Minnesota State Highway 16
Encyclopedia
Minnesota State Highway 16 is a two-lane highway
in southeast Minnesota
, which runs from its interchange
with Interstate Highway 90
in Dexter
and continues east to its eastern terminus at its intersection
with U.S. Highways 14
and 61
in La Crescent
.
The route was designated as a National Scenic Byway
in 2003 as the Historic Bluff Country Scenic Byway. The roadway follows the route of old U.S. Highway 16
.
Highway 16 is 88 miles (141.6 km) in length.
, Spring Valley
, Preston
, Rushford
, Houston
, and La Crescent
. Highway 16 parallels Interstate 90
throughout its route in southeast Minnesota.
The route passes through the Richard J. Dorer Memorial Hardwood State Forest
in Fillmore
and Houston
counties.
Forestville Mystery Cave State Park
is located near Highway 16 in Fillmore County
. The park is located between Spring Valley
and Preston
.
The eastern terminus for Highway 16 is its junction
with U.S. Highways 14
and 61
in La Crescent
.
The western terminus for the route is its interchange
with Interstate 90
in Dexter
.
This interchange once had a loop from Westbound Highway 16 to Westbound I-90, that looked like this:
State Highway 16 was designated in 1980. The route was originally part of old U.S. Highway 16
from 1926 to 1980.
U.S. 16 was mostly replaced by Interstate Highway 90
within Minnesota.
State Highway 16 from Dexter
to La Crescent
is the only remaining section of this former U.S. route that exists as a trunk highway separate from Interstate 90.
Until 2008, the highway was concurrent
with U.S. 14 / 61 for one mile through La Crescent. After crossing the Mississippi River Bridge and the Wisconsin state line, old U.S. 16 continues on as Wisconsin Highway 16.
The only section of U.S. Highway 16
that remains in the present day is the east–west route between Rapid City, South Dakota
and Yellowstone National Park
in Wyoming
.
Highway
A highway is any public road. In American English, the term is common and almost always designates major roads. In British English, the term designates any road open to the public. Any interconnected set of highways can be variously referred to as a "highway system", a "highway network", or a...
in southeast Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
, which runs from its interchange
Interchange (road)
In the field of road transport, an interchange is a road junction that typically uses grade separation, and one or more ramps, to permit traffic on at least one highway to pass through the junction without directly crossing any other traffic stream. It differs from a standard intersection, at which...
with Interstate Highway 90
Interstate 90 in Minnesota
In the U.S. state of Minnesota, Interstate 90 traverses the southern side of the state, parallel to the Minnesota-Iowa state line. The route connects the cities of Worthington, Albert Lea, and Austin. The cities of Rochester and Winona are also in close proximity to I-90, with Winona about 10...
in Dexter
Dexter, Minnesota
Dexter is a city in Dexter Township, Mower County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 341 at the 2010 census.-History:The community was named for Dexter Parrity, an early settler...
and continues east to its eastern terminus at its intersection
Intersection (road)
An intersection is a road junction where two or more roads either meet or cross at grade . An intersection may be 3-way - a T junction or fork, 4-way - a crossroads, or 5-way or more...
with U.S. Highways 14
U.S. Route 14
U.S. Route 14 , an east–west route, is one of the original United States highways of 1926. It currently has a length of 1,398 miles , but it had a peak length of 1,429 miles . For much of its length, it runs roughly parallel to Interstate 90.As of 2004, the highway's eastern terminus is in...
and 61
U.S. Route 61 in Minnesota
U.S. Highway 61 is a highway in southeast and east-central Minnesota, which runs from the River Bridge over the Mississippi River at La Crescent and continues north to its northern terminus at its junction with Interstate 35 at the city of Wyoming....
in La Crescent
La Crescent, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 4,923 people, 1,940 households, and 1,367 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,634.4 people per square mile . There were 2,014 housing units at an average density of 668.6 per square mile...
.
