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National Boards => General Highway Talk => Topic started by: hbelkins on October 20, 2013, 03:47:37 PM

Title: Longest distance between county seats of adjoining counties?
Post by: hbelkins on October 20, 2013, 03:47:37 PM
It's nearly 50 miles from Pikeville, Ky. (county seat of Pike) to Grundy, Va. (county seat of Buchanan) via US 460, which links the two towns.

That got me to thinking, what's the longest distance between two counties seats of adjacent counties?

The counties must have a highway connection, which would rule out, say, Suffolk County, N.Y. and whatever Connecticut county/counties are across Long Island Sound, or any of the Wisconsin/Illinois and Michigan counties on the shore of Lake Michigan.

It's OK if the direct highway connection has to go through another county (or state), which would mean Ballard County, Ky. and Scott or Mississippi counties in Missouri would count even though you have to go through Illinois to get there.
Title: Re: Longest distance between county seats of adjoining counties?
Post by: pianocello on October 20, 2013, 03:50:47 PM
San Bernardino to Las Vegas is 220 miles via I-15 and I-215.
Title: Re: Longest distance between county seats of adjoining counties?
Post by: hotdogPi on October 20, 2013, 06:55:36 PM
Tonopah to Pioche NV is 217 miles via US 6, NV 375, and US 93.

It's not a straight line, but it's the most direct possible.

Staying on US 6 gets to Ely, which is only 168 miles, but it's direct (just on US 6), if that's what you wanted.
Title: Re: Longest distance between county seats of adjoining counties?
Post by: corco on October 20, 2013, 06:59:54 PM
It's 187 miles from Deer Lodge MT to Kalispell MT- I think that's the furthest in Montana.

Title: Re: Longest distance between county seats of adjoining counties?
Post by: Rick Powell on October 20, 2013, 07:25:11 PM
Boroughs of Alaska count as counties?  Although many are not accessible by connecting road, some are.
Title: Re: Longest distance between county seats of adjoining counties?
Post by: Kacie Jane on October 20, 2013, 08:28:49 PM
After trying a couple of pairs, my guess is that Bellingham and Okanogan (195 miles (http://goo.gl/maps/fRAQT)) is Washington's answer.  (Increases to 268 miles during the winter ;-))
Title: Re: Longest distance between county seats of adjoining counties?
Post by: empirestate on October 20, 2013, 08:51:27 PM
Quote from: hbelkins on October 20, 2013, 03:47:37 PM
The counties must have a highway connection, which would rule out, say, Suffolk County, N.Y. and whatever Connecticut county/counties are across Long Island Sound...

Well, Suffolk County would still be in the running for its connection to Nassau County; it's 54.7 miles from Riverhead to Mineola. That's got to be among the longest for urban counties in the Northeast.

But it's nowhere near the longest statewide...
Lake Pleasant (Hamilton Co.) to Malone (Franklin Co.): 130 miles.
Lake Pleasant to Canton (St. Lawrence Co.): 124 miles.

And certainly the longest in NY, Herkimer (Herkimer Co.) to Canton: 141 miles. Herkimer County has this huge panhandle (more like a chimney, really) that makes it very unwieldy in size and shape. (Side topic: counties with panhandles.)

Maine probably has some to rival these Adirondack areas. But of course, no eastern state will be able to come close to the distances out West...
Title: Re: Longest distance between county seats of adjoining counties?
Post by: hotdogPi on October 20, 2013, 09:01:04 PM
Both urban:

Manchester NH and Salem MA are 55.6 miles away taking the fastest roads and 50.4 miles taking the distance shortcut.

(Taking the further county seat from both.)
Title: Re: Longest distance between county seats of adjoining counties?
Post by: getemngo on October 20, 2013, 09:03:37 PM
Delaware's is Wilmington to Dover. :biggrin:

The farthest I found in Michigan is Menominee (Menominee County) to Marquette (Marquette County) - 120 miles via M-35 and U.S. 41, or if you want to stay on U.S. 41 the whole time, 130 miles. That's a weird one because the fastest drive involves traversing Delta County's entire north-south length, and going through Delta County's own seat, Escanaba! But Marquette and Menominee counties do indeed share 12 miles of border, and it's on land.

This exact situation presents itself elsewhere in Michigan too, like how Houghton (Houghton) to Crystal Falls (Iron) means going through L'Anse (Baraga) and Baraga County's entire "height."

