On our trip to the Northwest last week, I've noticed several different types of county line signs. I've always thought that it was all like this (at least in California):
Monterey
COUNTY LINE
I've noticed all mixed-case:
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ffarm9.staticflickr.com%2F8167%2F7634662306_8feb78466c_c.jpg&hash=6771947c5164033cd8c01ba6b6691cc6ff1b5b8f)
The "normal" style with "Where We Honor Veterans":
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ffarm9.staticflickr.com%2F8012%2F7634674856_264d0926f6_c.jpg&hash=2d02116aaf6a62b210c65316e00d8b01ca6decf3)
I've only noticed these variations in Northern California, whereas in Southern and Central California, I've only noticed one single type.
___________________
I'm guessing this is the normal county line sign elsewhere in the country:
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ffarm9.staticflickr.com%2F8427%2F7674324662_787b5b4c74_c.jpg&hash=5eea301a2fe42617002d5cc2a5227ae864ff61a3)
And one with "Where We Honor Veterans":
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ffarm8.staticflickr.com%2F7265%2F7674333458_e10a121112_c.jpg&hash=401efe7c83b554d0fb40ef16994db5304277136a)
What are other variations on the county line sign in the US?
Jackson Co, Alabama on OLD US 72 at Tennessee State Line
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1209.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fcc395%2FBrian5561%2FTNTrip2012SLR093.jpg&hash=743659d7bdac5fbee78f68ac529bc288a94cf3ce)
These one-liners are common in Tennessee:
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=marion+county,tn&hl=en&ll=34.986831,-85.468826&spn=0.093666,0.2005&sll=35.474092,-86.143799&sspn=2.979194,6.416016&hnear=Marion,+Tennessee&t=m&z=13&layer=c&cbll=34.986939,-85.468854&panoid=0huTcVCPaTja6xjC6QgStQ&cbp=12,314.68,,0,0 (http://maps.google.com/maps?q=marion+county,tn&hl=en&ll=34.986831,-85.468826&spn=0.093666,0.2005&sll=35.474092,-86.143799&sspn=2.979194,6.416016&hnear=Marion,+Tennessee&t=m&z=13&layer=c&cbll=34.986939,-85.468854&panoid=0huTcVCPaTja6xjC6QgStQ&cbp=12,314.68,,0,0)
In Oklahoma, the standard type on freeways is:
McClain
County
But on surface roads, it's just a one-line "GRADY CO."
Then there's this:
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7c/US_69_Craig_Co.jpg/800px-US_69_Craig_Co.jpg)
Texas county line signs have changed. Here is an old sign:
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ffarm4.staticflickr.com%2F3058%2F2763751066_ca0a22ca6e_m.jpg&hash=50817f9c32ac4a61917f716610ffb52851ec84c9)
Here is a new sign:
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ffarm5.static.flickr.com%2F4096%2F4737964148_7e16961a19.jpg&hash=8a029a4db9b87170a9c9ad67d392efa59cf17168)
Quote from: Scott5114 on July 30, 2012, 01:24:41 AM
In Oklahoma, the standard type on freeways is:
McClain
County
But on surface roads, it's just a one-line "GRADY CO."
Then there's this:
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7c/US_69_Craig_Co.jpg/800px-US_69_Craig_Co.jpg)
Ah, the world-famous Frankensign!
I don't have a picture handy, but here you see a lot of
ENTER
FRANKLIN CO
LEAVE
MADISON CO
Quote from: 6a on July 30, 2012, 04:42:42 AM
I don't have a picture handy, but here you see a lot of
ENTER
FRANKLIN CO
LEAVE
MADISON CO
You're not the boss of me!
Quote from: 6a on July 30, 2012, 04:42:42 AM
I don't have a picture handy, but here you see a lot of
ENTER
FRANKLIN CO
LEAVE
MADISON CO
That style has long been the norm in Virginia as well. Here's a Street View image of one I passed on Saturday (although the word "Enter" is obscured by a tree branch). (http://goo.gl/maps/c1mqV)
Various other styles appear occasionally; this one on eastbound I-66 is perhaps the most unusual I can recall (http://goo.gl/maps/LSYmL).
Quote from: Scott5114 on July 30, 2012, 01:24:41 AM
In Oklahoma, the standard type on freeways is:
McClain
County
But on surface roads, it's just a one-line "GRADY CO."
Then there's this:
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7c/US_69_Craig_Co.jpg/800px-US_69_Craig_Co.jpg)
NY uses signs in that style, but without the font mess.
Here's one from PA, I-70 East back in 2003.
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.teresco.org%2Fpics%2Fsigns%2F20030604%2Fwashco.jpg&hash=82b0ee41083078c5fe6e4dd5dd1434a1506e9eb0)
Still in PA in 2003, this one with a URL for the county.
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.teresco.org%2Fpics%2Fsigns%2F20030602%2Fsusquehanna.jpg&hash=b7a101bfb057e2bb7c39e7943c93f4ea60511243)
North Carolina sometimes gets a little fancier:
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.teresco.org%2Fpics%2Fsigns%2F20080620%2Fperson.jpg&hash=e818af0ad26c0e15b0b52efaec55dbcffd1f8215)
My experience in Massachusetts is that county lines are rarely signed. But once in a while, the county gets mentioned on the standard town/city signs:
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.teresco.org%2Fpics%2Fsigns%2F20091026%2Fhatfield-close.jpg&hash=d5bce7db76bb8b82d3c6c18d707eaa70280626ae)
For conventional roads in Michigan, the style has typically been "ENTER [[WHATEVER]] COUNTY," but as those have been replaced, they've more closely matched what are on freeways, which is styled "[[WHATEVER]] County" (they follow the standard mixed-case rules).
I thought I had a better version, but maybe it's in the 2014 queue. The Garden State Parkway puts the county name inside a pentagon.
