U.S. Route 340
Encyclopedia
U.S. Route 340 is a spur of US 40
. It currently runs for 156 miles (251.1 km) from Greenville
, Virginia
at US 11
to Frederick
, Maryland
at US 40
. Between those two states, US 340 also passes briefly through West Virginia
. In Virginia and West Virginia, it is signed north–south. In Maryland it is signed east–west.
and continues north, entering West Virginia between Charles Town and Harpers Ferry, and then briefly re-enters Virginia before crossing the Potomac River into Maryland. The stretch of US 340 between Charles Town and Harpers Ferry is designated the William L. Wilson Freeway, although it does not share the same characteristics as a traditional freeway and includes traffic lights and at-grade interchanges. It is named for William Lyne Wilson
, who served in the U.S. House of Representatives as a representative from West Virginia
from 1883 to 1895, and as United States Postmaster General
between 1895 and 1897. The northern entrance to Shenandoah National Park via Skyline Drive is found just south of Front Royal. The short segment in Virginia on the Potomac is called Jefferson Pike. This name carries over into Maryland on MD 180
, the road US 340 bypassed. In West Virginia it served as the main business route through Charles Town, but was later placed on a bypass. The main section in Virginia is called Lord Fairfax Highway and is one of the main routes through Berryville, Virginia
.
, US 340 merges with US 15
, continuing north for about 5 miles (8 km) towards Frederick
. After crossing I-70
, US 340 ends at US 40
at a hybrid cloverleaf interchange, whereas US 15 continues northward as Jefferson Street.
U.S. Route 40
U.S. Route 40 is an east–west United States highway. As with most routes whose numbers end in a zero, U.S. 40 once traversed the entire United States. It is one of the original 1920s U.S. Highways, and its first termini were San Francisco, California, and Atlantic City, New Jersey...
. It currently runs for 156 miles (251.1 km) from Greenville
Greenville, Virginia
Greenville is a census-designated place in Augusta County, Virginia, United States. The population was 886 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Staunton–Waynesboro Micropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
, 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...
at US 11
U.S. Route 11 in Virginia
U.S. Route 11 in Virginia runs north–south through the western part of the state, parallel to Interstate 81.-History:What is now US 11 was added to the state highway system in 1918 as portions of State Route 10 and State Route 3 . SR 3 became State Route 33 in 1923, and US 11 was applied to...
to Frederick
Frederick, Maryland
Frederick is a city in north-central Maryland. It is the county seat of Frederick County, the largest county by area in the state of Maryland. Frederick is an outlying community of the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is part of a greater...
, Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
at US 40
U.S. Route 40 in Maryland
U.S. Route 40 in the U.S. state of Maryland runs from western Maryland to Cecil County in the state's northeastern corner. With a total length of over , it is the longest numbered highway in Maryland. Almost half of the road overlaps with Interstate 68 or Interstate 70, while the old alignment...
. Between those two states, US 340 also passes briefly through West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
. In Virginia and West Virginia, it is signed north–south. In Maryland it is signed east–west.
Virginia and West Virginia
US 340 begins at an intersection with US 11U.S. Route 11 in Virginia
U.S. Route 11 in Virginia runs north–south through the western part of the state, parallel to Interstate 81.-History:What is now US 11 was added to the state highway system in 1918 as portions of State Route 10 and State Route 3 . SR 3 became State Route 33 in 1923, and US 11 was applied to...
and continues north, entering West Virginia between Charles Town and Harpers Ferry, and then briefly re-enters Virginia before crossing the Potomac River into Maryland. The stretch of US 340 between Charles Town and Harpers Ferry is designated the William L. Wilson Freeway, although it does not share the same characteristics as a traditional freeway and includes traffic lights and at-grade interchanges. It is named for William Lyne Wilson
William Lyne Wilson
William Lyne Wilson was a Bourbon Democrat politician and lawyer from West Virginia.-Biography:Born in Charles Town, Virginia , Wilson attended Charles Town Academy, graduated from Columbian College in 1860 and subsequently studied at the University of Virginia...
, who served in the U.S. House of Representatives as a representative from West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
from 1883 to 1895, and as United States Postmaster General
United States Postmaster General
The United States Postmaster General is the Chief Executive Officer of the United States Postal Service. The office, in one form or another, is older than both the United States Constitution and the United States Declaration of Independence...
between 1895 and 1897. The northern entrance to Shenandoah National Park via Skyline Drive is found just south of Front Royal. The short segment in Virginia on the Potomac is called Jefferson Pike. This name carries over into Maryland on MD 180
Maryland Route 180
Maryland Route 180 is a state highway in the U.S. state of Maryland. Known for most of its length as Jefferson Pike, the state highway runs from U.S. Route 340 in Knoxville east to MD 351 and Interstate 70 in Frederick. MD 180 is the old alignment of US 340 through Knoxville, Petersville, and...
, the road US 340 bypassed. In West Virginia it served as the main business route through Charles Town, but was later placed on a bypass. The main section in Virginia is called Lord Fairfax Highway and is one of the main routes through Berryville, Virginia
Berryville, Virginia
Berryville is an incorporated town in and the county seat of Clarke County, Virginia, United States. The population was 2,963 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
.
Maryland
Continuing in Maryland, US 340 is called the Jefferson National Pike. North of JeffersonJefferson, Maryland
Jefferson is an unincorporated community located in Frederick County, Maryland, established in 1774, incorporated as a town in 1831. However, a year later, in 1832, the citizens of the town decided that municipal government was unnecessary, thus, it was disincorporated.- History of Jefferson...
, US 340 merges with US 15
U.S. Route 15 in Maryland
U.S. Route 15 is a part of the U.S. Highway System that runs from Walterboro, South Carolina to Painted Post, New York. In Maryland, the highway runs from the Virginia state line at the Potomac River in Point of Rocks north to the Pennsylvania state line near Emmitsburg. US 15 is...
, continuing north for about 5 miles (8 km) towards Frederick
Frederick, Maryland
Frederick is a city in north-central Maryland. It is the county seat of Frederick County, the largest county by area in the state of Maryland. Frederick is an outlying community of the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is part of a greater...
. After crossing I-70
Interstate 70 in Maryland
Interstate 70 is a part of the Interstate Highway System that runs from Cove Fort, Utah to Baltimore, Maryland. In Maryland, the Interstate Highway runs from the Pennsylvania state line in Hancock east to the Interstate's eastern terminus near its junction with I-695 at a park and ride in...
, US 340 ends at US 40
U.S. Route 40 in Maryland
U.S. Route 40 in the U.S. state of Maryland runs from western Maryland to Cecil County in the state's northeastern corner. With a total length of over , it is the longest numbered highway in Maryland. Almost half of the road overlaps with Interstate 68 or Interstate 70, while the old alignment...
at a hybrid cloverleaf interchange, whereas US 15 continues northward as Jefferson Street.