This is true? - Geographic oddities that defy conventional wisdom

[dbz77]

Bristol VA is closer to several other other state capitals (Charleston WV, Nashville TN, Raleigh NC, Atlanta GA, Frankfort KY, Columbia SC) than it is its own capital of Richmond.

Have also heard this said about the three West Virginia eastern panhandle counties. Closer to Harrisburg, Trenton, Annapolis, Richmond and possibly Dover than to Charleston.

On this same vein, more than half of Massachusetts are closer to three other state capitals (Hartford, CT, Albany, NY, and Providence, RI, than they are to Boston.

A map that shows which capital is closest to a given location is called a Voronoi map. Here's one for the US.

Carson City is closer to Los Angeles than Sacramento is.

The shortest road route from Los Angeles to Carson City involves using Santa Ana Freeway (US 101) to Arroyo Seco Parkway (SR-110) to Golden State Freeway (I-5) to Glendale Freeway (SR-2) to Foothill Freeway (SR-2/I-210) to Angeles Crest Highway (SR-2) to Angeles Forest Highway to Sierra Highway to Antelope Valley Freeway (SR-14) to US 395.

[GenExpwy]

A map that shows which capital is closest to a given location is called a Voronoi map. Here's one for the US.

Bismarck is badly misplaced.

[CNGL-Leudimin]

Already noted three and a half years ago:

Is Bismarck supposed to be on the Canadian border?

This one is more political than geographical, but technically West Germany still exists today. Since it now includes the territory previously known as East Germany it no longer makes sense to know it as "West Germany", but rather as just "Germany".

[ipeters61]

A map that shows which capital is closest to a given location is called a Voronoi map. Here's one for the US.

This is really cool.  Delaware and Rhode Island are the only ones which have their capital covering the entire state.

Though I would make the point that Dover is pretty far (road miles-wise) from most places in far South Jersey (south of the Delaware Memorial Bridge).  I still remember when I called to pick up my Internet equipment and they said I could pick Camden DE (5 mile drive), New Castle DE (40 mile drive), or Bridgeton NJ (23 air miles, 77 mile drive).  Of course they said Bridgeton was closer than New Castle, and I was like....I'm not swimming with electronics.

[kevinb1994]

There is a 50.5% chance that at least one of the above apply.

I'd love me some ABQ (get it, 505)...

[US 89]

There is a 50.5% chance that at least one of the above apply.

I'd love me some ABQ (get it, 505)...

Fun fact: Albuquerque almost lost its 505 area code in a split where it would have moved to 575. That plan was opposed to the point where people were sending death threats to the public services commission. Eventually, regulators changed their minds, and 575 was given to the more rural parts of the state.

[kevinb1994]

There is a 50.5% chance that at least one of the above apply.

I'd love me some ABQ (get it, 505)...

Fun fact: Albuquerque almost lost its 505 area code in a split where it would have moved to 575. That plan was opposed to the point where people were sending death threats to the public services commission. Eventually, regulators changed their minds, and 575 was given to the more rural parts of the state.

I'm betting that Sammy Hagar wouldn't bother to drive I-575.

[ftballfan]

There is a 50.5% chance that at least one of the above apply.

I'd love me some ABQ (get it, 505)...

Fun fact: Albuquerque almost lost its 505 area code in a split where it would have moved to 575. That plan was opposed to the point where people were sending death threats to the public services commission. Eventually, regulators changed their minds, and 575 was given to the more rural parts of the state.

It's very unusual that Albuquerque would have changed area codes. Whenever area codes were split, usually the area with the most populated city/metro area kept the old code. For example, area code 616 has been split three times. Originally, 616 covered all of Michigan roughly west of a line from Cheboygan to Coldwater as well as the Upper Peninsula. The first area to be split off was the UP, which was given 906. The next two splits took place a couple of years apart, with all of 616 from Muskegon on north to the Mackinac Bridge went to 231 followed by Kalamazoo and Battle Creek et al going to 269. Nowadays, 616 covers Kent and Ottawa counties (the two largest counties in West Michigan) and parts of a couple of other counties (I think far northwest Kent County might be 231)

[mrsman]

There is a 50.5% chance that at least one of the above apply.