Wonder if there's any where the fastest route involves going through 2 or 3 or more extra counties?
Title: Re: Longest distance between county seats of adjoining counties?
Post by: Eth on October 20, 2013, 09:11:47 PM
Georgia suffers from having a shitload of relatively small counties. The best I can come up with is LaFayette (Walker County) to Rome (Floyd County) at 42 miles along US 27 (passing through Chattooga County along the way). There might be something longer, but I don't see anything immediately jumping out at me.
Title: Re: Longest distance between county seats of adjoining counties?
Post by: hbelkins on October 20, 2013, 10:42:38 PM
Quote from: Kacie Jane on October 20, 2013, 08:28:49 PM
After trying a couple of pairs, my guess is that Bellingham and Okanogan (195 miles (http://goo.gl/maps/fRAQT)) is Washington's answer.  (Increases to 268 miles during the winter ;-))

Doesn't have to be in the same state.

Just for kicks, I ran Williamson, WV (Mingo) to Grundy, VA (Buchanan) and got 49.6 miles, using some county roads in Kentucky that no one in their right mind would use as a direct route. (A couple that are marked as state highways actually aren't). The best route, US 119 to US 460, is 71.1 miles. Forcing the route to follow US 52, WV 80 and WV 83 (and not going through Kentucky) gives 83.6 miles. There's no direct highway connection between Mingo and Buchanan, although they do border each other.
Title: Re: Longest distance between county seats of adjoining counties?
Post by: Molandfreak on October 20, 2013, 11:07:21 PM
Duluth (St. Louis county) to International Falls (Koochiching county) is by far Minnesota's longest at 162 miles, direct on U.S. 53.
Title: Re: Longest distance between county seats of adjoining counties?
Post by: oscar on October 21, 2013, 12:13:11 AM
Quote from: Rick Powell on October 20, 2013, 07:25:11 PM
Boroughs of Alaska count as counties?  Although many are not accessible by connecting road, some are.

Sure, why not?

And we have a possible winner there, Haines and Skagway (seats of their respective adjacent boroughs).  They are about 15 miles apart as the crow flies, and the Alaska Marine Highway auto ferry connection is only a little longer.  But the overland drive between the two is over 350 miles long, most of it in Canada, through both British Columbia province (twice) and Yukon territory.

I had to make that drive last summer, since there wasn't any ferry service on the days I needed it. 
Title: Re: Longest distance between county seats of adjoining counties?
Post by: SD Mapman on October 21, 2013, 12:36:20 AM
I think intra-SD's longest is Sturgis to Bison at 124 miles, and intra-WY is Buffalo to Douglas.

Please correct me if I'm wrong.
Title: Re: Longest distance between county seats of adjoining counties?
Post by: Molandfreak on October 21, 2013, 01:04:19 AM
Quote from: SD Mapman on October 21, 2013, 12:36:20 AM
I think intra-SD's longest is Sturgis to Bison at 124 miles, and intra-WY is Buffalo to Douglas.

Please correct me if I'm wrong.
Only if you don't count the technicality that Shannon County doesn't have a standalone county seat. Technically you could say that Kadoka to Hot Springs is intra-SD's longest distance between two adjacent county seats, at 148 miles.
Title: Re: Longest distance between county seats of adjoining counties?
Post by: Mapmikey on October 21, 2013, 06:31:08 AM
Key West FL to Naples FL is roughly 245 miles...

Mapmikey
Title: Re: Longest distance between county seats of adjoining counties?
Post by: SD Mapman on October 21, 2013, 09:42:01 AM
Quote from: Molandfreak on October 21, 2013, 01:04:19 AM
Quote from: SD Mapman on October 21, 2013, 12:36:20 AM
I think intra-SD's longest is Sturgis to Bison at 124 miles, and intra-WY is Buffalo to Douglas.

Please correct me if I'm wrong.
Only if you don't count the technicality that Shannon County doesn't have a standalone county seat. Technically you could say that Kadoka to Hot Springs is intra-SD's longest distance between two adjacent county seats, at 148 miles.

True... but going off of that, Rapid City to Martin is 152 miles (on numbered highways).
Title: Re: Longest distance between county seats of adjoining counties?
Post by: Molandfreak on October 21, 2013, 09:58:17 AM
Quote from: SD Mapman on October 21, 2013, 09:42:01 AM
Quote from: Molandfreak on October 21, 2013, 01:04:19 AM
Quote from: SD Mapman on October 21, 2013, 12:36:20 AM
I think intra-SD's longest is Sturgis to Bison at 124 miles, and intra-WY is Buffalo to Douglas.

Please correct me if I'm wrong.
Only if you don't count the technicality that Shannon County doesn't have a standalone county seat. Technically you could say that Kadoka to Hot Springs is intra-SD's longest distance between two adjacent county seats, at 148 miles.