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.alpsroads.net%2Froads%2Fnj%2Fgsp%2Fsnj.jpg&hash=b38bc0c5b6cf330a2a657f5b7a3e42db087bf5b9)
New Hampshire's is pretty cool. It's written vertically on a thin sign right next to the name of the town you're entering as well, which is also vertical. Since I don't have a photo offhand, here's one courtesy of Steve:
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.alpsroads.net%2Froads%2Fnh%2Fus_3%2Fncl.jpg&hash=9cd238c9b89b4534db0ee2153703b8c2511f66d3)
The county signs that PennDOT posts on the more minor non-freeway roads look almost identical to the Washington COUNTY sign that Jim posted a photo of, except the sign is a much smaller rectangle, and the county name is also all upper-case. Here's an older, much crappier photo of mine of the ones I speak of:
(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-lO-P8vlRdco/S48SxcdmuII/AAAAAAAAVcs/LaCktYvXyIE/s735/IMG_1523.JPG)
Maryland's is decent. They like to use the Welcome to [county name] County (or in this case, "Co) with what I think may be the given county's seal on the top left:
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ffarm8.staticflickr.com%2F7219%2F7157697127_a3b82158e4_z.jpg&hash=a42de6e419a087447966ff3d62efa1fec499f2b1)
Quote from: Road Hog on July 30, 2012, 04:14:19 AM
Here is a new [Texas] sign:
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ffarm5.static.flickr.com%2F4096%2F4737964148_7e16961a19.jpg&hash=8a029a4db9b87170a9c9ad67d392efa59cf17168)
Nevada uses county line signs similar in design to this. The county name is a bit smaller and we do it without the Clearview.
Quote from: Jim on July 30, 2012, 09:56:14 AM
My experience in Massachusetts is that county lines are rarely signed. But once in a while, the county gets mentioned on the standard town/city signs:
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.teresco.org%2Fpics%2Fsigns%2F20091026%2Fhatfield-close.jpg&hash=d5bce7db76bb8b82d3c6c18d707eaa70280626ae)
If I'm not mistaken, that happens at county lines...so, in other words your photo is an example of Massachusetts county line signage.
Or have you seen the county mentioned internally?
Quote from: Road Hog on July 30, 2012, 04:14:19 AM
Texas county line signs have changed. Here is an old sign:
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ffarm4.staticflickr.com%2F3058%2F2763751066_ca0a22ca6e_m.jpg&hash=50817f9c32ac4a61917f716610ffb52851ec84c9)
Here is a new sign:
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ffarm5.static.flickr.com%2F4096%2F4737964148_7e16961a19.jpg&hash=8a029a4db9b87170a9c9ad67d392efa59cf17168)
Prior to the "old" green county line signs, TX had a sort of "obelisk" pole that was 3-sided, 1 side faced 1 county, 1 side faced the other county, the remaining side faced away from the road. The printing in all-caps started from the top and came down, printed vertically, black-on-white. The height of the poles depended on how long the county name was. Most of the time, the poles were on the south side of the road if it was an east-west road, and on the west side if the road was north-south. I'm not sure about a timeline, but I think the poles were used until sometime after the introduction in TX in the mid-1970s of the white-on-green guide signage. A later version that didn't last nearly as long as the poles, was a modified flat version. Here's one I actually found:
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ffarm3.staticflickr.com%2F2717%2F4187795037_c07828a6e4.jpg&hash=fe0feea18544925d8fffb3b75cc8a45dcd765958)
It's REALLY beat up, and I'm amazed I actually found one online, because it's been *years* since they were regularly used. Anyway, as you can see from the pic, instead of an obelisk/pole arrangement, it's done as if the old style were unpeeled or unwrapped and flattened. The middle line supposedly was the county line, while each county's name was on each side of the line. The sign was oriented sideways, so when you drove by you would have to look beside you, not ahead of you as you passed the line. I'm not sure how reflective the original poles or the later flat versions were, but I would think the modern day initial ones and current ones are infinitely better to see at night.
I do not believe I've ever spotted such a post in Texas. I will keep my eyes peeled! I feel like those are more for maintenance purposes than the general public, and that is why they are positioned so seemingly inconveniently - therefore, there is a good chance they will survive a bit longer than public-consumption signage.
Maine has something similar as well, with the county being entered and being departed lined up vertically, parallel. but their signs are oriented towards the driver, with "ENTER" and "LEAVE" placed as needed above the county names. furthermore, the signs come in pairs - one in each direction.
Quote from: empirestate on July 31, 2012, 09:36:46 AM
Quote from: Jim on July 30, 2012, 09:56:14 AM
My experience in Massachusetts is that county lines are rarely signed. But once in a while, the county gets mentioned on the standard town/city signs:
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.teresco.org%2Fpics%2Fsigns%2F20091026%2Fhatfield-close.jpg&hash=d5bce7db76bb8b82d3c6c18d707eaa70280626ae)
If I'm not mistaken, that happens at county lines...so, in other words your photo is an example of Massachusetts county line signage.
Or have you seen the county mentioned internally?
I have never seen a county on one of these mentioned internally. I am not sure how common they are at county lines, either. Of my about 175 pictures of these "Entering" signs (found on non-freeway state and US highways at every city/town border, for those who don't know), I can find exactly 2 that show a county name. Here's the other:
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.teresco.org%2Fpics%2Fsigns%2F20090912%2Fsouthwick.jpg&hash=42193f44706b20bc4ea7c2b82e071abb5a09e89c)
This one is also a state line, taken on US 202 North.
It's likely there are more of these at county lines that do list the county, but I think I can say that there are many such signs at county lines that do not make mention.
Entrances to Berkshire County have had signs like this:
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.teresco.org%2Fpics%2Fsigns%2F20020203%2Fberkshires-close.jpg&hash=8169dceac0f8935e96db76309a3aaf51841f2b2e)
This one was entering Savoy westbound on Massachusetts 2.
However, the last time I entered Berkshire County on something other than the Mass Pike, Route 2 East into Williamstown, I noticed a new design for this. I didn't have a chance to get a picture. The ones like the example above were in place through much of the 200x's at least.
