Biggest claim to fame: control city.

[TheStranger]

San Pedro (I-110 South) Harbor Freeway to the port of Los Angeles since its a district. US-101 and CA-110 North from Downtown LA would have Hollywood district. And the West of of I-8 in San Diego will have the control city of Beaches.

Both Hollywood and San Pedro are known for being more than "control cities" though.

[Takumi]

Emporia and South Hill, Va.

And Blackstone, to a lesser extent since it's well off I-85.

Rocky Mount, NC, despite a population close to 60,000, is pretty quiet for a place showing up on signs nearly 150 miles away.

[JCinSummerfield]

I would think Port Huron, MI is a fairly non-consequential control city.

[Brandon]

I would think Port Huron, MI is a fairly non-consequential control city.

It's a border city, and home to the Blue Water Bridge as well as the St Clair County seat.  Now, Clare is probably known more for being a control city than anywhere in the state.

[hbelkins]

Speaking of Pennsylvania:

Plymouth Meeting (I-476).

If we're counting non-Interstate freeways, then Fulton (Purchase Parkway) and Campton (Mountain Parkway) in Kentucky no doubt qualify.

[roadman65]

I agree with Plymouth Meeting.  It got is famed when the infamous Blue Route first got completed to the NE Extension.  Apparently PennDOT takes it literally where a road ends to use its endpoint as final place.  The same on the nearby I-76 using Valley Forge instead of Harrisburg when I-76 goes all the way there.  However, they see it as the free PennDOT maintained section ending there (although really King of Prussia).  I imagine the same goes for free I-476.

In our world here on this forum, we would have used Allentown for I-476 and Harrisburg for I-76 like many states would use.

[thenetwork]

Lodi, OH -- About 5-7 miles past the western terminus of the eastern segment of I-76.  Population 2800.  Their big claim to fame is the outlet mall on the south side of town by I-71.

[Charles2]

I've never quite understood why Mississippi uses McComb and Grenada as the control cities on I-55 at its junction with I-20.  One would think it would make more sense to use New Orleans and Memphis.  Then again, Mississippi also uses Laurel on I-59, Pass Christian on I-10, and Vicksburg and Meridian on I-20.  It almost makes us wonder if they'll use New Albany and Tupelo on I-22 instead of Memphis and Birmingham.

[national highway 1]

Winters, CA (I-505)

[PHLBOS]

In our world here on this forum, we would have used Allentown for I-476 and Harrisburg for I-76 like many states would use.

Once upon a time, PennDOT actually used Allentown as a northbound I-476/Blue Route control city.

Below is a late 1970s (maybe early 1980s) photo of the I-76/476/PA 23 interchange; notice the old button-copy pull-through BGS for I-476 North listing Allentown on the left-side of the gantry.  Granted, it's tough to read given the scale, but trust me... the control city does indeed read Allentown.  I saw this BGS up-close-and-personal when I biked this road on October 1991 (2 months before it opened to traffic).  Ironically, this particular BGS was removed from the gantry (which is presently still there but empty of signs) just before I-476 south of this interchange opened in Dec. 1991.


The original 70s-era BGS for the I-476 North exit off I-76 East originally had Allentown in button-copy letters as well for a very short period of time (shadows of the removed button-copy letters could be seen up close) but was changed to Plymouth Mtg. (in reflective lettering) when I-76 was overhauled during the mid-80s.

Another 70s era BGS that would have had Allentown on it (based on the BGS panel size) for I-476 North; note the I-shields are recent replacements, the original shields featured PennDOT wide-stroked fonts.

That said, I do agree that Plymouth Meeting (or Mtg.) should either be dropped as a I-476 North destination in favor of Allentown or used as a secondary/local control destination along w/Allentown... i.e. BGS' reads

  476 NORTH
Plymouth Mtg.
  Allentown

The same on the nearby I-76 using Valley Forge instead of Harrisburg when I-76 goes all the way there.  However, they see it as the free PennDOT maintained section ending there (although really King of Prussia).

With regards to using Valley Forge as a westbound destination for I-76/Schuylkill Expressway instead of King of Prussia (which is currently signed from both US 202 northbound & 422 eastbound); that is likely due to PennDOT using the name of the Turnpike interchange in this area and/or the historical significance of Valley Forge.  The thinking being that most tourists checking out Valley Forge would be coming from Philadelphia.

Mind you, the above is just a guess on my part.

Side bar: now that the partial interchange to Henderson Road (westbound Exit 329) is open, one would not be able to use King of Prussia as a westbound I-76 destination beyond Gulph Mills (PA 320).

The first reference of Harrisburg as a westbound 76 destination is actually not along I-76 but rather an auxiliary/supplemental BGS along I-476 northbound for its interchange w/I-76/PA 23.

[golden eagle]

I've never quite understood why Mississippi uses McComb and Grenada as the control cities on I-55 at its junction with I-20.  One would think it would make more sense to use New Orleans and Memphis.  Then again, Mississippi also uses Laurel on I-59, Pass Christian on I-10, and Vicksburg and Meridian on I-20.  It almost makes us wonder if they'll use New Albany and Tupelo on I-22 instead of Memphis and Birmingham.

As one who lives in Jackson, McComb and Grenada have been a pet peeve of mine. I honestly can't think of anything about McComb that is significant enough to use as a control city. The only thing Grenada has for it is  Grenada Lake (good fishing up there).

