An historic US highway endpoint in Boone NC
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Highway
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Approx. time period
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1930-1933 |
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1933-1961 |
Photo credits: H.B.
Elkins
US 321 was commissioned in 1930; at the time it ran from Bristol TN, through
Boone, and down into South Carolina. US 421 was commissioned that same year,
and its north end was originally at US 321 in Boone. Three years later, US 421
was extended north and west from Boone, through Bristol, along what had been
US 321! So US 321 was truncated to Boone, ending at US 421. Not sure why they
didn't just extend the US 321 designation. Anyway, I believe the photo below
shows the junction where these historic endpoints were located:
Elkins
That's looking west on King Street at Hardin Street. In 1930, US 321 followed
the same route that's indicated on this assembly, but US 421 came only as far
as this junction and ended here. Then in 1933, US 421 was extended north (ahead
on King, as it is today), but the north beginning of US 321 was to the left
on Hardin. That remained the case until 1961, which is when US 321 was extended
west out of Boone again (although it goes to Elizabethton TN now - not Bristol).
Page created 16 February 2006; last updated 26 January 2007.
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