U.S. Bicycle Route 76
Encyclopedia
U.S. Bicycle Route 76 is a cross-country bicycle
route east of the Mississippi River
in the United States
. It is one of the two original U.S. Bicycle Routes
, the other being U.S. Bicycle Route 1
. U.S. Bicycle Route 76 runs from the midwestern state of Illinois
to the eastern seaboard state of Virginia
. It is also known as the TransAmerica Bike Route.
, the route for a large bike tour organized for the 1976 celebration of the United States Bicentennial
. The Adventure Cycling Association was at that time also known as the "Bikecentennial."
Bicycle Route 76 was established in 1982 as an original U.S. Bicycle Route, along with U.S. Bicycle Route 1 from Florida
to Virginia. A 2003 conference encouraged the establishment of new bicycle routes.
, U.S. Bicycle Route 76 intersects the Tunnel Hill State Trail
in southern Illinois and passes through the following counties:
, U.S. Bicycle Route 76 is signed, and a map is available as part of a state bicycle tours publication..
, part of U.S. Bicycle Route 76 is signed, and a map is available as part of a state bicycling publication.
The route passes along the following roads and through the following counties and communities:
Bicycle
A bicycle, also known as a bike, pushbike or cycle, is a human-powered, pedal-driven, single-track vehicle, having two wheels attached to a frame, one behind the other. A person who rides a bicycle is called a cyclist, or bicyclist....
route east of the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It is one of the two original U.S. Bicycle Routes
United States Numbered Bicycle Routes
United States numbered bicycle routes are regional bicycle routes in the United States. They are the bicycle equivalent to the system of United States numbered highways. The system consisted of only two routes from its inception in 1982, until its first major expansion in 2011. Currently seven...
, the other being U.S. Bicycle Route 1
U.S. Bicycle Route 1
U.S. Bicycle Route 1 is a cross-country bicycle route that will run the length of the United States eastern seaboard from Florida to Maine. It is one of the two original U.S. Bicycle Routes, the other being U.S...
. U.S. Bicycle Route 76 runs from the midwestern state of Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
to the eastern seaboard state of Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
. It is also known as the TransAmerica Bike Route.
History
Bicycle Route 76 originated as the BikecentennialBikecentennial
Bikecentennial '76 was a bicycle tour across the United States in the summer of 1976, in commemoration of the bicentennial of America's Declaration of Independence. The route crossed ten states and 112 counties in either direction between Reedsport, OR, and Yorktown, VA, a distance of about...
, the route for a large bike tour organized for the 1976 celebration of the United States Bicentennial
United States Bicentennial
The United States Bicentennial was a series of celebrations and observances during the mid-1970s that paid tribute to the historical events leading up to the creation of the United States as an independent republic...
. The Adventure Cycling Association was at that time also known as the "Bikecentennial."
Bicycle Route 76 was established in 1982 as an original U.S. Bicycle Route, along with U.S. Bicycle Route 1 from Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
to Virginia. A 2003 conference encouraged the establishment of new bicycle routes.
Illinois
In the state of IllinoisIllinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
, U.S. Bicycle Route 76 intersects the Tunnel Hill State Trail
Tunnel Hill State Trail
The Tunnel Hill State Trail is a bicycle trail running from Harrisburg to Karnak, Illinois. The trail runs along the former bed of a part of the Cairo and Vincennes Railroad, a transportation unit led during its early years by Civil War General Ambrose Burnside...
in southern Illinois and passes through the following counties:
- Randolph CountyRandolph County, IllinoisRandolph County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 33,476, which is a decrease of 1.2% from 33,893 in 2000. Its county seat is Chester....
- Jackson CountyJackson County, IllinoisJackson County, incorporated January 10, 1816, is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 60,218, which is an increase of 1.0% from 59,612 in 2000...
- Williamson CountyWilliamson County, Illinois-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*92.7% White*3.8% Black*0.4% Native American*0.8% Asian*0.0% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*1.7% Two or more races*0.4% Other races*2.0% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
- Johnson County
- Pope County
- Hardin County
Kentucky
In the state of KentuckyKentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
, U.S. Bicycle Route 76 is signed, and a map is available as part of a state bicycle tours publication..
