71 | Southern CA: San Diego | N/S | Between 1939 and 1973, the portion between Aguanga and Temecula was Route 71. The original definition of the route ran only to Temecula. In 1939, it was extended N to Beaumont using present-day Riverside County Sign Route R3 to Hemet, and present-day Route 79 to Beaumont. |
Route 80 | Skipped to prevent conflict with US 80 | |||||
Route 81 | 19??- | LRN 276 | Route 81 | Southern CA: Riverside | N/S | Not an original 1934 sign route. Unconstructed. |
Route 82 | 19??- | LRN 2 | Route 82 | Northern CA | N/S | Not an original 1934 sign route. Route used to replace surface US 101. |
Route 83 | 19??- | LRN 192 | Route 83 | Southern CA | N/S | Not an original 1934 sign route |
Route 84 | 19??- | LRN 214; LRN 107 | Route 84 | Northern CA | E/W | Not an original 1934 sign route |
Route 85 | 19??- | LRN 114 | Route 85 | Northern CA | N/S | Not an original 1934 sign route. Stevens Creek. |
Route 86 | 19??- | LRN 26 | Route 86 | Southern CA | N/S | Not an original 1934 sign route. Route used to replace surface US 99. |
Route 87 | 19??- | LRN 292 | Route 87 | Northern CA | N/S | Not an original 1934 sign route. Gonzales |
Route 88 | 19??- | LRN 97 | Route 88 | Northern CA | E/W | Not an original 1934 sign route |
Route 89 | 1934- | LRN 23, LRN 38; LRN 83; | Route 89; Route 88 | Northern CA | N/S | |
Route 90 | 19??- | LRN 60; LRN 221; LRN 176 | Route 90 | Southern CA | E/W | Not an original 1934 sign route. Slauson Blvd. |
Route 91 | Skipped to prevent conflict with US 91 | |||||
Route 92 | 19??- | LRN 105; LRN 259 | Route 92 | Northern CA | E/W | Not an original 1934 sign route |
Route 93 | 19??- | LRN 254 | Route 93 | Northern CA | N/S | Not an original 1934 sign route |
Route 94 | 1934- | LRN 200 | Route 94 | Southern CA | E/W | |
Route 95 | 1934-193x | LRN 145 | US 395 | Southern CA | N/S | |
Route 96 | 1934-?? | LRN 46; LRN 84 | Route 96 | Northern CA | N/S | |
Route 97 | Skipped to prevent conflict with US 97 | |||||
Route 98 | 1934-?? | LRN 202 | Route 98 | Southern CA | E/W | |
Route 99 | Skipped to prevent conflict with US 99 |
Route 104 | 1934-?? | LRN 34 | Route 104; Route 26 | Northern CA | E/W | |
Route 107 | 1942-Current | LRN 164 | Route 107 | Southern CA | N/S | Southern end of Former Route 7. |
Route 108 | 1934-?? | LRN 13 | Route 108, Route 219 | Northern CA | E/W | |
Route 111 | 1934-?? | LRN 187 | Route 111 | Southern CA | N/S | |
Route 118 | 1934-?? | LRN 9 | Route 118, I-210 | Southern CA | E/W | |
Route 120 | 1934-?? | LRN 66, LRN 109, LRN 40, LRN 140 | Route 120 | Northern CA | E/W | |
Route 126 | 1934-?? | LRN 79 | Route 126 | Southern CA | E/W | |
Route 127 | 1934-?? | LRN 127, LRN 128 | Route 127 | Southern CA | N/S | |
Route 132 | 1934-?? | LRN 110, LRN 65 | Route 132 | Northern CA | E/W | |
Route 134 | 1934-?? | LRN 161 | Route 134 | Southern CA | E/W | |
Route 138 | 1934-?? | LRN 59 | Route 138 | Southern CA | E/W | |
Route 140 | 1934-?? | LRN 18 | Route 140 | Northern CA | E/W | |
Route 150 | 1934-?? | LRN 149, LRN 180, LRN 80, LRN 151 | Route 246, Route 154, Route 150, Route 192 | Northern CA | E/W | |