True... but going off of that, Rapid City to Martin is 152 miles (on numbered highways).
I only included Hot Springs because it is the de facto county seat of Shannon County. You could count whatever you want, though.
Title: Re: Longest distance between county seats of adjoining counties?
Post by: SD Mapman on October 21, 2013, 10:05:45 AM
Quote from: Molandfreak on October 21, 2013, 09:58:17 AM
Quote from: SD Mapman on October 21, 2013, 09:42:01 AM
Quote from: Molandfreak on October 21, 2013, 01:04:19 AM
Quote from: SD Mapman on October 21, 2013, 12:36:20 AM
I think intra-SD's longest is Sturgis to Bison at 124 miles, and intra-WY is Buffalo to Douglas.

Please correct me if I'm wrong.
Only if you don't count the technicality that Shannon County doesn't have a standalone county seat. Technically you could say that Kadoka to Hot Springs is intra-SD's longest distance between two adjacent county seats, at 148 miles.

True... but going off of that, Rapid City to Martin is 152 miles (on numbered highways).
I only included Hot Springs because it is the de facto county seat of Shannon County. You could count whatever you want, though.
Oh... I was using Shannon as a blank, but your idea makes more sense.
Title: Re: Longest distance between county seats of adjoining counties?
Post by: Kacie Jane on October 21, 2013, 12:10:50 PM
Quote from: hbelkins on October 20, 2013, 10:42:38 PM
Quote from: Kacie Jane on October 20, 2013, 08:28:49 PM
After trying a couple of pairs, my guess is that Bellingham and Okanogan (195 miles (http://goo.gl/maps/fRAQT)) is Washington's answer.  (Increases to 268 miles during the winter ;-))

Doesn't have to be in the same state.

True, but I doubt there are any interstate pairs involving Washington counties that would beat that either.
Title: Re: Longest distance between county seats of adjoining counties?
Post by: bassoon1986 on October 21, 2013, 02:22:52 PM
In Louisiana I was surprised that the top 10 I found had numbers this high:

Cameron (Cameron) to Abbeville (Vermilion) is 92.5 miles
Edgard (St. John the Baptist) to Amite (Tangipahoa) is 78.4 miles
Plquemine (Iberville) to New Iberia (Iberia) is 77.4 miles
Vidalia (Concordia) to New Roads (Pointe Coupee) is 76.8 miles
Vidalia (Concordia) to Marksville (Avoyelles) is 76.2 miles
Cameron (Cameron) to Jennings (Jefferson Davis) is 72.3 miles
Plaquemine (Iberville) to St. Martinville (St. Martin ) is 67.6 miles
Arcadia (Bienville) to Natchitoches (Natchitoches) is 64.1 miles
St. Martinville (St. Martin) to New Roads (Pointe Coupee) is 63.9 miles
Arcadia (Bienville) to Benton (Bossier) is 60.7 miles


Haven't checked Louisiana to other states yet, but I'm sure some crossing the Mississippi River will possibly beat 92 trying to find a bridge between the two

Title: Re: Longest distance between county seats of adjoining counties?
Post by: JustDrive on October 21, 2013, 05:17:33 PM
I imagine Riverside, CA to Yuma also being up there.
Title: Re: Longest distance between county seats of adjoining counties?
Post by: pianocello on October 21, 2013, 06:21:01 PM
Looks like I spoke too soon about San Bernardino-Las Vegas. Turns out that it's even longer (275 miles) between San Bernardino and Kingman, AZ.
Title: Re: Longest distance between county seats of adjoining counties?
Post by: Alps on October 21, 2013, 09:16:02 PM
NJ: Mays Landing to Toms River 52.6mi - Mays Landing I think holds the top three farthest distances from other seats.
Title: Re: Longest distance between county seats of adjoining counties?
Post by: cpzilliacus on October 21, 2013, 09:22:30 PM
Intra-Maryland is probably Cumberland (Allegany County) to Hagerstown (Washington County) via I-68 and I-70, at about 67 miles.

Possible candidate for a winner in Virginia might be Eastville (Northampton County) to the courthouse of the City of Virginia Beach via U.S. 13, the CBBT, Independence Boulevard, and Princess Anne Road at almost 50 miles.  I would think it would be a national champion in terms of the toll due for a one-way trip.
Title: Re: Longest distance between county seats of adjoining counties?
Post by: corco on October 21, 2013, 09:28:05 PM
Quote from: SD Mapman on October 21, 2013, 12:36:20 AM
I think intra-SD's longest is Sturgis to Bison at 124 miles, and intra-WY is Buffalo to Douglas.

Please correct me if I'm wrong.
I see your Buffalo to Douglas (161)  and raise you a Jackson to Cody (177)
Title: Re: Longest distance between county seats of adjoining counties?
Post by: Bigmikelakers on October 21, 2013, 11:20:34 PM
Quote from: JustDrive on October 21, 2013, 05:17:33 PM
I imagine Riverside, CA to Yuma also being up there.