Virginia
In the state of VirginiaVirginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
, part of U.S. Bicycle Route 76 is signed, and a map is available as part of a state bicycling publication.
The route passes along the following roads and through the following counties and communities:
- State Route 80 (Virginia) from Elkhorn City, KentuckyElkhorn City, KentuckyAs of the census of 2000, there were 1,060 people, 437 households, and 295 families residing in the city. The population density was 525.5 people per square mile . There were 506 housing units at an average density of 250.8 per square mile...
to Meadowview, VirginiaMeadowview, VirginiaMeadowview is a census-designated place in Washington County, Virginia, United States. The population was 967 at the 2010 census...
in Washington CountyWashington County, VirginiaAs of the census of 2000, there were 51,103 people, 21,056 households, and 14,949 families residing in the county. The population density was 91 people per square mile . There were 22,985 housing units at an average density of 41 per square mile... - Washington County
- Meadowview to DamascusDamascus, VirginiaDamascus is a town in Washington County, Virginia, United States. The population was 981 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Kingsport–Bristol –Bristol Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is a component of the Johnson City–Kingsport–Bristol, TN-VA Combined Statistical...
- U.S. Route 58U.S. Route 58U.S. Route 58 is an east–west U.S. Highway that runs for from U.S. Route 25E just northwest of Harrogate, Tennessee to U.S. Route 60 in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Until 1996, when the Cumberland Gap Tunnel opened, US 58 ran only inside the commonwealth of Virginia...
from Damascus, where the route crosses the Virginia Creeper TrailVirginia Creeper TrailThe Virginia Creeper Trail is a multi-purpose rail trail in southwestern Virginia. The trail runs from Abingdon to Whitetop, Virginia, near the North Carolina state line – through National Forest and crossing numerous restored trestles and crossing the Appalachian Trail.The trail descends...
and the Appalachian TrailAppalachian TrailThe Appalachian National Scenic Trail, generally known as the Appalachian Trail or simply the AT, is a marked hiking trail in the eastern United States extending between Springer Mountain in Georgia and Mount Katahdin in Maine. It is approximately long...
to County Route 603 through Smyth CountySmyth County, VirginiaAs of the census of 2000, there were 33,081 people, 13,493 households, and 9,607 families residing in the county. The population density was 73 people per square mile . There were 15,111 housing units at an average density of 33 per square mile...
to TroutdaleTroutdale, VirginiaTroutdale is a town in Grayson County, Virginia, United States. The population was 194 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Troutdale is located at ....
in Grayson CountyGrayson County, VirginiaAs of the census of 2000, there were 17,917 people, 7,259 households, and 5,088 families residing in the county. The population density was 40 people per square mile . There were 9,123 housing units at an average density of 21 per square mile...
- Meadowview to Damascus
- Grayson County
- State Route 16 from Troutdale to Sugar GroveSugar Grove, VirginiaSugar Grove is a census-designated place in Smyth County, Virginia, United States. The population was 741 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Sugar Grove is located at ....
in Smyth County
- State Route 16 from Troutdale to Sugar Grove
- Smyth CountySmyth County, VirginiaAs of the census of 2000, there were 33,081 people, 13,493 households, and 9,607 families residing in the county. The population density was 73 people per square mile . There were 15,111 housing units at an average density of 33 per square mile...
- Wythe CountyWythe County, VirginiaAs of the census of 2000, there were 27,599 people, 11,511 households, and 8,103 families residing in the county. The population density was 60 people per square mile . There were 12,744 housing units at an average density of 28 per square mile...
- Pulaski CountyPulaski County, VirginiaAs of the census of 2000, there were 35,127 people, 14,643 households, and 10,147 families residing in the county. The population density was 110 people per square mile . There were 16,325 housing units at an average density of 51 per square mile...
- RadfordRadford, VirginiaRadford is a city in Virginia, United States. The population was 16,408 in 2010. For statistical purposes, the Bureau of Economic Analysis combines the city of Radford with neighboring Montgomery County, including the towns of Blacksburg and Christiansburg, calling the combination the...