Quote from: txstateends on July 31, 2012, 11:36:37 AM
Quote from: Road Hog on July 30, 2012, 04:14:19 AM
Texas county line signs have changed. Here is an old sign:
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ffarm4.staticflickr.com%2F3058%2F2763751066_ca0a22ca6e_m.jpg&hash=50817f9c32ac4a61917f716610ffb52851ec84c9)
Here is a new sign:
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ffarm5.static.flickr.com%2F4096%2F4737964148_7e16961a19.jpg&hash=8a029a4db9b87170a9c9ad67d392efa59cf17168)
Prior to the "old" green county line signs, TX had a sort of "obelisk" pole that was 3-sided, 1 side faced 1 county, 1 side faced the other county, the remaining side faced away from the road. The printing in all-caps started from the top and came down, printed vertically, black-on-white. The height of the poles depended on how long the county name was. Most of the time, the poles were on the south side of the road if it was an east-west road, and on the west side if the road was north-south. I'm not sure about a timeline, but I think the poles were used until sometime after the introduction in TX in the mid-1970s of the white-on-green guide signage. A later version that didn't last nearly as long as the poles, was a modified flat version. Here's one I actually found:
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ffarm3.staticflickr.com%2F2717%2F4187795037_c07828a6e4.jpg&hash=fe0feea18544925d8fffb3b75cc8a45dcd765958)
It's REALLY beat up, and I'm amazed I actually found one online, because it's been *years* since they were regularly used. Anyway, as you can see from the pic, instead of an obelisk/pole arrangement, it's done as if the old style were unpeeled or unwrapped and flattened. The middle line supposedly was the county line, while each county's name was on each side of the line. The sign was oriented sideways, so when you drove by you would have to look beside you, not ahead of you as you passed the line. I'm not sure how reflective the original poles or the later flat versions were, but I would think the modern day initial ones and current ones are infinitely better to see at night.
There was a sign like that on the Grayson-Collin county line on SH 289 until a few years ago when some utility work was done and the sign was removed. It was on the edge of the ROW and faced the highway at a perpendicular angle. I never knew that was the original standard.
Quote from: agentsteel53 on July 31, 2012, 12:30:06 PM
Maine has something similar as well, with the county being entered and being departed lined up vertically, parallel. but their signs are oriented towards the driver, with "ENTER" and "LEAVE" placed as needed above the county names. furthermore, the signs come in pairs - one in each direction.
I don't think I've ever seen such a sign in Maine. There are several places where these signs exist...
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ffarm6.staticflickr.com%2F5321%2F7376253614_33bb041934_z.jpg&hash=123370af1f9fb190a09bf8e040f5614d0708ccc3)
I might be confusing it with New Hampshire, but I feel like there are some on ME-11 and US-302.
Quote from: Jim on July 30, 2012, 09:49:58 AM
Here's one from PA, I-70 East back in 2003.
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.teresco.org%2Fpics%2Fsigns%2F20030604%2Fwashco.jpg&hash=82b0ee41083078c5fe6e4dd5dd1434a1506e9eb0)
That Washington County sign is correct, at least lettering-wise. County is NOT part of the place name. Of course, you all were the ones who told me about that when I posted about City Limit.
Here's a rare county line sign on an Oklahoma turnpike. OTA likes to sign the borders of Indian reservations but they rarely sign county lines.
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ffarm5.staticflickr.com%2F4012%2F4686636171_8fd4a01891_z.jpg&hash=8c48f36078ac9e400b306ae1748bab7ce9c21841)
T
Quote from: Steve on July 30, 2012, 09:28:02 PM
I thought I had a better version, but maybe it's in the 2014 queue. The Garden State Parkway puts the county name inside a pentagon.
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.alpsroads.net%2Froads%2Fnj%2Fgsp%2Fsnj.jpg&hash=b38bc0c5b6cf330a2a657f5b7a3e42db087bf5b9)
Another one from the GSP, with a municipal border signed: http://goo.gl/maps/eJN7
NJDOT doesn't post county line signs on their roads, just municipal borders.
New York goes the simple route.
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fupload.wikimedia.org%2Fwikipedia%2Fcommons%2Fthumb%2Ff%2Ff6%2FNY304SouthernBegin.jpg%2F800px-NY304SouthernBegin.jpg&hash=f79befc4179b29600b599fd2aa3fbc0fb2428718)
Also, NC doesn't always use fancy signs. These varients pop up from time to time
Tiny Enter/Leave: http://goo.gl/maps/or3Vo
County Name + River: http://goo.gl/maps/yHHr
Just the county name: http://goo.gl/maps/rxF4J
In addition to the standard Virginia fare, Richmond uses a few white obelisks with the city name at its city limits on some main routes. This is on VA 5. The obelisk is on the left. On divided routes with it (US 1/301, VA 147) it's in the median.
(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Y_bjFnuHnW0/UBg3MAYVN9I/AAAAAAAAD-A/qvs0SmNdvKY/s816/DSC01789.JPG)
Quote from: Special K on July 30, 2012, 07:38:37 AM
Quote from: 6a on July 30, 2012, 04:42:42 AM
I don't have a picture handy, but here you see a lot of
ENTER
FRANKLIN CO
LEAVE
MADISON CO
You're not the boss of me!
Ha, it would be funny to see
ENTER
FRANKLIN CO
(bitches vacate...)
MADISON CO
Quote from: 6a on July 31, 2012, 06:06:43 PM
Quote from: Special K on July 30, 2012, 07:38:37 AM
Quote from: 6a on July 30, 2012, 04:42:42 AM
I don't have a picture handy, but here you see a lot of
ENTER
FRANKLIN CO
LEAVE
MADISON CO
You're not the boss of me!
Ha, it would be funny to see
ENTER
FRANKLIN CO
(bitches vacate...)
MADISON CO
okay, someone want to explain the reference? :confused:
Since it hasn't been brought up yet:
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.alpsroads.net%2Froads%2Fnj%2Fus_22%2Fsu.jpg&hash=55e039120d547427b7137499d77831375fc24e3f)
Quote from: Jim on July 31, 2012, 01:16:34 PM
I have never seen a county on one of these mentioned internally. I am not sure how common they are at county lines, either. Of my about 175 pictures of these "Entering" signs (found on non-freeway state and US highways at every city/town border, for those who don't know), I can find exactly 2 that show a county name. Here's the other:
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.teresco.org%2Fpics%2Fsigns%2F20090912%2Fsouthwick.jpg&hash=42193f44706b20bc4ea7c2b82e071abb5a09e89c)
This one is also a state line, taken on US 202 North.
It's likely there are more of these at county lines that do list the county, but I think I can say that there are many such signs at county lines that do not make mention.
That would be my expectation as well: county mentioned only at county lines (and seldom those), but never at a town line that isn't also a county line, since the only lists the things you're "entering".
On a fun side note, there's a cute song by John Forster that has to do with those signs and the various Mass. towns that have women's names (and men's): http://www.johnforster.com/?section=music-group-4/
Here is Wisconsin's standard county sign layout:
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fv704%2Fpackerfan386%2Fc752e085.png&hash=ba2ed9c4fadae59bf311206e711f7ee2c952c235)
To expand on NE2's wisdom, I live in Whatcom County. I do not live in Bellingham City Limit, or even Bellingham City (but maybe the City of Bellingham). "County" certainly is part of the place name.
