Connecticut Route 197
Encyclopedia
Route 197 is a state highway in northeastern Connecticut
, running from Union
to the Massachusetts
state line in Thompson
.
in southeastern Union
. It heads east towards Woodstock
, entering the town after 0.9 miles (1.4 km) and becoming Red White School Road. Route 197 travels east for about 6.3 miles (10.1 km) through rural northern Woodstock, becoming Old Turnpike Road after two miles (3 km) and curving southeast and then northeast across the town, and intersecting Route 198. Route 197 eventually reaches the village of North Woodstock, where it has a junction with Route 169
. The road continues another three miles (5 km) to the Thompson
town line. In Thompson, it soon crosses the Quinebaug River
into the village of Quinebaug
, intersecting with Route 131 in the village. Route 197 continues northeast another 0.3 mile (0.482802 km) to the Massachusetts
state line, where it continues as MA Route 197
.
to the village of Quinebaug
via Westford, North Ashford, and North Woodstock. In 1922, a portion of the Center Turnpike was designated as State Highway 151, which began at New England Route 32, roughly near where modern I-84
and Route 32 intersect in Ashford
, and followed Turnpike Road, Boston Hollow Road, Centre Pike, and Old Turnpike Road to the Massachusetts state line.
In the 1932 state highway renumbering
, old Highway 151 was renumbered to Route 197, following the old Center Turnpike alignment. In 1941, the western end was truncated to a point in Ashford 1.34 miles (2.2 km) west of Route 89
. In 1947, the western end was truncated to Route 169 in Woodstock. In 1962, Route 197 was extended west along its current alignment to its modern western terminus.
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
, running from Union
Union, Connecticut
Union is a town in Tolland County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 854 at the 2010 census, making it the least populous town in Connecticut and the second-least populous municipality in Connecticut; only the Borough of Fenwick has fewer people...
to the Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
state line in Thompson
Thompson, Connecticut
Thompson is a rural town in Windham County, Connecticut, United States. The town was named after Sir Robert Thompson, an English landholder. The population was 9,458 at the 2010 census...
.
Route description
Route 197 begins as Lawson Road at an intersection with Route 171Connecticut Route 171
Route 171 is a state highway in northeastern Connecticut, running from Union to Putnam.-Route description:Route 171 begins at an interchange from I-84 in northern Union and heads south to the town center, then east, south, and southeast into Eastford. It cuts across the northeast corner of...
in southeastern Union
Union, Connecticut
Union is a town in Tolland County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 854 at the 2010 census, making it the least populous town in Connecticut and the second-least populous municipality in Connecticut; only the Borough of Fenwick has fewer people...
. It heads east towards Woodstock
Woodstock, Connecticut
Woodstock is a town in Windham County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 7,221 at the 2000 census.-Annual events:*The Woodstock Fair, run by the Woodstock Agricultural Society has been held since 1860. The current President of the Woodstock Fair is Susan Z. Hibbard...
, entering the town after 0.9 miles (1.4 km) and becoming Red White School Road. Route 197 travels east for about 6.3 miles (10.1 km) through rural northern Woodstock, becoming Old Turnpike Road after two miles (3 km) and curving southeast and then northeast across the town, and intersecting Route 198. Route 197 eventually reaches the village of North Woodstock, where it has a junction with Route 169
Route 169 (Connecticut)
Route 169 is a state highway in the U.S. states of Connecticut and Massachusetts. It begins in the city of Norwich and runs through Northeastern Connecticut, continuing across the state line into Southbridge, Massachusetts. The route ends in Charlton after another nine miles...