- Montgomery CountyMontgomery County, VirginiaAs of the census of 2000, there were 83,629 people, 30,997 households, and 17,203 families residing in the county. The population density was 215 people per square mile . There were 32,527 housing units at an average density of 84 per square mile...
- County Routes 787, 664, 600, and 666 from Radford to ChristiansburgChristiansburg, VirginiaChristiansburg is a town in Montgomery County, Virginia, United States. The population was 21,041 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Montgomery County...
- Ellett Road (County Route 723) from CambriaCambria, VirginiaCambria is a neighborhood of the town of Christiansburg in Montgomery County, Virginia. Originally, an independent town from Christiansburg, Cambria stretches along Cambria Road, extending north of the Train Depot on Depot Street...
in Christiansburg to Ellett just east of BlacksburgBlacksburg, VirginiaBlacksburg is an incorporated town located in Montgomery County, Virginia, United States, with a population of 42,620 at the 2010 census. Blacksburg, Christiansburg, and Radford are the three principal jurisdictions of the Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford Metropolitan Statistical Area which...
passing under the Wilson Creek BridgeWilson Creek BridgeThe Wilson Creek Bridge is the tallest bridge in Virginia at tall, the second tallest being the Varina-Enon Bridge over the James River between Henrico County and Chesterfield County at tall....
, tallest bridge in Virginia, and part of the Virginia Smart RoadVirginia Smart RoadThe Virginia Smart Road, also known as simply the Smart Road or Smart Highway, is a short, limited access road in Montgomery County, Virginia used for the testing of pavement technologies and as a proving ground for new transportation technologies. The Smart Road is currently a stretch of road... - Lusters Gate Road (County Route 723) from Ellett to Lusters Gate passing through Ellett Valley with the North Fork of the Roanoke RiverRoanoke RiverThe Roanoke River is a river in southern Virginia and northeastern North Carolina in the United States, 410 mi long. A major river of the southeastern United States, it drains a largely rural area of the coastal plain from the eastern edge of the Appalachian Mountains southeast across the Piedmont...
to the east and the Eastern Continental DivideEastern Continental DivideThe Eastern Continental Divide, in conjunction with other continental divides of North America, demarcates two watersheds of the Atlantic Ocean: the Gulf of Mexico watershed and the Atlantic Seaboard watershed. Prior to 1760, the divide represented the boundary between British and French colonial...
a few miles to the west - Catawba Road (County Route 785) from Lusters Gate to the Roanoke CountyRoanoke County, VirginiaRoanoke County is a county located in the U.S. state of the Commonwealth of Virginia. It is part of the Roanoke Metropolitan Statistical Area and located within the Roanoke Region of Virginia. As of the 2000 census, the population was 85,778. As of 2010, the population was 92,376...
line passing through Catawba Valley
- County Routes 787, 664, 600, and 666 from Radford to Christiansburg
- Roanoke County
- Catawba Road (County Route 785) from the Montgomery County line to CatawbaCatawba, VirginiaCatawba is an unincorporated community in the northern section of Roanoke County, Virginia, United States. Catawba occupies the Catawba Valley bound on the south by the north slope of Catawba Mountain and on the north by several mountains which form the border between Roanoke County and Craig...
passing out of the Roanoke River watershed and into the Chesapeake BayChesapeake BayThe Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in the United States. It lies off the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by Maryland and Virginia. The Chesapeake Bay's drainage basin covers in the District of Columbia and parts of six states: New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and West...
(James RiverJames River (Virginia)The James River is a river in the U.S. state of Virginia. It is long, extending to if one includes the Jackson River, the longer of its two source tributaries. The James River drains a catchment comprising . The watershed includes about 4% open water and an area with a population of 2.5 million...
) watershed - County Route 779 from Catawba to the Botetourt CountyBotetourt County, VirginiaAs of the census of 2000, there were 30,496 people, 11,700 households, and 9,114 families residing in the county. The population density was 56 people per square mile . There were 12,571 housing units at an average density of 23 per square mile...
line
- Catawba Road (County Route 785) from the Montgomery County line to Catawba
- Botetourt County
- Rockbridge CountyRockbridge County, VirginiaAs of the census of 2000, there were 20,808 people, 8,486 households, and 6,075 families residing in the county. The population density was 35 people per square mile . There were 9,550 housing units at an average density of 16 per square mile...