Following the MUTCD to the letter should probably yield "ENTERING Whatcom County" or "Whatcom COUNTY LINE". Personally I can't remember having ever seen a case like the Washington/Donegal one (without either "entering" or "line") in person, but I'm probably mistaken. But "Washington County" and "Donegal Township" as written are both place names, and should probably be capitalized as such.
Both my most recent two states of residence, Minnesota and Colorado, use "Washington County" (to use a name common to both) as their standard county line sign. Colorado tends to favor all upper case, Minnesota mixed case. New Mexico uses "Bernalillo / COUNTY LINE" as its standard. I recall very small font size signs in Arizona like "ENTER APACHE COUNTY / LEAVE NAVAJO COUNTY" on state highways as the standard, but signage along the interstates I believe is simply "Navajo County".
How is county not part of the location name? Explanation, please.
Quote from: adt1982 on August 01, 2012, 12:30:43 AM
How is county not part of the location name? Explanation, please.
I'm not following it either, but I believe it's in the same sense as "Street" not being part of the proper name of "Main Street", for example. The name is "Main", and "Street" is just a modifier. So similarly, in "Washington County", "Washington" is the name, and "County" is the modifier; i.e., the part that isn't unique to the specific feature, even though it's properly capitalized as part of the whole construction. Another example might be "Doctor Johnson", where "Doctor" isn't part of the person's name, but is still capitalized.
Pertaining to signs, then, as in the Pennsylvania example, you have the proper name set of by mixed-case, or in older instances, larger caps, while the modifier is smaller and in all caps. This follows standard boundary signage for PENNDOT, which features standard modifiers of "COUNTY", "TOWNSHIP", "CITY OF", "BOROUGH OF" and "VILLAGE OF".
I think that's the discussion, although I might just be equally confused.
I think the issue is that on a separate thread, people devoted a lot of time convincing mjb that the words "city limit" are not part of the place name. Now he's confused, thinking "County" is not part of the place name -- when it is, although "county line" is not.
Regarding what you just posted, empirestate, it's been a while since I took a linguistics class, but the way I interpret the definitions of the applicable terms, I think you're actually backwards. "Main Street" is the proper name (both words are part of the proper name). Street is the noun, and Main is the modifier. (Likewise, I would say that in the context of a sentence, "Doctor Johnson" is in fact the person's name -- both words equally -- but in that case, I'm not sure how/if you would distinguish noun or modifier.
Quote from: Kacie Jane on August 01, 2012, 01:17:44 AM
Regarding what you just posted, empirestate, it's been a while since I took a linguistics class, but the way I interpret the definitions of the applicable terms, I think you're actually backwards. "Main Street" is the proper name (both words are part of the proper name). Street is the noun, and Main is the modifier. (Likewise, I would say that in the context of a sentence, "Doctor Johnson" is in fact the person's name -- both words equally -- but in that case, I'm not sure how/if you would distinguish noun or modifier.
I think it's slightly different than that (although I also am years removed from school). "Main Street" is, technically, a two-word proper noun, but neither word modifies the other. [The] "main street" (non-capitalized) is the situation where "main" is the modifier and "street" the noun. In a different setup, "Elm Avenue [proper noun] is the main street [modifier and noun]." We drop the suffix "Street," "Avenue" etc. for convenience, the same way we don't use both first and last names of people in informal conversation. Some communities (Irvine, CA for example) has actually formally named many of its streets without suffixes (which I don't care for).
It is the same with an honorific ("Doctor", etc.); to be very precise, we all have prefixes (at the least, Mr. and Miss or Ms.); most of the time we choose not to use them. "Mr. John Smith" is one three-word proper noun. We pick which parts to use depending on context and formality.
Going back to the topic, I believe that for most if not all counties (and cities), the legal and formal name is "County of [Name]." I'm not sure how that got turned around so the informal usage is "[Name] County" as opposed to Ireland which goes by "County [Name]."
I recall hearing a rationale explaining that Kacie Jane has it right, but the funny thing is that where I had this explained to me was in Montreal. In French-speaking areas the "street type" always comes first: boulevard Rene-Levesque, chemin du Village, rue Sherbrooke, avenue du President-Kennedy. The reason it's that way is that in French the common noun normally comes first and the adjective comes second–for example, we say "red wine" but they say "le vin rouge" (there are exceptions to this general principle). Thus, the one particular street is designated a "road" and then the adjective coming afterward tells you
which road (Sherbrooke), with the "generic" or "common noun" status underscored by the fact that they don't normally capitalize the type of road if another word comes before it.
Of course, the rules of French grammar don't necessarily automatically follow into English, but I find the explanation to be quite logical. Obviously it's not unprecedented for English-speaking areas to put the street type first–consider all the lettered avenues in Brooklyn, for example (such as Avenue X).
The one that threw me for a loop when I heard it is Avenue Road in Toronto–I wondered whether it is an avenue named Road or a road named Avenue (apparently the latter is correct).
Anyway, returning to the topic:
Quote(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.teresco.org%2Fpics%2Fsigns%2F20090912%2Fsouthwick.jpg&hash=42193f44706b20bc4ea7c2b82e071abb5a09e89c)
I've seen the independent cities in Virginia use these sorts of signs both on entry and exit, although often they're used as adjuncts to the "official" boring green VDOT-issued "Enter/Leave" signs.
Oddly, here in Fairfax County at least one of the county's administrative districts posts some fancy signs of that sort when you enter and leave the district. The Bing Maps "Streetside" view is a lot clearer than the Google Street View image. (http://www.bing.com/maps/?v=2&cp=qfybx88k4rpv&lvl=19.6&dir=354.85&sty=x~lat~38.789091~lon~-77.13658~alt~36.23~z~30~h~-24.8~p~1.7~pid~5082&app=5082&FORM=LMLTCC) I pass this one almost every day. It has the Fairfax County seal on both sides and it tells you you're entering or leaving Lee District (the side shown here says "Drive Safely" and the other side says "Lee District Welcomes You"). I've never seen that level of specificity anywhere else!
Quote from: PennDOTFan on July 30, 2012, 10:39:37 PM
Maryland's is decent. They like to use the Welcome to [county name] County (or in this case, "Co) with what I think may be the given county's seal on the top left:
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ffarm8.staticflickr.com%2F7219%2F7157697127_a3b82158e4_z.jpg&hash=a42de6e419a087447966ff3d62efa1fec499f2b1)
(https://www.aaroads.com/mid-atlantic/maryland095/i-095_sb_exit_089_11.jpg)
Generally the county seal is placed on county line signs in Maryland, with some exceptions such as this brand new install from June 2012...