. The road continues another three miles (5 km) to the Thompson
Thompson, Connecticut
Thompson is a rural town in Windham County, Connecticut, United States. The town was named after Sir Robert Thompson, an English landholder. The population was 9,458 at the 2010 census...
town line. In Thompson, it soon crosses the Quinebaug River
Quinebaug River
The Quinebaug River is a river in south-central Massachusetts and eastern Connecticut, with watershed extending into western Rhode Island. The name "Quinebaug" comes from the southern New England Native American term, spelled variously Qunnubbâgge, Quinibauge, etc., meaning "long pond", from...
into the village of Quinebaug
Quinebaug, Connecticut
Quinebaug is a census-designated place in Thompson, a town in Windham County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 1,122 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 11.8 km²...
, intersecting with Route 131 in the village. Route 197 continues northeast another 0.3 mile (0.482802 km) to the Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
state line, where it continues as MA Route 197
Massachusetts Route 197
Route 197 is a state highway that is a continuation of Connecticut Route 197 entirely in the town of Dudley, ending at Route 12....
.
History
The Center Turnpike was chartered in May 1826 as a road from the center of TollandTolland, Connecticut
Tolland is a town in Tolland County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 13,146 at the 2000 census.Tolland was named in May, 1715, and incorporated in May, 1722. According to some, the town derives its name from being a toll station on the old road between Boston and New York. ...
to the village of Quinebaug
Quinebaug, Connecticut
Quinebaug is a census-designated place in Thompson, a town in Windham County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 1,122 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 11.8 km²...
via Westford, North Ashford, and North Woodstock. In 1922, a portion of the Center Turnpike was designated as State Highway 151, which began at New England Route 32, roughly near where modern I-84
Interstate 84 (east)
Interstate 84 is an Interstate Highway extending from Dunmore, Pennsylvania at an interchange with Interstate 81 to Sturbridge, Massachusetts, at an interchange with the Massachusetts Turnpike . I-84 has mile-log junction numbering in Pennsylvania; otherwise, exit numbers are roughly sequential...
and Route 32 intersect in Ashford
Ashford, Connecticut
President George Washington, returning from his tour of the country in the fall of 1789, was chagrined to be involuntarily abandoned in the village on a Sunday...
, and followed Turnpike Road, Boston Hollow Road, Centre Pike, and Old Turnpike Road to the Massachusetts state line.
In the 1932 state highway renumbering
1932 state highway renumbering (Connecticut)
In 1932, the Highway Department of the U.S. state of Connecticut , decided to completely renumber all its state highways. The only exceptions were the U.S. Highways and some of the New England Interstate Routes. Between 1922 and 1932, Connecticut used a state highway numbering system shared with...
, old Highway 151 was renumbered to Route 197, following the old Center Turnpike alignment. In 1941, the western end was truncated to a point in Ashford 1.34 miles (2.2 km) west of Route 89
Connecticut Route 89
Route 89 is a state highway in northeastern Connecticut, running from eastern Mansfield to southern Union. It connectes the villages of Mansfield Center, Warrenville, and Westford...
. In 1947, the western end was truncated to Route 169 in Woodstock. In 1962, Route 197 was extended west along its current alignment to its modern western terminus.
Junction list
| Town | Road names | Junction | Milepost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Union Union, Connecticut Union is a town in Tolland County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 854 at the 2010 census, making it the least populous town in Connecticut and the second-least populous municipality in Connecticut; only the Borough of Fenwick has fewer people... (0.89 miles) |
Lawson Road | 0.00 | |
| Woodstock Woodstock, Connecticut Woodstock is a town in Windham County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 7,221 at the 2000 census.-Annual events:*The Woodstock Fair, run by the Woodstock Agricultural Society has been held since 1860. The current President of the Woodstock Fair is Susan Z. Hibbard... (9.08 miles) |
Red White School Road, Old Turnpike | 1.84 | |
| 7.20 | |||
| Thompson Thompson, Connecticut Thompson is a rural town in Windham County, Connecticut, United States. The town was named after Sir Robert Thompson, an English landholder. The population was 9,458 at the 2010 census... (1.00 miles) |
Old Turnpike Road | 10.66 | |
| 10.97 |