U.S. Route 59
Encyclopedia
U.S. Route 59 is a north–south United States highway (though it is signed east–west in parts of Texas
). A latecomer to the U.S. numbered route system, U.S. 59 is now a border-to-border route, Part of NAFTA Corridor Highway System. It parallels U.S. Route 75
for nearly its entire route, never much more than 100 miles (160.9 km) away, until it veers southwest in Houston, Texas
. Its number is out of place since U.S. 59 is either concurrent with or entirely west of U.S. Route 71
.
The highway's northern terminus is nine miles (14 km) north of Lancaster, Minnesota
, at the Canadian border, where it continues as Manitoba Highway 59. Its southern terminus is in Laredo, Texas
, at an interchange with Interstate 35
and U.S. Route 83
just north of the Mexican border.
From the southwestern suburbs of Houston to Downtown Houston
, U.S. 59 is commonly referred to as the "Southwest Freeway," sometimes derisively as the "Southwest's Best Freeway." Supporting 371,000 vehicles per day, it is one of the busiest freeways in the United States. U.S. 59 is known as the "Eastex Freeway" in the north/northeast part of the Houston region. On US-Mexico Border, it ends in Laredo, Texas in at an intersection with Interstate 35
which also ends at the Juarez-Lincoln International Bridge
. After crossing the bridge into Mexico
Mexican Federal Highway 85
starts at Nuevo Laredo
which then runs through Mexico and Central America
and ends at in Panama
at the Panama Canal
.
, U.S. 59 is concurrent with U.S. Route 71
from Interstate 30
at Texarkana
to Acorn
, and with U.S. Route 270
from Acorn to the Oklahoma
state line.
are co-signed for 10 miles (16.1 km) in Delaware County
, Oklahoma
.
U.S. 59 is co-signed with U.S. Route 270
from the Arkansas State Line to Heavener
and U.S. Route 271
from Poteau
to west of Spiro
. Also with U.S. Route 64
in Sallisaw
and runs nearly directly north across the state. U.S. 59 runs concurrently with U.S. 169 starting about four miles (6 km) south of Garnett
and diverges north again immediately south of Garnett. The intersection immediately south of Garnett used to be a "braided" intersection with Stop and Yield signs. It was identified as a high crash location in 2001, and was rebuilt as a roundabout that opened in April 2006. The Kansas Department of Transportation is rebuilding or planning to rebuild several other rural intersections as roundabouts for increased safety. U.S. 59 passes through Lawrence
, home of the University of Kansas
Jayhawks. The street name of U.S. 59 in Lawrence is Iowa Street, then 6th street as it joins U.S. 40 and jogs east to cross the Kansas River
near downtown. North of the bridge, it splits with U.S. 40 as it joins U.S. 24 briefly and jogs back west before resuming a northerly course. It continues north to Nortonville
, then northeast to Atchison
, where it crosses the Missouri River
over the Amelia Earhart Bridge
. U.S.59 is currently being rebuilt and rerouted just to the east between Lawrence and Ottawa
as a divided highway, as the current road has become one of the most dangerous stretches of highway in the state.http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2007/jun/21/end_road_silent_killer/
, U.S. 59 roughly follows the Missouri River
in the northwest corner of the state, from its entrance at Winthrop. In Saint Joseph
the highway is paired with Interstate 229
through downtown. U.S. 59 departs from I-229 as Saint Joseph Avenue, joining with U.S. Route 71 at Interstate 29. The two highways then separate in Savannah
. U.S. 59 then follows Interstate 29 very closely until turning northward at Craig
. It exits the state ten miles (16 km) north of Tarkio
.
, U.S. 59 is a main north–south artery in the far western part of the state. It enters Iowa south of Shenandoah
, Everly Brothers Ave. in Shenandoah's city limits, and junctions Interstate 80
at Avoca
. It passes through the county seats of Harlan
, Denison
, and Cherokee
. Except for small stretches of expressway
near Avoca
, Denison, and Holstein
, the entire length of U.S. 59 in Iowa is an undivided two-lane road. U.S. 59 exits the state near Hawkeye Point
, the highest point in the state of Iowa.
south of Worthington
, just one mile (1.6 km) east of Bigelow
. It passes through rural western Minnesota for its entire length in the state. Some cities along the way include Currie
, Marshall
, Clarkfield
, Montevideo
, and Morris
. U.S. 59 overlaps Interstate 94
in the Fergus Falls
area. North of Fergus Falls, U.S. 59 passes through Pelican Rapids
, Detroit Lakes
and Thief River Falls
before ending at the Canadian border north of Lancaster
.