The county line sign along US 1 northbound entering Cecil County is a new Clearview-based sign, and it does retain the county seal.
Quote from: DTComposer on August 01, 2012, 02:13:47 AM
Quote from: Kacie Jane on August 01, 2012, 01:17:44 AM
Regarding what you just posted, empirestate, it's been a while since I took a linguistics class, but the way I interpret the definitions of the applicable terms, I think you're actually backwards. "Main Street" is the proper name (both words are part of the proper name). Street is the noun, and Main is the modifier. (Likewise, I would say that in the context of a sentence, "Doctor Johnson" is in fact the person's name -- both words equally -- but in that case, I'm not sure how/if you would distinguish noun or modifier.
I think it's slightly different than that (although I also am years removed from school). "Main Street" is, technically, a two-word proper noun, but neither word modifies the other. [The] "main street" (non-capitalized) is the situation where "main" is the modifier and "street" the noun. In a different setup, "Elm Avenue [proper noun] is the main street [modifier and noun]." We drop the suffix "Street," "Avenue" etc. for convenience, the same way we don't use both first and last names of people in informal conversation. Some communities (Irvine, CA for example) has actually formally named many of its streets without suffixes (which I don't care for).
It is the same with an honorific ("Doctor", etc.); to be very precise, we all have prefixes (at the least, Mr. and Miss or Ms.); most of the time we choose not to use them. "Mr. John Smith" is one three-word proper noun. We pick which parts to use depending on context and formality.
Going back to the topic, I believe that for most if not all counties (and cities), the legal and formal name is "County of [Name]." I'm not sure how that got turned around so the informal usage is "[Name] County" as opposed to Ireland which goes by "County [Name]."
I think we're pretty much meaning the same thing, but I was speaking less in lingustic or semantic terms than in those of typographic convention. For example, posted street signs usually set off the "street", "avenue", "boulevard", etc. in a less prominent font and abbreviated, just as how written texts usually abbreviate "Dr." or "St."–but whether those terms function as part of a proper name as a multi-word unit, I'll buy arguments either way.
(A couple salient points, if you'll permit me the tangent: 1) you will see older texts that don't capitalize affixes like "street" and "road" as these terms seem to have undergone a transition from adjective-noun descriptive pairs to standalone Proper Nouns. 2) also compare "Doctor Johnson" with "the Reverend Smith". Although we do treat these as proper names, the existence of "the" along with "Reverend" suggests to me another bridge back to the days of functioning as adjective-noun pairs.)
At any rate, I'll similarly buy arguments on either side as to whether "County" or "Township" are components of proper nouns (and the wording of establishing legislation may introduce variables), but it's still pretty common typographical practice to set off the non-unique part of the name by abbreviation or or font size. It wouldn't be wrong to treat the words equally, but I also don't think it destroys any meaning by setting off the more generic part of the name.
I didn't see the other thread that introduced this question, so I'm not sure exactly what point I'm supposed to be proving, but it's an interesting exercise anyhow!
Florida's aren't much to write home about.
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.formulanone.org%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2012%2F08%2FBrowardSign.jpg&hash=db02e8e699c032a5ee8bdb9da3fe88d32157ad76)
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.formulanone.org%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2012%2F08%2FPalmBeachCountySign.jpg&hash=f53e40adb7dbf79c0fbeca65219eb2d8fdf3edc1)
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.formulanone.org%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2012%2F08%2FMiamiDadeSign.jpeg&hash=242987d9d8747f52ce68ffdd9ae9f5f8a33a1e18)
Connecticut never signs county lines but they habitually sign every municipal boundary.
There are three styles. The signs on the Merritt Parkway just say the name with no other text ("Norwalk"). The signs on any other freeway traditionally have listed the exits within the municipality as well as the name:
Darien
Exits 10-13
--------------
Town Line
Though newer ones sadly omit the exits - I believe this is for the sake of MUTCD conformance. And then you have the signs on non-freeways, which list the date of incorporation or settlement:
STAMFORD
SETTLED 1639
CITY LINE
County government was abolished in Connecticut in 1960. No need to sign something that no longer exists.
Quote from: NJRoadfan on July 31, 2012, 05:44:04 PM
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fupload.wikimedia.org%2Fwikipedia%2Fcommons%2Fthumb%2Ff%2Ff6%2FNY304SouthernBegin.jpg%2F800px-NY304SouthernBegin.jpg&hash=f79befc4179b29600b599fd2aa3fbc0fb2428718)
Georgia's are the same style as this, at least on surface roads. On freeways, the county name is a little larger and mixed-case.
This one is on the Denton/Grayson County line on US 377.
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1209.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fcc395%2FBrian5561%2F101109096.jpg&hash=f6c57ec0a54f3851b3037dd99aa98fffac704396)
Quote from: Brian556 on August 01, 2012, 11:14:46 PM
This one is on the Denton/Grayson County line on US 377.
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1209.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fcc395%2FBrian5561%2F101109096.jpg&hash=f6c57ec0a54f3851b3037dd99aa98fffac704396)
There's so much goodness with this picture. A pre-Clearview sign in the new style; a mile marker; and the old vertical county line marker. That's Pilot Point High School in the background.
This thread needs an Adirondack Park gold-on-brown county line sign. Route 30 North:
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.teresco.org%2Fpics%2Fsigns%2F20090425%2Fhamiltonbenson.jpg&hash=d090776ec8ac112f579e348ea5fb7938a24da17c)
Quote from: Scott5114 on July 30, 2012, 01:24:41 AM
In Oklahoma, the standard type on freeways is:
McClain
County
But on surface roads, it's just a one-line "GRADY CO."
Then there's this:
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7c/US_69_Craig_Co.jpg/800px-US_69_Craig_Co.jpg)
This picture cracks me up every time I see it. How on earth did this happen?
:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Quote from: formulanone on August 01, 2012, 01:57:50 PM
Florida's aren't much to write home about.
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.formulanone.org%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2012%2F08%2FBrowardSign.jpg&hash=db02e8e699c032a5ee8bdb9da3fe88d32157ad76)
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.formulanone.org%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2012%2F08%2FPalmBeachCountySign.jpg&hash=f53e40adb7dbf79c0fbeca65219eb2d8fdf3edc1)
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.formulanone.org%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2012%2F08%2FMiamiDadeSign.jpeg&hash=242987d9d8747f52ce68ffdd9ae9f5f8a33a1e18)
If they'd take the Entering off, I'd give it five more thumbs up.
