Pennsylvania Route 474
Encyclopedia
Route 474 is a short state highway in Venango Township, Erie County, Pennsylvania
. The route begins at an intersection with Pennsylvania Route 8
and Pennsylvania Route 89
(which are concurrent) in the borough of Wattsburg
, heading for 3.2 miles (5.1 km) into the rural parts of Venango Township before crossing the state line into New York
, where it continues to Sherman, New York
as New York State Route 474
. The route in Pennsylvania was assigned in 1984 as a continuation of NY 474, which was designated in the early 1970s as a replacement to New York State Route 74.
The route itself began as the privately-maintained and tolled Wattsburg and State Line Plank Road. The plank road was chartered on March 25, 1851, running from North Street in Wattsburg to the state line, where it would continue to Sherman. The plank road was set $6,250 (1851 USD) in shares to begin.
and Pennsylvania Route 89
in the community of Wattsburg
. The route heads eastward along Jamestown Street in downtown Wattsburg, passing residential homes for several blocks. At the intersection with Raun Street, Route 474 intersects with the local roads serving the Wattsburg Cemetery in the community. At the intersection with the second cemetery street, the highway leaves the community of Wattsburg and turns to the northeast along Jamestown Road. Route 474 continues to the northeast in the farmlands in rural Erie County, passing small patches of woodlands for most of its length. The route progresses for a distance along this alignment until an intersection with Macedonia Road, where the route turns and begins to wind to the northeast.
Route 474 continues through Venango Township, turning eastward at a gradual bend in the local woodlands. The highway continues, entering a clear area soon after. After an intersection with Weeks Valley Road, Route 474 and the paralleling Tanner Road continue to the New York
state line, where the highway continues as New York State Route 474
. Tanner Road intersects and terminates in New York soon after.
state line, where it ended near the house of J.B. Foote, a local. Following the rules set in a legislation on January 26, 1851. The plank road company, called the Wattsburg and State Line Plank Road Company, was granted 250 shares of $25 company stock (a total of $6,520 in 1851 USD). They were also given a timetable for the construction of the new highway, that if the road was not completed between 1854 and 1858, the charter would be null and void and money would be necessary to repay the state and debts of the company. The plank road itself remained one of the several public roads in Erie County, and by 1884, was still serving its purpose.
used the plank road alignment to connect Wattsburg to New York State Route 474
, which was designated about a decade prior as a replacement to the original New York State Route 74.
Venango Township, Erie County, Pennsylvania
Venango Township is a township in Erie County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 2,277 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 43.7 square miles , 43.6 square miles of which is land and 0.1 square...
. The route begins at an intersection with Pennsylvania Route 8
Pennsylvania Route 8
Pennsylvania Route 8 is a major long route in western Pennsylvania. Officially, PA 8 is named the William Flinn Highway. Its southern terminus is at Interstate 376, U.S. Route 22, and U.S. Route 30 in Pittsburgh...
and Pennsylvania Route 89
Pennsylvania Route 89
Pennsylvania Route 89 is a long north–south state highway located in northwestern Pennsylvania. The southern terminus of the route is at Pennsylvania Route 8 and Pennsylvania Route 27 in Titusville. The northern terminus is at Pennsylvania Route 5 north of North East.-Route description:PA 89...
(which are concurrent) in the borough of Wattsburg
Wattsburg, Pennsylvania
Wattsburg is a borough in Erie County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 378 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Erie Metropolitan Statistical Area.Wattsburg is along the banks of French Creek ....
, heading for 3.2 miles (5.1 km) into the rural parts of Venango Township before crossing the state line into New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, where it continues to Sherman, New York
Sherman, New York
Sherman, New York is the name of two places in Chautauqua County, New York, USA:* Sherman , New York* Sherman , New York, a village in the northern part of the town...
as New York State Route 474
New York State Route 474
New York State Route 474 is a state highway located entirely in Chautauqua County, in the westernmost corner of New York in the United States...
. The route in Pennsylvania was assigned in 1984 as a continuation of NY 474, which was designated in the early 1970s as a replacement to New York State Route 74.
The route itself began as the privately-maintained and tolled Wattsburg and State Line Plank Road. The plank road was chartered on March 25, 1851, running from North Street in Wattsburg to the state line, where it would continue to Sherman. The plank road was set $6,250 (1851 USD) in shares to begin.
Route description
Route 474 begins at an intersection with Pennsylvania Route 8Pennsylvania Route 8
Pennsylvania Route 8 is a major long route in western Pennsylvania. Officially, PA 8 is named the William Flinn Highway. Its southern terminus is at Interstate 376, U.S. Route 22, and U.S. Route 30 in Pittsburgh...
and Pennsylvania Route 89
Pennsylvania Route 89
Pennsylvania Route 89 is a long north–south state highway located in northwestern Pennsylvania. The southern terminus of the route is at Pennsylvania Route 8 and Pennsylvania Route 27 in Titusville. The northern terminus is at Pennsylvania Route 5 north of North East.-Route description:PA 89...
in the community of Wattsburg
Wattsburg, Pennsylvania
Wattsburg is a borough in Erie County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 378 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Erie Metropolitan Statistical Area.Wattsburg is along the banks of French Creek ....
. The route heads eastward along Jamestown Street in downtown Wattsburg, passing residential homes for several blocks. At the intersection with Raun Street, Route 474 intersects with the local roads serving the Wattsburg Cemetery in the community. At the intersection with the second cemetery street, the highway leaves the community of Wattsburg and turns to the northeast along Jamestown Road. Route 474 continues to the northeast in the farmlands in rural Erie County, passing small patches of woodlands for most of its length. The route progresses for a distance along this alignment until an intersection with Macedonia Road, where the route turns and begins to wind to the northeast.
Route 474 continues through Venango Township, turning eastward at a gradual bend in the local woodlands. The highway continues, entering a clear area soon after. After an intersection with Weeks Valley Road, Route 474 and the paralleling Tanner Road continue to the New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
state line, where the highway continues as New York State Route 474
New York State Route 474
New York State Route 474 is a state highway located entirely in Chautauqua County, in the westernmost corner of New York in the United States...
. Tanner Road intersects and terminates in New York soon after.
Old roads
Route 474 follows the alignment of the Wattsburg and State Line Plank Road. The plank road was first chartered on March 25, 1851, when the Pennsylvania State Legislature enacted eight commissioners to start the private highway. The charter detailed that the to-be-constructed plank road was assigned to head from the intersection with North Street in the community of Wattsburg to the New YorkNew York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
state line, where it ended near the house of J.B. Foote, a local. Following the rules set in a legislation on January 26, 1851. The plank road company, called the Wattsburg and State Line Plank Road Company, was granted 250 shares of $25 company stock (a total of $6,520 in 1851 USD). They were also given a timetable for the construction of the new highway, that if the road was not completed between 1854 and 1858, the charter would be null and void and money would be necessary to repay the state and debts of the company. The plank road itself remained one of the several public roads in Erie County, and by 1884, was still serving its purpose.
Designation
Route 474 was assigned in 1984, when the Pennsylvania Department of TransportationPennsylvania Department of Transportation
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation oversees transportation issues in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The administrator of PennDOT is the Pennsylvania Secretary of Transportation, currently Barry Schoch Presently, PennDOT supports over of state roads and highways, about 25,000...
used the plank road alignment to connect Wattsburg to New York State Route 474
New York State Route 474
New York State Route 474 is a state highway located entirely in Chautauqua County, in the westernmost corner of New York in the United States...
, which was designated about a decade prior as a replacement to the original New York State Route 74.