Interstate control cities have gotten smaller over the years

[Roadgeekteen]

Why is St. Louis used west of Paducah?

What else would you use?

Exactly my point. Where else are the majority of drivers headed?

To plays devils advocate a lot are probably going to Chicago and other places in Illinois.

I doubt anyone is going to Chicago going that far west when you can take I-65.

I'm talking about from Paducah.

Paducah is a town of 25,000. It's not a major traffic generator. Besides, the control city from that point west is St. Louis. That's not the area in question - Nashville is.

You asked "Why is St. Louis used west of Paducah?"

[Flint1979]

I live closer to Chicago than Paducah is to Chicago and my city certainly has no connection to Chicago.

[Roadgeekteen]

I live closer to Chicago than Paducah is to Chicago and my city certainly has no connection to Chicago.

Is Paducah more connected to St. Louis than Chicago?

[Flint1979]

I live closer to Chicago than Paducah is to Chicago and my city certainly has no connection to Chicago.

Is Paducah more connected to St. Louis than Chicago?

Paducah is connected with itself it's just a small city in Western Kentucky pretty much.

[thspfc]

I live closer to Chicago than Paducah is to Chicago and my city certainly has no connection to Chicago.

Is Paducah more connected to St. Louis than Chicago?

Never been to Paducah, but I can't imagine that St. Louis or Chicago are more prominent than Louisville.

[Rothman]

*meant Nashville.

Clarksville is on the other side of Nashville...

Clarksville, TN is northwest of Nashville, on the path between Nashville and St. Louis.

Right, but you were talking about from Chattanooga.

[bandit957]

Someone once told me that most people in Paducah root for the St. Louis Cardinals.

[sprjus4]

*meant Nashville.

Clarksville is on the other side of Nashville...

Clarksville, TN is northwest of Nashville, on the path between Nashville and St. Louis.

Right, but you were talking about from Chattanooga.

I had meant Nashville from the beginning, I wrote Chattanooga for some reason but corrected it after you pointed it out initially.

[Flint1979]

I was in Paducah last December for a few days. That was the trip that I crossed the Ohio River on the Brookport Bridge. It seems to have more in common with St. Louis or Memphis.

As far as the city goes it has a nice downtown but isn't a real densely populated city. It's got a small town feel to it kind of a hillbilly type culture. I stayed in Calvert City a little east of Paducah.

[hbelkins]

Someone once told me that most people in Paducah root for the St. Louis Cardinals.

Seems to be split between the Cards and Cubs, in my experience.

Even if Tennessee did sign St. Louis over Clarksville, it St. Louis gets overlooked in favor of Paducah once you cross the state line. More than 20 years ago, there was one straggler "St Louis" sign at an entrance ramp to westbound I-24 in Christian County, but everything else showed the route going to Paducah.

Similarly, Kentucky overlooks Clarksville for Nashville.

Clarksville is probably prominent for being the nearest bigger city to Ft. Campbell, and is home to a Tennessee state university (Austin Peay).

[Flint1979]

Paducah seemed to be more Cardinals country than anything to me regarding baseball following.

[Roadgeekteen]

What other sports team do Paducah residents root for? Any Memphis Grizzlies fans?

[Flint1979]

What other sports team do Paducah residents root for? Any Memphis Grizzlies fans?

For football probably either the Colts or Titans.
I have no idea about the NBA since I do not follow the sport at all.
NHL if they do have a following probably Blues or Predators.

[SEWIGuy]

What other sports team do Paducah residents root for? Any Memphis Grizzlies fans?

University of Kentucky basketball.  And there isn't a close second.

[SEWIGuy]

Why is St. Louis used west of Paducah?

What else would you use?

Exactly my point. Where else are the majority of drivers headed?

To plays devils advocate a lot are probably going to Chicago and other places in Illinois.

I doubt anyone is going to Chicago going that far west when you can take I-65.

It's not even a "second choice."  US-41 will get you to Chicago faster than going that far west.

[Flint1979]

Why is St. Louis used west of Paducah?

What else would you use?

Exactly my point. Where else are the majority of drivers headed?