Massachusetts expressway county line signage extends the green rectangular signage for town/city lines with a second portion below a white line. This example (http://goo.gl/maps/eSj4N), a little hard to see in street view, includes a third part for the river crossing on (gulp) route 128 (gasp!) entering Lynnfield:
ENTERING
LYNNFIELD
ESSEX
COUNTY
SAUGUS
RIVER
The white "book" paddle signs rule on non-expressway roads and occasionally appear on expressways but usually expressways have the green ones.
Ohio has signs like the Florida examples above for expressway/freeway routes, but usually with "County" in mixed-case, while surface routes have the "Enter XX County/Leave YY County" signage. Indiana has similar signage on surface roads and most dual carriageway routes like US 24, while freeway routes have green signs that read the name of the county, e.g. "Tippecanoe Co." on a green sign--no "entering" and no mention of the county you are leaving.
Until about ten years ago, all Iowa county line markers were the size of cardinal directional markers. A few are still standing:
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ffarm7.staticflickr.com%2F6089%2F6035948680_affcfba223.jpg&hash=2d71650ff554e00ee26a72601f51feb5056a2cd2)
Starting around 2002, larger county line markers began to appear. All county line signs on Interstate highways were changed to this style by mid-2005.
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ffarm6.staticflickr.com%2F5101%2F5830719716_a5e8c6fc35.jpg&hash=edee86abafe9e7a28757cd5d35c6249e527cd5e0)
Even newer markers (starting around 2006) are in mixed-case Clearview:
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ffarm3.staticflickr.com%2F2706%2F5830169919_8e220e1804.jpg&hash=5282aadbc8463d1be586a2b9e7f59d6ef443dd78)
In Kentucky it's simply a green sign like this:
PERRY
COUNTY
With the exception of Louisville/Jefferson County, where the sign says
WELCOME TO
LOUISVILLE
METRO
And let's all not forget this one, if Oscar will forgive me the direct link:
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.hawaiihighways.com%2Fkalawao-mule-trail-warning-closeup-large.jpg&hash=9f45f99e75e59bf99943a9f05846128e4cc601bb)
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ffarm4.static.flickr.com%2F3293%2F2831641209_c7e29e4f66.jpg&hash=4788d06157553400b25fa210946dd3e2cf074e16)
A Marion County, Oregon sign, on a county road.
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fmedia.oregonlive.com%2Fpacific-northwest-news%2Fphoto%2Ftsunamijpg-0168170d5074aa36_large.jpg&hash=2f15d390d74bb4ea1c5ad3886c9892ddae7052b7)
A Tillamook County sign on a state highway.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/auvet/6042706639/ (http://www.flickr.com/photos/auvet/6042706639/)
A Yamhill County sign on a state highway.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/auvet/6043252488/in/photostream/ (http://www.flickr.com/photos/auvet/6043252488/in/photostream/)
A Polk County sign on a state highway.
These above signs all are optional signs with the county logo and are partially paid for by the county. If the county doesn't pay, then a standard sign is installed:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/the_impression_that_i_get/1795015793/ (http://www.flickr.com/photos/the_impression_that_i_get/1795015793/)
A Multnomah County sign, on a county road
http://www.flickr.com/photos/zacharymaillard/6924450603/ (http://www.flickr.com/photos/zacharymaillard/6924450603/)
A combined Entering Portland/Multnomah County sign, on I-205
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ffarm8.staticflickr.com%2F7174%2F6429346089_82b3b98e75_z.jpg&hash=0a5fa3fb4939ffbeead76fa067dca07827184c2f)
Separate Entering Portland (with optional logo) and Multnomah County (button copy!) sign, on Oregon 99W north of Tigard and just before the I-5 interchange
http://www.flickr.com/photos/zacharymaillard/6924435287/ (http://www.flickr.com/photos/zacharymaillard/6924435287/)
Entering Washington County, on I-5 in Wilsonville
Quote from: WillWeaverRVA on August 02, 2012, 11:44:10 PM
Quote from: Scott5114 on July 30, 2012, 01:24:41 AM
In Oklahoma, the standard type on freeways is:
McClain
County
But on surface roads, it's just a one-line "GRADY CO."
Then there's this:
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7c/US_69_Craig_Co.jpg/800px-US_69_Craig_Co.jpg)
This picture cracks me up every time I see it. How on earth did this happen?
Someone told ODOT to make a sign, and they did. :spin:
This happened too:
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ffarm2.staticflickr.com%2F1104%2F3168711326_fc1e5abdc0_o.jpg&hash=03ea65a41b50d28f7aab2daf5ed7b3ee43854130)
(Photo courtesy Eric Stuve)
Off-topic, but from a distance Oklahoma and Florida state highway shields are almost identical.
Quote from: Road Hog on August 09, 2012, 11:41:50 PM
Off-topic, but from a distance Oklahoma and Florida state highway shields are almost identical.
Ah, but you'll never find an Oklahoma Keys shield.
Quote from: Duke87 on August 01, 2012, 07:34:50 PM
Connecticut never signs county lines but they habitually sign every municipal boundary.
There are three styles. The signs on the Merritt Parkway just say the name with no other text ("Norwalk"). The signs on any other freeway traditionally have listed the exits within the municipality as well as the name:
Darien
Exits 10-13
--------------
Town Line
Though newer ones sadly omit the exits - I believe this is for the sake of MUTCD conformance. And then you have the signs on non-freeways, which list the date of incorporation or settlement:
STAMFORD
SETTLED 1639
CITY LINE
Old style
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi166.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fu102%2Fctsignguy%2Fstc-lit.jpg&hash=6cdbef438a6da2373b2b7197639665ab2be6eff9)
Current style
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi166.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fu102%2Fctsignguy%2Fstcoldsaybrk.jpg&hash=ac5dd7b366615bf26d2992190ac58b12bb632657)
Alabama typically does:
ENTER
{county name}
COUNTY
On a freeway the county name is mixed case; on other roads the sign is smaller and in all caps, but with the county name using a slightly bigger font than the rest of the sign.
Mississippi used to sign their county lines like Alabama, but newer sign installations just say
{County Name}
County
On divided roads and freeways, the entire sign will be mixed case, but on smaller roads the sign will be all caps and smaller than the freeway counterpart.