The route was designated as a National Scenic Byway
National Scenic Byway
A National Scenic Byway is a road recognized by the United States Department of Transportation for its archeological, cultural, historic, natural, recreational, and/or scenic qualities. The program was established by Congress in 1991 to preserve and protect the nation's scenic but often...
in 2003 as the Historic Bluff Country Scenic Byway. The roadway follows the route of old U.S. Highway 16
U.S. Route 16
U.S. Route 16 is an east–west United States Highway between Rapid City, South Dakota and Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming....
.
Highway 16 is 88 miles (141.6 km) in length.
Route description
State Highway 16 serves as an east–west route in southeast Minnesota between DexterDexter, Minnesota
Dexter is a city in Dexter Township, Mower County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 341 at the 2010 census.-History:The community was named for Dexter Parrity, an early settler...
, Spring Valley
Spring Valley, Minnesota
Spring Valley is a city in Fillmore County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 2,479 at the 2010 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land.U.S...
, Preston
Preston, Minnesota
Preston is a city in Fillmore County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 1,325 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Fillmore County. The Root River runs through it, and Mystery Cave State Park is nearby...
, Rushford
Rushford, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there are 1,696 people, 704 households, and 433 families residing in the city. The population density is 988.5 people per square mile . There are 761 housing units at an average density of 443.6 per square mile...
, Houston
Houston, Minnesota
Houston is a city in Houston County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 979 at the 2010 census.-History:The community was named after Sam Houston, first president of the Republic of Texas....
, and La Crescent
La Crescent, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 4,923 people, 1,940 households, and 1,367 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,634.4 people per square mile . There were 2,014 housing units at an average density of 668.6 per square mile...
. Highway 16 parallels Interstate 90
Interstate 90 in Minnesota
In the U.S. state of Minnesota, Interstate 90 traverses the southern side of the state, parallel to the Minnesota-Iowa state line. The route connects the cities of Worthington, Albert Lea, and Austin. The cities of Rochester and Winona are also in close proximity to I-90, with Winona about 10...
throughout its route in southeast Minnesota.
The route passes through the Richard J. Dorer Memorial Hardwood State Forest
Richard J. Dorer Memorial Hardwood State Forest
The Richard J. Dorer Memorial Hardwood State Forest is a reserve of current and former forest in Minnesota's Driftless Area. Only of the land is state owned, with the remainder owned by private individuals and community groups, governed by easements...
in Fillmore
Fillmore County, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 21,122 people, 8,228 households, and 5,718 families residing in the county. The population density was 24 people per square mile . There were 8,908 housing units at an average density of 10 per square mile...
and Houston
Houston County, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 19,718 people, 7,633 households, and 5,411 families residing in the county. The population density was 35 people per square mile . There were 8,168 housing units at an average density of 15 per square mile...
counties.
Forestville Mystery Cave State Park
Forestville Mystery Cave State Park
Forestville Mystery Cave State Park is a state park of Minnesota, USA. It contains the village of Forestville which has been restored to a nineteenth century appearance. The Minnesota Historical Society operates it as a historic site. Below ground the park contains Mystery Cave, the longest cave...
is located near Highway 16 in Fillmore County
Fillmore County, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 21,122 people, 8,228 households, and 5,718 families residing in the county. The population density was 24 people per square mile . There were 8,908 housing units at an average density of 10 per square mile...
. The park is located between Spring Valley
Spring Valley, Minnesota
Spring Valley is a city in Fillmore County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 2,479 at the 2010 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land.U.S...
and Preston
Preston, Minnesota
Preston is a city in Fillmore County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 1,325 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Fillmore County. The Root River runs through it, and Mystery Cave State Park is nearby...
.