Route 152 | 1934-?? | LRN 32 | Route 152 | Northern CA | E/W | |
Route 166 | 1934-?? | LRN 57 | Route 166 | Northern CA | E/W | |
Route 178 | 1934-?? | LRN 58, LRN 57 | Route 58, Route 178 | Southern CA | E/W | |
Route 180 | 1934-?? | LRN 263, LRN 41 | Route 180 | Northern CA | E/W | |
Route 190 | 1934-?? | LRN 127 | Route 190 | Southern CA | E/W | |
Route 195 | 1934-?? | LRN 149 | US 95 | Southern CA | N/S | |
Route 198 | 1934-?? | LRN 10 | Route 198 | Northern CA | E/W |
Pre-1964 Signage | Post-1964 Approximate Signage | Pre-1964 Legislative Route | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
US 6 | US 6, US 395, Route 14, I-5, I-110, US 91/Route 1 | LRN 60; LRN 165; LRN 161; LRN 4; LRN 23; LRN 76 | Sierra Highway, San Fernando Road, Figueroa, Pacific Coast Highway |
US 40 | I-80; Route 51 (Business Route 80); US 50; Route 160 | LRN 68; LRN 69; LRN 14; LRN 257; LRN 7; LRN 6; LRN 3; LRN 17; LRN 37; LRN 38 | |
Alternate US 40 | Route 113, Route 70, US 395 | LRN 7; LRN 87; LRN 21 | |
US 48 | I-580, I-205 | LRN 5 | |
US 50 | I-580, I-205, I-5, Route 120, Route 99, US 50 | LRN 68; LRN 5; LRN 4; LRN 11; LRN 66; LRN 238 | |
US 60 | Former Route 212, I-10, Route 60 | LRN 77; LRN 19; LRN 26; LRN 172; LRN 64 | Portions were Ontario Blvd. |
US 66 | I-40, I-15, Route 66, Route 30, I-210, Route 110, US 101; Route 2; Route 248 (since deleted); Route 159 (since deleted) | LRN 31; LRN 9; LRN 240; LRN 161; LRN 165; LRN 2; LRN 205 | Foothill Blvd, Huntington Ave, Colorado Blvd, Fair Oaks, Figueroa, Santa Monica Blvd, National Trails Highway |
US 70 | Former Route 212, I-10 | LRN 26; LRN 64 | Valley Blvd |
US 80 | I-8, Route 115 | LRN 12 | |
US 91 | Route 1, Route 91, I-215, I-15 | LRN 60; LRN 168; LRN 178; LRN 174; LRN 175; LRN 43; LRN 31 | Lincoln Ave (Santa Ana), Lakewood Blvd, Pacific Coast Highway |
US 99 | Route 99, I-5, I-10, Route 86, Route 163, Former Route 212, Route 273, Route 265, Route 263; Route 111; Route 204 | LRN 4; LRN 161; LRN 165; LRN 2; LRN 26; LRN 3; LRN 6; LRN 7; LRN 50; LRN 232; LRN 245; LRN 87 | Los Angeles: San Fernando Road. |
US 99W | I-5 | LRN 50; LRN 6; LRN 7 | |
US 99E | Route 51, Route 65, Route 99, US 50 | LRN 3 | |
Business US 99 | I-5 | LRN 4 | Los Angeles: San Fernando Road. |
US 101 | Route 72, US 101, Route 82, I-5, Route 51 (former routing), Route 227, Route 245 (former routing), Route 254, Route 271; Route 283; I-280 | LRN 2; LRN 174; LRN 166; LRN 68; LRN 1; LRN 71 | Route 82 and Route 72 are the old surface US 101. El Camino Real; Monterey Road; Ventura Blvd. |
Alternate US 101 | Route 1, I-880 | LRN 60; LRN 69; LRN 68 | Pacific Coast Highway |
Bypass US 101 | US 101 (Freeway) | LRN 68 | |
US 199 | US 199 | LRN 1 | |
US 299 | Route 299 | LRN 20; LRN 28 | |
US 395 | Route 163, Route 15, I-15, I-215, US 395 | LRN 77; LRN 78; LRN 19; LRN 43; LRN 31; LRN 145; LRN 23; LRN 95; LRN 29; LRN 73; LRN 28 | Signed in 1939. Originally, the portion between US 80 (now I-8) and Temecula was Route 71. |
US 399 | Route 33; Route 119 | LRN 138; LRN 57; LRN 140 | |
US 466 | Route 41, Route 46, Route 58, Route 202; I-15 | LRN 125; LRN 33; LRN 58; LRN 31 |
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