Riverside County used to border Yuma County until 1983 when Northern Yuma County became La Paz County. The distance between Riverside and Parker (La Paz County Seat) is about 210 miles.
Title: Re: Longest distance between county seats of adjoining counties?
Post by: SD Mapman on October 21, 2013, 11:22:10 PM
Quote from: corco on October 21, 2013, 09:28:05 PM
Quote from: SD Mapman on October 21, 2013, 12:36:20 AM
I think intra-SD's longest is Sturgis to Bison at 124 miles, and intra-WY is Buffalo to Douglas.

Please correct me if I'm wrong.
I see your Buffalo to Douglas (161)  and raise you a Jackson to Cody (177)
Blasted mountains! Going out of state, Cody to Bozeman is 206 miles.
Title: Re: Longest distance between county seats of adjoining counties?
Post by: Occidental Tourist on October 22, 2013, 03:14:19 PM
Quote from: pianocello on October 20, 2013, 03:50:47 PM
San Bernardino to Las Vegas is 220 miles via I-15 and I-215.

San Bernardino to Kingman (Mohave County) is 275 miles.
Title: Re: Longest distance between county seats of adjoining counties?
Post by: oscar on November 06, 2013, 01:44:47 PM
For an extreme example in Canada, in the Northwest Territories the seats of the adjacent Inuvik and Sahtu regions (Inuvik and Norman Wells respectively) are about 280 miles apart as the crow flies, but the driving distance is over 1950 miles.  That trip requires going through the Yukon and northern British Columbia, before reentering NWT in the Dehcho region and then north into Sahtu.  The drive can currently be done only in the winter, since there's only a winter road between Wrigley and Norman Wells (there's not even a winter road between Norman Wells and Inuvik).  However, the first phases of the Mackenzie Highway extension will convert that road into an all-season highway, making the 1950+ mile drive possible in all seasons (except when four ferry/ice bridge crossings are closed around the beginning and end of winter).  A later phase of the extension will provide a direct road link between Norman Wells and Inuvik.
Title: Re: Longest distance between county seats of adjoining counties?
Post by: CentralCAroadgeek on November 06, 2013, 10:37:50 PM
The county seat of Monterey County (here in Salinas) is 126 miles to the county seat of San Luis Obispo County (in SLO), according to Google Maps.
Title: Re: Longest distance between county seats of adjoining counties?
Post by: jp the roadgeek on November 07, 2013, 01:46:31 AM
Presque Isle (Aroostock) and Skowhegan (Somerset) Maine are about 212 miles apart.
Title: Re: Longest distance between county seats of adjoining counties?
Post by: JMoses24 on November 12, 2013, 02:33:41 AM
By comparison, mine seems rather tame...

Brooksville, KY in Bracken County to Georgetown, OH in Brown County: http://goo.gl/maps/wFlJQ

I used the County Clerk office for each under the presumption it'd be in or near the center of the city. So, I come out with 37.2 miles, or 38 miles if one follows a few county roads in Brown County. The catch: The goog doesn't allow you to take the Augusta, KY ferry close to the midpoint of the trip. I tried, but google forced me east along KY 8 to cross closer to Maysville.
Title: Re: Longest distance between county seats of adjoining counties?
Post by: NWI_Irish96 on November 12, 2013, 08:21:53 AM
Longest I could get within Indiana was 45 miles between Brazil and Sullivan.  If we want to go the other way, the shortest is 6 miles between Jeffersonville and New Albany.
Title: Re: Longest distance between county seats of adjoining counties?
Post by: Chris737 on November 18, 2013, 08:49:36 PM
Found a few longer than those that involve San Bernardino County:


St John's (Apache), AZ, to Monticello (San Juan), UT:  275 mi

Grangeville (Idaho), ID, to Salmon (Lemhi), ID: 287 mi

Panguitch (Garfield), UT, to Monticello (San Juan), UT:  300 mi

Kingman (Mohave), AZ, to Kanab (Kane), UT:  302 mi

Reno (Washoe), NV, to Burns (Harney), OR: 364 mi
Title: Re: Longest distance between county seats of adjoining counties?
Post by: tdindy88 on November 18, 2013, 09:19:18 PM
Quote from: cabiness42 on November 12, 2013, 08:21:53 AM
Longest I could get within Indiana was 45 miles between Brazil and Sullivan.  If we want to go the other way, the shortest is 6 miles between Jeffersonville and New Albany.

There's at least one longer, Kentland to Crown Point: 51 miles. Concerning shortest distances I suppose Jeffersonville to Louisville is the shortest distance (when it's between an Indiana county and an adjacent out-of-state county.)