- Augusta CountyAugusta County, VirginiaAs of the census of 2000, there were 65,615 people, 24,818 households, and 18,911 families residing in the county. The population density was 68 people per square mile . There were 26,738 housing units at an average density of 28 per square mile...
- Just south of WaynesboroWaynesboro, VirginiaWaynesboro, deriving its name from General Anthony Wayne, is an independent city surrounded by Augusta County in the U.S. state of Virginia. The population was 21,006 in 2010.....
near Afton Mountain, the route runs along the Blue Ridge ParkwayBlue Ridge ParkwayThe Blue Ridge Parkway is a National Parkway and All-American Road in the United States, noted for its scenic beauty. It runs for 469 miles , mostly along the famous Blue Ridge, a major mountain chain that is part of the Appalachian Mountains...
for 25 miles, overlooking the Shenandoah ValleyShenandoah ValleyThe Shenandoah Valley is both a geographic valley and cultural region of western Virginia and West Virginia in the United States. The valley is bounded to the east by the Blue Ridge Mountains, to the west by the eastern front of the Ridge-and-Valley Appalachians , to the north by the Potomac River...
to the west and Nelson CountyNelson County, VirginiaAs of the census of 2000, there were 14,445 people, 5,887 households, and 4,144 families residing in the county. The population density was 31 people per square mile . There were 8,554 housing units at an average density of 18 per square mile...
's Rockfish Valley to the east. - Albemarle CountyAlbemarle County, VirginiaAs of the census of 2000, there were 79,236 people, 31,876 households, and 21,070 families residing in the county. The population density was 110 people per square mile . There were 33,720 housing units at an average density of 47 per square mile...
- Charlottesville
- Fluvana CountyFluvanna County, VirginiaAs of 2002, Fluvanna County's population was 20,047. There are 7,387 households, and 5,702 families residing in the county. The population density was 70 people per square mile . There were 8,018 housing units at an average density of 28 per square mile...
- Goochland CountyGoochland County, VirginiaGoochland County is a county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2010, the population was 21,717. Its county seat is Goochland. It is located in the Richmond-Petersburg region and is a portion of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area ....
- Louisa CountyLouisa County, VirginiaLouisa County is a county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2010, the population was 33,153. The county seat is Louisa.- History :...
- Hanover CountyHanover County, VirginiaAs of the census of 2000, there were 86,320 people, 31,121 households, and 24,461 families residing in the county. The population density was 183 people per square mile . There were 32,196 housing units at an average density of 68 per square mile...
- Henrico CountyHenrico County, VirginiaHenrico is a county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia, a state of the United States. As of 2010, Henrico was home to 306,935 people. It is located in the Richmond-Petersburg region and is a portion of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area...
- Charles City CountyCharles City County, VirginiaAs of the census of 2000, there were 6,926 people, 2,670 households, and 1,975 families residing in the county. The population density was 38 people per square mile . There were 2,895 housing units at an average density of 16 per square mile...
- James City CountyJames City County, VirginiaJames City County is a county located on the Virginia Peninsula in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of the Commonwealth of Virginia, a state of the United States. Its population was 67,009 , and it is often associated with Williamsburg, an independent city, and Jamestown which is within the...
- WilliamsburgWilliamsburg, VirginiaWilliamsburg is an independent city located on the Virginia Peninsula in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of Virginia, USA. As of the 2010 Census, the city had an estimated population of 14,068. It is bordered by James City County and York County, and is an independent city...
- York CountyYork County, VirginiaYork County is a county located on the north side of the Virginia Peninsula in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of the Commonwealth of Virginia, a state of the United States. Situated on the York River and many tributaries, the county seat is the unincorporated town of Yorktown...
- YorktownYorktown, VirginiaYorktown is a census-designated place in York County, Virginia, United States. The population was 220 in the 2000 census. It is the county seat of York County, one of the eight original shires formed in colonial Virginia in 1634....
- Yorktown