[DeoGratias]

Having lived in Florida, Kentucky, and Canada I'm puzzled at Florida's road-naming system. Nearly all of the roads near where I currently live are numerical (45th Avenue, SW 67th Ct., you get the idea). Everywhere else I've been, you might see a highway number every now and then, but most roads were named. Why is this? When were the numbers brought in?

I don't seem to recall all of the numerical roads back when I was in Fla. in the early '90s, but I wasn't driving then so maybe I just lived in ignorance.

[doggiebus]

Since I was a child, the roads in Miami have all be numerical, some had names along with the numbers and still do. The only reason I can think why its done in numbers versus names, is it easier to find your way. If you are on 1st street and need to go to SW 20st you know you need to go south 20 blocks. Much easier than using names.

[EscAlaMike]

It's only some parts of Florida that use that system. I know Miami, Gainesville, and Ocala do. However, most of Florida does not.

[blueberrie]

And Bradenton uses the numerical system too. It made it extremely easy to find my way around when I moved there.

[gregm]

Here is the deal.... When first developed areas like Miami, Ft. Lauderdale and West Palm Beach divided their city's along a East-West, North-South axis.

That created 4 zones NW, NE, SE and SW. There used to be a saying "TWA", meaning that Terraces, Ways and Avenues ran North/South. Everything else was East, West.

Now with that information you can find any address very easily. For instance; 4620 NW121 Terrace. Would translate, 40 Streets north of the East West axis, but before the 50th Street. The 121 Terrace would be 121 TWA's west of the North South axis, but before 122nd Ave.

Once you learn that, you could almost find anyplace down here with just the address. Problem is they like to dig canals and then don't build a bridge across it.

Get it?

[runswithscissors]

Philly has numerics too, almost entirely in the downtown area. But like gregm said, down here you find a numeric then it stops....then the same numeric further north or south of where you were. It's confusing.

[DeoGratias]

I'm used to numerics, just not with the numbers as high as they are in Fla. Where I grew up in Ky. we had 2nd through 8th streets, but that was it (and there was no first street). In Fla. I live on 225th Street. Go figure.

How can you tell where the central part of the "grid" is?

[Tiger Beer]

I love the numerical road names...I lived in Manhattan for a few years...and you can meet anyone anywhere at anytime. Just so simple.

I couldn't imagine having to memorize 1000 regular street names in Manhattan for example, and spending 30 minutes trying to figure out where you are and where you are going each time?

[gregm]

Originally Posted by DeoGratias

I'm used to numerics, just not with the numbers as high as they are in Fla. Where I grew up in Ky. we had 2nd through 8th streets, but that was it (and there was no first street). In Fla. I live on 225th Street. Go figure.

How can you tell where the central part of the "grid" is?

I don't even know if they produce city maps any longer. LOL For that matter what I described above is "lost knowledge", as I never hear anyone talk about it. Here in Palm Beach County they have gone off that standard of old.

If you can get a city map it might be helpful. But be forwarded the lines won't have numbers. They will be named.

In Fort Lauderdale the east west line is Broward Blvd. The north south line is Andrews Ave. Go figger..

If you live in a small city it may well be Dixie Hyw. for the N. S. line. But I don't know where you live so can't give exact help.

[lagoon7]

Originally Posted by doggiebus

Since I was a child, the roads in Miami have all be numerical, some had names along with the numbers and still do. The only reason I can think why its done in numbers versus names, is it easier to find your way. If you are on 1st street and need to go to SW 20st you know you need to go south 20 blocks. Much easier than using names.

Yeah it is. I hate going to cities and having to traverse a maze of named streets. Numbers are where its at.