1926 Arkansas state highway numbering facts for kids
![]() ![]() 1926 era Highway markers for AR 12 and AR 112
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![]() A map of highways in the state of Arkansas, 1926
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Quick facts for kids System information |
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Formed: | 1926 |
Highway names | |
US Routes: | National Road nn |
System links | |
Arkansas Highway System Interstates • US • State Business • Spurs • Scenic |
Imagine a big puzzle of roads! In 1926, the state of Arkansas decided to give its roads a fresh start. They changed how all the highways were named and organized.
Before 1926, Arkansas had a different system. It was set up in 1924. Roads were called "primary federal aid roads," "secondary federal aid roads," or "connecting state roads." This system used letters and numbers, like A1 or B25.
Around the same time, the United States started its own system of United States Numbered Highways. These are the famous US Routes you might know, like US 65 or US 70. To make things clear and avoid confusion, Arkansas decided to switch to a number-only system for its state highways. This was the first time Arkansas truly numbered its state roads.
It was important that the new Arkansas highway numbers didn't clash with the new US Route numbers. So, some numbers were skipped. For example, there were no Arkansas highways numbered 61, 63, 64, 65, 67, 70, or 71. This was because those numbers were already used for US Routes. Also, numbers like 165 or 167 were avoided for the same reason. The highest number used for a state highway was 115. Numbers 116 and higher were saved for new roads in the future.
How Roads Were Named Before 1926
Before the big change in 1926, Arkansas used a letter and number system for its roads. This helped organize them into different types.
1924 name | What it meant |
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A1-A9 | These were the most important roads. They received money from the federal government to help build and maintain them. |
B1-B43 | These were also important roads that received federal money. They were a bit less major than the "A" roads. |
C1-C46 | These roads connected different parts of the state. They helped people travel between towns and cities. |
This article is part of the highway renumbering series. |
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Alabama | 1928, 1957 |
Arkansas | 1926 |
California | 1964 |
Colorado | 1953, 1968 |
Connecticut | 1932, 1963 |
Florida | 1945 |
Indiana | 1926 |
Iowa | 1926, 1969 |
Louisiana | 1955 |
Maine | 1933 |
Massachusetts | 1933 |
Minnesota | 1934 |
Missouri | 1926 |
Montana | 1932 |
Nebraska | 1926 |
Nevada | 1976 |
New Jersey | 1927, 1953 |
New Mexico | 1988 |
New York | 1927, 1930 |
North Carolina | 1934, 1937, 1940, 1961 |
Ohio | 1923, 1927, 1962 |
Pennsylvania | 1928, 1961 |
Puerto Rico | 1953 |
South Carolina | 1928, 1937 |
South Dakota | 1927, 1975 |
Texas | 1939 |
Utah | 1962, 1977 |
Virginia | 1923, 1928, 1933, 1940, 1958 |
Washington | 1964 |
Wisconsin | 1926 |
Wyoming | 1927 |
Arkansas' New Roads in 1926
After the big renumbering, Arkansas gave numbers to its state roads. These numbers started from 1 and went up to 115. As we learned, some numbers were skipped to avoid confusion with the new US highways. This new system made it much easier to understand and navigate the state's road network.