The eastern terminus for Highway 16 is its junction
Junction (traffic)
A junction, when discussed in the context of transport, is a location where traffic can change between different routes, directions, or sometimes modes, of travel.-Historical significance:...
with U.S. Highways 14
U.S. Route 14
U.S. Route 14 , an east–west route, is one of the original United States highways of 1926. It currently has a length of 1,398 miles , but it had a peak length of 1,429 miles . For much of its length, it runs roughly parallel to Interstate 90.As of 2004, the highway's eastern terminus is in...
and 61
U.S. Route 61 in Minnesota
U.S. Highway 61 is a highway in southeast and east-central Minnesota, which runs from the River Bridge over the Mississippi River at La Crescent and continues north to its northern terminus at its junction with Interstate 35 at the city of Wyoming....
in La Crescent
La Crescent, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 4,923 people, 1,940 households, and 1,367 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,634.4 people per square mile . There were 2,014 housing units at an average density of 668.6 per square mile...
.
The western terminus for the route is its interchange
Interchange (road)
In the field of road transport, an interchange is a road junction that typically uses grade separation, and one or more ramps, to permit traffic on at least one highway to pass through the junction without directly crossing any other traffic stream. It differs from a standard intersection, at which...
with Interstate 90
Interstate 90 in Minnesota
In the U.S. state of Minnesota, Interstate 90 traverses the southern side of the state, parallel to the Minnesota-Iowa state line. The route connects the cities of Worthington, Albert Lea, and Austin. The cities of Rochester and Winona are also in close proximity to I-90, with Winona about 10...
in Dexter
Dexter, Minnesota
Dexter is a city in Dexter Township, Mower County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 341 at the 2010 census.-History:The community was named for Dexter Parrity, an early settler...
.
This interchange once had a loop from Westbound Highway 16 to Westbound I-90, that looked like this:
History
U.S. Route 16
U.S. Route 16 is an east–west United States Highway between Rapid City, South Dakota and Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming....
from 1926 to 1980.
U.S. 16 was mostly replaced by Interstate Highway 90
Interstate 90 in Minnesota
In the U.S. state of Minnesota, Interstate 90 traverses the southern side of the state, parallel to the Minnesota-Iowa state line. The route connects the cities of Worthington, Albert Lea, and Austin. The cities of Rochester and Winona are also in close proximity to I-90, with Winona about 10...
within Minnesota.
State Highway 16 from Dexter
Dexter, Minnesota
Dexter is a city in Dexter Township, Mower County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 341 at the 2010 census.-History:The community was named for Dexter Parrity, an early settler...
to La Crescent
La Crescent, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 4,923 people, 1,940 households, and 1,367 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,634.4 people per square mile . There were 2,014 housing units at an average density of 668.6 per square mile...
is the only remaining section of this former U.S. route that exists as a trunk highway separate from Interstate 90.
Until 2008, the highway was concurrent
Concurrency (road)
A concurrency, overlap, or coincidence in a road network is an instance of one physical road bearing two or more different highway, motorway, or other route numbers...
with U.S. 14 / 61 for one mile through La Crescent. After crossing the Mississippi River Bridge and the Wisconsin state line, old U.S. 16 continues on as Wisconsin Highway 16.
The only section of U.S. Highway 16
U.S. Route 16
U.S. Route 16 is an east–west United States Highway between Rapid City, South Dakota and Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming....
that remains in the present day is the east–west route between Rapid City, South Dakota
Rapid City, South Dakota
Rapid City is the second-largest city in the U.S. state of South Dakota, and the county seat of Pennington County. Named after Rapid Creek on which the city is established, it is set against the eastern slope of the Black Hills mountain range. The population was 67,956 as of the 2010 Census. Rapid...
and Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone National Park, established by the U.S. Congress and signed into law by President Ulysses S. Grant on March 1, 1872, is a national park located primarily in the U.S. state of Wyoming, although it also extends into Montana and Idaho...
in Wyoming
Wyoming
Wyoming is a state in the mountain region of the Western United States. The western two thirds of the state is covered mostly with the mountain ranges and rangelands in the foothills of the Eastern Rocky Mountains, while the eastern third of the state is high elevation prairie known as the High...
.
Major intersections
- Mileposts are retained from old U.S. 16.