For the most part, Tennessee simply says "{COUNTY NAME} COUNTY" in all caps for both freeways and minor roads. The freeway signs are slightly larger, and the font is FHWA Series EM instead of FHWA Series D.
Quote from: empirestate on August 05, 2012, 09:59:23 AM
And let's all not forget this one, if Oscar will forgive me the direct link:
Kalawao County's other "unwelcome" signs (more on the trail down to the county -- including an updated one reflecting a
slight relaxation on the ban on children -- plus another at the airport) are at http://www.hawaiihighways.com/photos-Kalawao.htm
Installed by the Will County Highway Department (Caton Farm & County Line).
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi837.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fzz298%2Fmidamcrossrds%2F100_2582.jpg&hash=8d2a0e6a5d9a366e769888562d3b43d942423091)
Kendall County gets a standard IDOT-style, non-freeway sign for the other direction.
Mississippi's county signs used to always say "ENTER HINDS COUNTY" (for example). MDOT is getting away from that and are now starting to use "Hinds County", especially on interstates and US highways.
Alabama uses "ENTER Tuscaloosa COUNTY" for their signs.
On local roads in Ohio, the various County Engineer's Offices do various things.
ODOT Chapter 2D (Conventional Road) county signs are as previously described by 6a.
I haven't seen ODOT's Chapter 2E (Freeway/Expressway) county sign pictured yet, but this one from Oregon comes close:
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ffarm8.staticflickr.com%2F7174%2F6429346089_82b3b98e75_z.jpg&hash=0a5fa3fb4939ffbeead76fa067dca07827184c2f)
Ohio does them the same way, but with County spelled out on a third line:
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fvidthekid.info%2Fimghost%2Foldsign-madisoncunty.jpg&hash=33006660e7251b66146c0af359867aa6468403dd)
Newer installations are full-reflective-sheeting (since about 2003) and possibly Clearview (since about 2011). Often they are in the median, but sometimes not.
PS– I don't think I have a picture of an undamaged Ohio freeway county line sign. If you want to make jokes about this unfortunate spelling alteration, please join the others in the damaged signs thread (https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=1353.msg172374#msg172374).
Sheridan/Box Butte county (Nebraska) line on a rural highway. Unusual use of a blue and yellow 5-sided county route sign (versus a green and white rectangular sign) to mark entering a new county. There was no corresponding sign on the other side of the road marked "Box Butte County". Any other examples like this?
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.panix.com%2F%7Epschleck%2Fsheridan_county.jpg&hash=458fabd5fb6b3f12cb189aa56b5532a769bea9a6)
In North Carolina you'll usually see a rather plain looking sign that looks like this (https://www.google.com/maps/@35.1540727,-77.3355135,3a,59.2y,143.39h,90.37t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1smvNcMODLVZf-K0kr7NOeWg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!6m1!1e1?hl=en) right at the county line and then a more elaborate sign a little farther in like this (https://www.google.com/maps/@35.1540595,-77.3300064,3a,20.9y,121.5h,82.99t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1spEtLdx3e0D3vYzaC3yld7Q!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!6m1!1e1?hl=en).
There are a few county lines that have the older looking Welcome To/Leaving signs like this one (https://www.google.com/maps/@34.892502,-77.2332426,3a,20.8y,253.51h,78.3t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sp_IfUTNg9M4NLw_8zx6gDg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!6m1!1e1?hl=en).
Quote from: slorydn1 on August 13, 2015, 05:15:09 AM
In North Carolina you'll usually see a rather plain looking sign that looks like this (https://www.google.com/maps/@35.1540727,-77.3355135,3a,59.2y,143.39h,90.37t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!u1smvNcMODLVZf-K0kr7NOeWg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!6m1!1e1?hl=en)
Is it just me, or does the first/smaller county line sign look like it's too far off the road? If the highway were due to be widened, I could see having the sign there, but otherwise, the sign's small size and not really being in a driver's line-of-sight make it not so easily visible.
I seem to recall some state in the Mid-Atlantic used a format like this: ENTERING Virginia seems to come to mind, two such
AUGUSTA counties I used as the example.
COUNTY
----------------
LEAVING
ROCKBRIDGE
COUNTY
Another North Carolina one (https://goo.gl/maps/1pT0P).
I took a short road trip today and snapped this sign. This is what county line signs look like on rural two-lane roads in Missouri; major roads have different signage.
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5652/20365461510_257a29bb87_c.jpg)
Maryland usually has them in the form of "Welcome to X County (or Baltimore City in terms of Baltimore)" or just "X County". They generally look like standard guide signs you'd find along any highway. New Jersey is interesting. Somerset usually has a "Somerset 4-H" green-on-white sign at the county lines. Hunterdon usually has "Welcome to Hunterdon County Founded 1714" in a white-on-blue curved-top sign. Mercer has green-on-yellow square signs saying "Welcome to Mercer County The Capital County".
Delaware puts a bit of effort into their county line signs.
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FDsa0D4w.png&hash=c06dcc4f2fcc2dcc08eb07bf1654538e297ad1b2)
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FhbPqrnB.png&hash=64830ba9d9a4c1c1bd9caeb10ddc7977cc12025e)
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FEROB13f.png&hash=0c3fd7439c972c36ade6b9b0f9dd84c6f172480c)
Then again, I'm fairly certain they only sign county transitions on DE 1, US 13, and US 113. I can't seem to find any mention of a transition on any minor roads. If that's true, there's probably only five of these in the entire state.
Quote from: txstateends on August 13, 2015, 09:43:22 AM
Quote from: slorydn1 on August 13, 2015, 05:15:09 AM
In North Carolina you'll usually see a rather plain looking sign that looks like this (https://www.google.com/maps/@35.1540727,-77.3355135,3a,59.2y,143.39h,90.37t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!u1smvNcMODLVZf-K0kr7NOeWg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!6m1!1e1?hl=en)
Is it just me, or does the first/smaller county line sign look like it's too far off the road? If the highway were due to be widened, I could see having the sign there, but otherwise, the sign's small size and not really being in a driver's line-of-sight make it not so easily visible.
It is a little far, but not as bad as GSV makes it seem. I don't see them widening US-70 any more than it is on that area, not even if the bill that would designate this an Interstate corridor passes. Cove City is literally in the middle of nowhere.