To plays devils advocate a lot are probably going to Chicago and other places in Illinois.

I doubt anyone is going to Chicago going that far west when you can take I-65.

It's not even a "second choice."  US-41 will get you to Chicago faster than going that far west.

Are you talking about from Paducah or Clarksville? If Paducah then I-24 to I-57 would be a good way since I-24 actually runs more N-S than E-W in that area and alligns you into I-57 NB. If Clarksville than I agree you might save a few minutes but you will save about 70 miles too by taking US-41. I guess it's worth pointing out too that north of Terre Haute you'd want to take IN-63 instead of US-41 as IN-63 is the faster way and connects you back to US-41.

[sprjus4]

^ Looking now, Clarksville to Chicago looks like a toss up. Both take around the same time, though US-41 is significantly shorter in mileage. I suppose it's just a preference for whether you prefer to stick to 70 mph interstate highways the whole way, or mostly 60 mph US-41 in Indiana. Both are 4 lane though.

[SkyPesos]

^ Looking now, Clarksville to Chicago looks like a toss up. Both take around the same time, though US-41 is significantly shorter in mileage. I suppose it's just a preference for whether you prefer to stick to 70 mph interstate highways the whole way, or mostly 60 mph US-41 in Indiana. Both are 4 lane though.

I-65 in Indiana is not the best drive out there, with only 2 lane per direction and all that truck traffic (one person on this forum disagrees though  ), so for some people, US 41 may be preferable because of this reason.

[Roadgeekteen]

What other sports team do Paducah residents root for? Any Memphis Grizzlies fans?

University of Kentucky basketball.  And there isn't a close second.

Professional sports.

[SEWIGuy]

^ Looking now, Clarksville to Chicago looks like a toss up. Both take around the same time, though US-41 is significantly shorter in mileage. I suppose it's just a preference for whether you prefer to stick to 70 mph interstate highways the whole way, or mostly 60 mph US-41 in Indiana. Both are 4 lane though.

I have been on both multiple times.  US-41 (including IN-63) from Clarksville to Chicago is going to be quicker 9 times out of 10. 

[Flint1979]

^ Looking now, Clarksville to Chicago looks like a toss up. Both take around the same time, though US-41 is significantly shorter in mileage. I suppose it's just a preference for whether you prefer to stick to 70 mph interstate highways the whole way, or mostly 60 mph US-41 in Indiana. Both are 4 lane though.

I have been on both multiple times.  US-41 (including IN-63) from Clarksville to Chicago is going to be quicker 9 times out of 10.

Right. It's only about a 5-6 minute difference to save 70 miles. And you can make that time up too.

[sprjus4]

^ Looking now, Clarksville to Chicago looks like a toss up. Both take around the same time, though US-41 is significantly shorter in mileage. I suppose it's just a preference for whether you prefer to stick to 70 mph interstate highways the whole way, or mostly 60 mph US-41 in Indiana. Both are 4 lane though.

I-65 in Indiana is not the best drive out there, with only 2 lane per direction and all that truck traffic (one person on this forum disagrees though  ), so for some people, US 41 may be preferable because of this reason.

Good news - Clarksville to Chicago does not include any part of I-65... it's I-57... though that could be a toss up as well.

For that distance, unless it was a peak weekend, me personally I'd probably stick with I-57, though I can certainly understand why someone would chose otherwise.

[hobsini2]

Clarksville should not be a control city.

Clarksville has a major military base on top of the pop being over 100k. Clarksville as a secondary control city is perfectly fine.

[sprjus4]

Clarksville should not be a control city.

Clarksville has a major military base on top of the pop being over 100k. Clarksville as a secondary control city is perfectly fine.

Secondary - I agree. But I feel St. Louis should also be present as a primary one.

[hobsini2]

Why is St. Louis used west of Paducah?

What else would you use?

Exactly my point. Where else are the majority of drivers headed?

To plays devils advocate a lot are probably going to Chicago and other places in Illinois.

I-65 exists for Chicago-Nashville travel.

Actually, when I got to visit my brother outside of Nashville, I do use I-57 to I-24 a lot. It's a much quicker route than I-65 via Indy and Louisville.