City/Population signs

[PHLBOS]

Forgive me but why even list a population for a number that small (or exact)?  Such is too subject to change.

[Brandon]

Interestingly, if an area is unicorporated in Illinois, it will occasionally get a sign. The areas of Flowerfield near Lombard and Wasco near Camton Hills come to mind, although population is not posted on signs for unincorporated areas.

Not only that, but the number on Illinois ones is just the population, no "POP:" or "POPULATION:" in front of it.  Just the number.  And, they may or may not be at the actual municipal boundary.  Plus, did I mention that they are never posted on freeways?

[texaskdog]

Texas is starting to phase out population on its city limit signs. The new ones I've seen put up in the last few months just has the city and CITY LIMIT.

It means so little with suburbs and the fact that population is outdated so quickly.

[Brandon]

Texas is starting to phase out population on its city limit signs. The new ones I've seen put up in the last few months just has the city and CITY LIMIT.

It means so little with suburbs and the fact that population is outdated so quickly.

In Illinois, that just means a greenout job with the new population after a special census.  And when in high-growth mode, many municipalities will conduct special censuses often.

[TheHighwayMan3561]

Interestingly, if an area is unicorporated in Illinois, it will occasionally get a sign. The areas of Flowerfield near Lombard and Wasco near Camton Hills come to mind, although population is not posted on signs for unincorporated areas.

In WI, it will say "UNINCORPORATED" instead of saying the population.

In Minnesota they'll just put up a sign with the name of the town and no population number if the place is unincorporated.

[DeaconG]

You would think in this day and age that if a state or city is going to put up a BGS with a population listed they would at least use an LED display to show it so it can be updated.

Then again, seeing how electronic warning signs get jacked by script kiddies with too much time on their hands...maybe not.

[SD Mapman]

Forgive me but why even list a population for a number that small (or exact)?  Such is too subject to change.

Because why not?

I didn't even know Aladdin was incorporated.

[roadman]

I didn't even know Aladdin was incorporated.

Perhaps it was one of the three wishes that the genie granted.

[robbones]

Arkansas only shows population.  Louisiana has CORP LIMIT or COMMUNITY underneath the town name.

Mississippi follows suit with Louisiana with Corp Limit

[hbelkins]

An incorporated place with only 15 residents? Why bother being incorporated?

[jeffandnicole]

An incorporated place with only 15 residents? Why bother being incorporated?

NJ's smallest incorporated borough - Tavistock - has 5 residents.  It's about a 1/4 square mile in size.  Tying this to another recent thread, the borough was started in order to escape a blue law which prohibited golf on Sundays in its former town.  Tavistock also has a school district, which doesn't have any students.

[Ray_Stantz]

Always thought this placement of the Placentia, CA city limit sign was interesting:

https://maps.google.com/maps?q=Placentia,+CA&hl=en&ll=33.857676,-117.875769&spn=0.005898,0.009677&sll=40.776608,-111.920485&sspn=0.17107,0.309677&oq=plac&t=h&hnear=Placentia,+Orange+County,+California&z=17&layer=c&cbll=33.857762,-117.875801&panoid=A2AAZvDW9FvUDTj4TfhSAQ&cbp=12,78.05,,0,9.12

[Road Hog]

Texas is starting to phase out population on its city limit signs. The new ones I've seen put up in the last few months just has the city and CITY LIMIT.

It means so little with suburbs and the fact that population is outdated so quickly.

In Illinois, that just means a greenout job with the new population after a special census.  And when in high-growth mode, many municipalities will conduct special censuses often.

I think the idea is to save money by not sending out crews to change the numbers.

[SSOWorld]

Interestingly, if an area is unicorporated in Illinois, it will occasionally get a sign. The areas of Flowerfield near Lombard and Wasco near Camton Hills come to mind, although population is not posted on signs for unincorporated areas.

Not only that, but the number on Illinois ones is just the population, no "POP:" or "POPULATION:" in front of it.  Just the number.  And, they may or may not be at the actual municipal boundary.  Plus, did I mention that they are never posted on freeways?

or - for Chicago - ANY road?