I'd love me some ABQ (get it, 505)...

Fun fact: Albuquerque almost lost its 505 area code in a split where it would have moved to 575. That plan was opposed to the point where people were sending death threats to the public services commission. Eventually, regulators changed their minds, and 575 was given to the more rural parts of the state.

It's very unusual that Albuquerque would have changed area codes. Whenever area codes were split, usually the area with the most populated city/metro area kept the old code. For example, area code 616 has been split three times. Originally, 616 covered all of Michigan roughly west of a line from Cheboygan to Coldwater as well as the Upper Peninsula. The first area to be split off was the UP, which was given 906. The next two splits took place a couple of years apart, with all of 616 from Muskegon on north to the Mackinac Bridge went to 231 followed by Kalamazoo and Battle Creek et al going to 269. Nowadays, 616 covers Kent and Ottawa counties (the two largest counties in West Michigan) and parts of a couple of other counties (I think far northwest Kent County might be 231)

Area code splits are disruptive.  In many areas, overlays are done instead.  True, it means that you now need 10 digit dialing instead of 7, but these days so many are using cell phones that 10 digit dialing is the norm.

[Alps]

There is a 50.5% chance that at least one of the above apply.

I'd love me some ABQ (get it, 505)...

Fun fact: Albuquerque almost lost its 505 area code in a split where it would have moved to 575. That plan was opposed to the point where people were sending death threats to the public services commission. Eventually, regulators changed their minds, and 575 was given to the more rural parts of the state.

It's very unusual that Albuquerque would have changed area codes. Whenever area codes were split, usually the area with the most populated city/metro area kept the old code. For example, area code 616 has been split three times. Originally, 616 covered all of Michigan roughly west of a line from Cheboygan to Coldwater as well as the Upper Peninsula. The first area to be split off was the UP, which was given 906. The next two splits took place a couple of years apart, with all of 616 from Muskegon on north to the Mackinac Bridge went to 231 followed by Kalamazoo and Battle Creek et al going to 269. Nowadays, 616 covers Kent and Ottawa counties (the two largest counties in West Michigan) and parts of a couple of other counties (I think far northwest Kent County might be 231)

Area code splits are disruptive.  In many areas, overlays are done instead.  True, it means that you now need 10 digit dialing instead of 7, but these days so many are using cell phones that 10 digit dialing is the norm.

I remember when we went from 201 to 973. There are still a few remnants of old menus and signs.

[KEVIN_224]

Hartford became (860) in the fall of 1995. It was optional for the first two months or so, then became mandatory. The old (203) area code now is most of New Haven and Fairfield Counties, with a couple of exceptions. I think Woodbury in Litchfield County is (203), for an example.

[jp the roadgeek]

Hartford became (860) in the fall of 1995. It was optional for the first two months or so, then became mandatory. The old (203) area code now is most of New Haven and Fairfield Counties, with a couple of exceptions. I think Woodbury in Litchfield County is (203), for an example.

The areas served by Woodbury Telco (Woodbury and I believe parts of Bethlehem and Roxbury) are 203.  I believe the town of Sherman is another exception: it's in Fairfield County but is part of 860.  Recently, both area codes have been overlaid; 203 with 475 and 860 with 959.

[bulldog1979]

In 1999 when they were preparing to split the 231 from the 616 area code, they were also splitting the one exchange in Big Rapids, MI. That split was to allow Ferris State to have its own exchange separate from part of the rest of town. At the time, the city had 592 and 796 exchanges, and FSU used a portion of 592.

Because both splits were being done at the same time with the same permissive dialing period, my dorm room had four possible numbers for a few months:
(616) 592-XXXX (original)
(213) 591-XXXX (new)
(616) 591-XXXX (new exchange, old area code)
(231) 592-XXXX (new area code, old exchange)

[dbz77]

Western Orange County, California has a 562 area code.