Laurel, Vicksburg and Meridian are large enough to where I can justify their usage. Laurel was among the larger cities in the state, and had a booming oil industry until the bottom fell out in the 1980s, to which they're just now starting to recover from. Vicksburg is famous for Civil War attractions and casinos. Meridian is also among the larger cities in the state.

I think you may be confusing Pass Christian with Bay St. Louis. BSL is used as a control city in Slidell, LA, but I've never seen Pass Christian used.

As for I-22 signage, my gut feeling is that Mississippi will use Tupelo starting at Olive Branch, then will use Birmingham from Tupelo eastward. Alabama tends not to sign insignificant places as control cities on interstates. I'm purely speculating, but I think they may use Memphis.

I'm also interested in what cities Mississippi will use to sign I-69, once the section south of Tunica is completed. Methinks they could possibly use Greenville, but I'm not sure it will come close enough. Maybe a Louisiana city like Monroe or Alexandria? Even more interesting is if Tennessee and Mississippi will use Tunica in Memphis and Desoto County, respectively, as a control city.

[bassoon1986]

I'm also interested in what cities Mississippi will use to sign I-69, once the section south of Tunica is completed. Methinks they could possibly use Greenville, but I'm not sure it will come close enough. Maybe a Louisiana city like Monroe or Alexandria? Even more interesting is if Tennessee and Mississippi will use Tunica in Memphis and Desoto County, respectively, as a control city.

Well, Alexandria and Monroe are pretty far out of the way for I-69's path. Shreveport and Memphis are the biggest cities in its path. Maybe have those as primary control cities and ElDorado and Greenville and secondaries?

[roadman65]

Since SR 429 in Florida made its debut several years ago, Apopka has become quite the destination on road signs.  All of its northbound ramps use it from I-4 near Champions Gate, FL to its northern terminus.

Before Apopka was only used on US 441 signs and from I-4 only on the SR 436 guides at Exit 92 as WB FL 436 fulfillment.

[NE2]

Dude, everyone around here knows Apopka.

[DandyDan]

I've never quite understood why Mississippi uses McComb and Grenada as the control cities on I-55 at its junction with I-20.

McComb does have fame as the site where the Lynyrd Skynyrd plane crashed, FWIW.

[OCGuy81]

Winters, CA (I-505)

Agreed!

[UNDSIOUX]

Santa Rosa, NM (I-40 ABQ)

Isn't Grants, NM a control city too on I-40?  Ugh....

Already mentioned, but Grenada, MS, Albert Lea, MN, and especially Limon, CO drive me nuts because unless you are a local, these control cities as a reference point mean absolutely nothing to me as an interstate traveler.  Limon wouldn't be as easy to replace as there is nothing on that road until Salina, but Grenada should be Memphis on I-55 and Albert Lea should be Des Moines on I-35.

[Molandfreak]

Albert Lea should be Des Moines on I-35.

I disagree, though I agree with the principle. Owatonna should be added as a control city. Most destinations to the west on 90 are much better served via U.S. 169-MN 60, and most destinations to the east are much better served via U.S. 52, so vice-versa could be said about Albert Lea as a control city on I-90, but instead of removing Albert Lea, I would make Worthington and Rochester control cities as well.

[national highway 1]

Santa Rosa, NM (I-40 ABQ)

Isn't Grants, NM a control city too on I-40?  Ugh....

Also, isn't Gallup a control city on I-40 east of Flagstaff?

[Alex]

Fort Chiswell, Virginia for I-77 north. Plus a long time ago, Elkin, NC:

[roadman65]

In and around Lake City, FL you see the ramps of I-10 and I-75 signed with the first sequential city and not the road's designated control city.

On US 41/441 at I-75 south of Lake City you get Alachua as SB control city and not Tampa.
On US 441 north of Lake City you get Live Oak over Tallahassee for WB I-10.
https://www.google.com/maps/@30.002325,-82.597394,3a,37.5y,180h,90t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1su_7r2sAZD11810x94E6_lA!2e0

https://www.google.com/maps/@30.238852,-82.638564,3a,75y,90t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sVTpkU2yruzY1VfXkQ6yTGA!2e0

[The High Plains Traveler]

Santa Rosa, NM (I-40 ABQ)

Isn't Grants, NM a control city too on I-40?  Ugh....

Also, isn't Gallup a control city on I-40 east of Flagstaff?

From Albuquerque, Gallup is the westbound I-40 control city (used to be Grants). Eastbound, at the I-17 interchange in Flagstaff, the control city is Albuquerque. I don't know if any closer destination is used at minor interchanges east of there in Arizona.

I was always bothered by the eastbound control city from Albuquerque, Santa Rosa. It ought to be Tucumcari or even Amarillo.

[Pete from Boston]

Clinton, NJ on I-78.  All there really is to know about Clinton is 31 crosses 78 there. 

[sandiaman]

 I totally agree with  the High Plains Traveler,  I have always wondered  why the NMDOT  chose Santa Rosa  as  a control city  all  the  way  thru ABQ on  the Interstates.  The population  is only  around 2,000, .  I'm sure  that most people  coming  thru New Mexico  would have never heard  of Santa Rosa. Amarillo  would be a more  logical control city.

[woodpusher]

It's not a control city, but I want to say the exit is (or was) called "Hendersonville."  (I-79, old Exit 10A; I don't know what it is now).  Anyway, when I was growing up there, nobody called it that.  It was "Cecil Township" or just "Cecil."