In Washington state, the county line signs depend on who is maintaining the road. For example, on state-maintained roads, the signs are pretty standard:
https://www.google.com/maps/@47.7772751,-122.3182956,3a,75y,156.27h,98.71t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sHFd8QqQFEsfg-pvDijxVxA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en
https://www.google.com/maps/@47.2569928,-122.3300675,3a,15y,57.97h,91.17t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s6HLlQBrLLIfS5dVtf4vcyw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en
However, on county roads, each county has their own style of sign.
Skagit:
https://www.google.com/maps/@48.644358,-122.3763125,3a,75y,250.9h,89.35t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1s897on9HdB8nWecfOu4tVaQ!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo2.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3D897on9HdB8nWecfOu4tVaQ%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D100%26h%3D80%26yaw%3D262.83536%26pitch%3D0!7i3328!8i1664?hl=en
Snohomish:
https://www.google.com/maps/@47.7763798,-122.131828,3a,15y,32.27h,88.4t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sSlMulYpemWPZNwb_piK5oA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en
Most of Louisiana's parish signs are the standard like the Natchitoches Parish example below, but there are a few more personalized ones.
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5626/20386606000_eda1064b99_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/x4uFGU)natchitoches parish (https://flic.kr/p/x4uFGU) by Josh Bumgardner (https://www.flickr.com/photos/geojosh/), on Flickr
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5679/20574602265_e3473a6c04.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/xm7drP)ouachita parish (https://flic.kr/p/xm7drP) by Josh Bumgardner (https://www.flickr.com/photos/geojosh/), on Flickr
Quote from: parker51 on August 13, 2015, 12:40:59 AM
Sheridan/Box Butte county (Nebraska) line on a rural highway. Unusual use of a blue and yellow 5-sided county route sign (versus a green and white rectangular sign) to mark entering a new county. There was no corresponding sign on the other side of the road marked "Box Butte County". Any other examples like this?
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.panix.com%2F%7Epschleck%2Fsheridan_county.jpg&hash=458fabd5fb6b3f12cb189aa56b5532a769bea9a6)
This is what the ones on the Garden State Parkway look like. There's one about halfway down this page from Alps' site. (http://www.alpsroads.net/roads/nj/gsp/s2.html)
Lincoln Parish is one of the few parishes/counties that doesn't use the standard pentagon. But then again, Lincoln doesn't use numbers for their roads anymore. Just names. There are a few shields left in the field, mostly the ENTER & LEAVE signs at the parish lines. However, Lincoln isn't maintaining them either.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/130771900@N08/20581337275/in/album-72157655329475165/
There seems to be three, maybe four main styles used for county line signs:
1) Only the name of the county appears on the sign: Example from Streetview (https://www.google.com/maps/@38.6582884,-90.0313475,3a,27.8y,71.56h,89.01t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1syFl-M_e94kxzYVjeZ-lAKQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!6m1!1e1?hl=en) Iowa and Illinois use this style.
2. "Entering Nameof County": Example from Streetview (https://www.google.com/maps/@37.8333339,-89.9848898,3a,75y,339.01h,87.45t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1swqbb5sY1dfxzxtFSYGLmKw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!6m1!1e1?hl=en). Missouri uses this design, and I think Ohio does as well.
3. "Enter Nameof County/Leave Other County" - I seem to recall seeing this one in Indiana and Virginia.
4. "Somename County Line"? I thought someone used this one, but can't remember where.
https://goo.gl/maps/2WJbU
Standard Wisconsin line marker.
A few moderations are present in places -
Brown
County
(in type B font)
Quote from: Revive 755 on August 15, 2015, 11:34:45 AM
4. "Somename County Line"? I thought someone used this one, but can't remember where.
California.
The G10(CA) sign consists of two lines. The top line is the county name (Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Los Angeles, etc) in mixed case Series E-modified. The bottom line says "COUNTY LINE" in all-caps Series E.
Kentucky has these basic ones.
https://goo.gl/maps/px0xp -- I-75 southbound crossing from Kenton County into Boone County.
https://goo.gl/maps/qfUux -- I-75 northbound crossing from Grant County into Kenton County.
What gets me is that when you cross into the state, some counties get signed...some don't. For example, coming into Boone County, KY from Dearborn County, Indiana on I-275, Boone is signed. Dearborn isn't. Same road, other side of the state...Campbell County, KY from Hamilton County, Ohio...neither are signed.
Or for another example...on I-75 into Kentucky from Tennessee, Whitley County, KY makes an appearance. But coming in from Ohio...no sign that you're in Kenton County at all.
Quote from: myosh_tino on August 15, 2015, 01:50:39 PM
Quote from: Revive 755 on August 15, 2015, 11:34:45 AM
4. "Somename County Line"? I thought someone used this one, but can't remember where.
California.
The G10(CA) sign consists of two lines. The top line is the county name (Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Los Angeles, etc) in mixed case Series E-modified. The bottom line says "COUNTY LINE" in all-caps Series E.
Ditto Nevada.
Mixed-case county name on top line, "COUNTY LINE" in all caps and slightly smaller on bottom line.
Quote from: bassoon1986 on August 14, 2015, 02:49:38 PM
Most of Louisiana's parish signs are the standard like the Natchitoches Parish example below, but there are a few more personalized ones.
[pictures snipped]
The standard sign along freeways and expressways looks like this (https://www.google.com/maps/@30.4797543,-90.24443,3a,75y,80.62h,89.19t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sLO2YZju5q_cJkLZEquUKnA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656).
There was also this variation of the standard parish sign used in the Acadiana parishes. These signs were erected in the 1990s, and I don't think that they are reissuing them (though they should). (Not my picture.)
(https://tse3.mm.bing.net/th?id=JN.tRx7valOxXqR9n1I5fMUNg&pid=15.1)
Quote from: myosh_tino on August 15, 2015, 01:50:39 PM
Quote from: Revive 755 on August 15, 2015, 11:34:45 AM
4. "Somename County Line"? I thought someone used this one, but can't remember where.
California.
The G10(CA) sign consists of two lines. The top line is the county name (Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Los Angeles, etc) in mixed case Series E-modified. The bottom line says "COUNTY LINE" in all-caps Series E.
Kansas and Texas also use this format.
West Virginia uses signs that say "{Name} County" in mixed-case FHWA alphabet like:
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cf/NicholasCountySignWV.jpg/583px-NicholasCountySignWV.jpg)
The basic design is the same on all roads. Freeways and expressways get larger versions, often with a "Certified Business Location" panel underneath.