[hotdogPi]

I've never understood why western Massachusetts got 413. It's a low number (only six area codes could be dialed faster).

Numbers in parentheses are city rankings in the 1950 census.

Sum 5: NYC (1)
Sum 6: LA (4), Chicago (2)
Sum 7: DFW (Dallas 22), Detroit (5), Pittsburgh (12)
Sum 8: Philly (3), St. Louis (8), Western MA (Springfield 61), San Antonio (25)
Sum 9: Cleveland (7), central NY (Syracuse 47), Milwaukee (13), Cincinnati (18), Minneapolis (17)

Boston (617, not 413): 10th in population
Buffalo (716, not 315): 15th in population

[bing101]

https://www.sfgate.com/realestate/article/N3-Cattle-Company-ranch-larger-than-San-Francisco-14069717.php?fbclid=IwAR3gqKdpGQYsI1KQYjxSrXhqgIO-Lo47RGgaZsWqx6aMzKmLfnxAK0c0yYs

The N3 Cattle Company ranch has land that is bigger than San Francisco city proper.

[Roadgeekteen]

https://www.sfgate.com/realestate/article/N3-Cattle-Company-ranch-larger-than-San-Francisco-14069717.php?fbclid=IwAR3gqKdpGQYsI1KQYjxSrXhqgIO-Lo47RGgaZsWqx6aMzKmLfnxAK0c0yYs

The N3 Cattle Company ranch has land that is bigger than San Francisco city proper.

Not too surprising. San Francisco proper is small.

[dlsterner]

I've never understood why western Massachusetts got 413. It's a low number (only six area codes could be dialed faster).

Numbers in parentheses are city rankings in the 1950 census.

Sum 5: NYC (1)
Sum 6: LA (4), Chicago (2)
Sum 7: DFW (Dallas 22), Detroit (5), Pittsburgh (12)
Sum 8: Philly (3), St. Louis (8), Western MA (Springfield 61), San Antonio (25)
Sum 9: Cleveland (7), central NY (Syracuse 47), Milwaukee (13), Cincinnati (18), Minneapolis (17)

Boston (617, not 413): 10th in population
Buffalo (716, not 315): 15th in population

I think part of it might be that when area codes were initially allotted, states with a single area code tended to have a middle digit of "0" and states with multiple area codes tended to have a middle digit of "1".  ("2" thru "9" wouldn't be used until the 1980's or 1990's I believe).  So this would create a bias against smaller states, having a zero.  For example, Maryland initially only had "301" which is a long one to dial on a rotary phone (a "sum" of 14), in spite of a large city in Baltimore (which in the time frame used was about at its peak population).  Also same situation with Washington DC (202) with a "sum" of 14.

[Big John]

("2" thru "9" wouldn't be used until the 1980's or 1990's I believe).

Started with 630 in the mid 90s. "9" is reserved for future use and is not used as a middle digit.

[Rothman]

https://youtu.be/QWxsYqCAS-k

[Verlanka]

https://www.sfgate.com/realestate/article/N3-Cattle-Company-ranch-larger-than-San-Francisco-14069717.php?fbclid=IwAR3gqKdpGQYsI1KQYjxSrXhqgIO-Lo47RGgaZsWqx6aMzKmLfnxAK0c0yYs

The N3 Cattle Company ranch has land that is bigger than San Francisco city proper.

Not too surprising. San Francisco proper is small.

The SF metro area is huge, though.

[bing101]

[dvferyance]

One thing that some would find surprising is Puerto Vallarta Mexico is on the same time zone as Chicago. Being on the Pacific Coast one would think it would be in the same time zone as LA or at least Denver.

[CNGL-Leudimin]

For me it would be more surprising to find the Atlantic/Caribbean entrance of the Panama Canal is to the Northwest of the Pacific entrance. And it is.

[Rothman]

Helsinki, Finland is further north than Juneau, Alaska.