[SSOWorld]

Speaking of Chicago

Some cities have their own method of posting.  NYC (each boro), Madison, WI, LA and SF come to mind.

[Brandon]

Interestingly, if an area is unicorporated in Illinois, it will occasionally get a sign. The areas of Flowerfield near Lombard and Wasco near Camton Hills come to mind, although population is not posted on signs for unincorporated areas.

Not only that, but the number on Illinois ones is just the population, no "POP:" or "POPULATION:" in front of it.  Just the number.  And, they may or may not be at the actual municipal boundary.  Plus, did I mention that they are never posted on freeways?

or - for Chicago - ANY road?

One exception:



The Chicago Skyway at the Indiana State Line.  Granted, Chicago is mentioned, not Illinois.

[kphoger]

Too lazy to go downstairs to the computer and link to GSV... but...

My recollection from driving in Mexico is that towns and cities list the population on the city limit sign. Unincorporated locales (properly called ejidos, but referred to as ranchos in the region I travel regularly to), however, just list the name with no population figure. Some of those signs are even green ones with a state seal on them, but only the locale's name; others are simple white signs just big enough for the words.

[KEK Inc.]

Forgive me but why even list a population for a number that small (or exact)?  Such is too subject to change.

It's now 4 on GSV.  When I was driven through there 14 years ago, it was 3.

[kphoger]

I wonder what happens if that person moves away but doesn't sell the house for a few years...

[SSOWorld]

Interestingly, if an area is unicorporated in Illinois, it will occasionally get a sign. The areas of Flowerfield near Lombard and Wasco near Camton Hills come to mind, although population is not posted on signs for unincorporated areas.

Not only that, but the number on Illinois ones is just the population, no "POP:" or "POPULATION:" in front of it.  Just the number.  And, they may or may not be at the actual municipal boundary.  Plus, did I mention that they are never posted on freeways?

or - for Chicago - ANY road?

One exception:



The Chicago Skyway at the Indiana State Line.  Granted, Chicago is mentioned, not Illinois.

Except that one - which Might I say C-Dot put in on the Chicago Skyway (a Chicago owned road).

[yakra]

An old joke/cartoon would feature somebody approaching a population sign and continually crossing out and entering different population numbers while one hears a constant shooting or sees thick smoke in the background.

I remember one that involved the sound of a baby crying.

[DandyDan]

I thought Missouri posted the population on their signs if it wasn't an interstate, but if it was an interstate, they did not.  Perhaps it's easier to not list the population if the road enters a city like Kansas City multiple times, as I-29 does.

Nebraska is another state which has unincorporated listed for population if a place is unincorporated.

[roadman65]

Ontario along the QEW uses the population of the town or city if it has multiple exits.

Instead of using, lets say Niagara Falls for instance saying Niagara Falls next X Exits it reads Niagara Falls Population C followed by X Interchanges.

[Darkchylde]

I thought Missouri posted the population on their signs if it wasn't an interstate, but if it was an interstate, they did not.  Perhaps it's easier to not list the population if the road enters a city like Kansas City multiple times, as I-29 does.

Nebraska is another state which has unincorporated listed for population if a place is unincorporated.

Even that's hit or miss. The city limit sign for Kansas City on I-70 West just after the Blue Ridge Boulevard exit does have population on it. Yet the ones I've seen for KC on I-29,  I-49, I-435 and I-470 don't.

[OCGuy81]

Always thought this placement of the Placentia, CA city limit sign was interesting:

https://maps.google.com/maps?q=Placentia,+CA&hl=en&ll=33.857676,-117.875769&spn=0.005898,0.009677&sll=40.776608,-111.920485&sspn=0.17107,0.309677&oq=plac&t=h&hnear=Placentia,+Orange+County,+California&z=17&layer=c&cbll=33.857762,-117.875801&panoid=A2AAZvDW9FvUDTj4TfhSAQ&cbp=12,78.05,,0,9.12

I want to say I've seen this done elsewhere, but can't exactly place where, I think there is signage like that along the 22 freeway, and the 10 out near Ontario airport.  I'll try to verify next time I'm on either.