The Minnesota section of U.S. 59 is legally defined as all or part of Routes 265, 16, 17, 88, 66, 144, 3, 30, and 174 in Minnesota Statutes §§ 161.115(19), (75), and (196) and 161.114(2).
In 1934, a coalition of government officials from Missouri, Iowa, and Minnesota agreed to sign the current U.S. Route 59 as Highway 73 in an attempt to extend U.S. Route 73
north from Atchison, Kansas
. However, AASHO approved the route as U.S. Route 59 instead.
The part in Missouri
was defined in 1922 as Route 52 from Kansas
to St. Joseph, Route 1 from St. Joseph to Tarkio, and Route 61 from Tarkio to Iowa
. Route 61 became Route 9 in 1926, and Route 52 became part of Route 4 in the late 1920s, before being removed in favor of U.S. 59 in the 1930s.
U.S. 59 originally crossed into North Dakota
at Pembina
until the early 1950s.
, crossed the Red River of the North
at St. Vincent
and terminated at U.S. 81
in Pembina, North Dakota
. A new highway and border crossing was built north of Lancaster on the present alignment. The former segment of U.S. 59 between Lancaster and U.S. 75 became Kittson County 6, and the extremely short segment between U.S. 75 and U.S. 81 became Minnesota State Highway 171
and North Dakota Highway 59. ND Route 59 still exists in Pembina from the MN-ND border to Interstate 29
.
From 1934 to 1935, the U.S. 59 designation referred to a 50 miles (80.5 km)-long route across southeastern Minnesota
, from Lake City, Minnesota
, to the Iowa
border just short of Chester, Iowa
. That entire route is now part of U.S. Route 63
, and nowhere close to the present U.S. 59, established in 1935.
through Texas, allowing the current alignment and right-of-way to be upgraded without the need for extensive eminent domain proceedings.
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
). A latecomer to the U.S. numbered route system, U.S. 59 is now a border-to-border route, Part of NAFTA Corridor Highway System. It parallels U.S. Route 75
U.S. Route 75
U.S. Route 75 is a north–south U.S. Highway. The highway's northern terminus is in Kittson County, Minnesota, at the Canadian border, where it continues as Manitoba Highway 75 on the other side of a closed border crossing. Its southern terminus is at Interstate 30 and Interstate 45 in Dallas,...
for nearly its entire route, never much more than 100 miles (160.9 km) away, until it veers southwest in Houston, Texas
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
. Its number is out of place since U.S. 59 is either concurrent with or entirely west of U.S. Route 71
U.S. Route 71
U.S. Route 71 is a north–south United States highway. This original 1926 route has remained largely unchanged by encroaching Interstate highways. Currently, the highway's northern terminus is in International Falls, Minnesota at the Canadian border, at the southern end of the Fort...
.
The highway's northern terminus is nine miles (14 km) north of Lancaster, Minnesota
Lancaster, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 363 people, 154 households, and 91 families residing in the city. The population density was 161.6 people per square mile . There were 193 housing units at an average density of 85.9 per square mile . The racial makeup of the city was 98.90% White, 28% Native...
, at the Canadian border, where it continues as Manitoba Highway 59. Its southern terminus is in Laredo, Texas
Laredo, Texas
Laredo is the county seat of Webb County, Texas, United States, located on the north bank of the Rio Grande in South Texas, across from Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, Mexico. According to the 2010 census, the city population was 236,091 making it the 3rd largest on the United States-Mexican border,...
, at an interchange with Interstate 35
Interstate 35
Interstate 35 is a north–south Interstate Highway in the central United States. I-35 stretches from Laredo, Texas, on the U.S.-Mexico border to Duluth, Minnesota, at Minnesota Highway 61 and 26th Avenue East. Many interstates used to have splits or spurs indicated with suffixed letters , but I-35...
and U.S. Route 83
U.S. Route 83
U.S. Route 83 is one of the longest north–south U.S. Highways in the United States, at . Only four other north–south routes are longer: U.S. Routes 1, 41, 59 and 87. The highway's northern terminus is north of Westhope, North Dakota, at the Canadian border, where it continues as...
just north of the Mexican border.
Texas
Downtown Houston
Downtown Houston is the largest business district of Houston, Texas, United States. Downtown Houston, the city's central business district, contains the headquarters of many prominent companies. There is an extensive network of pedestrian tunnels and skywalks connecting the buildings of the district...
, U.S. 59 is commonly referred to as the "Southwest Freeway," sometimes derisively as the "Southwest's Best Freeway." Supporting 371,000 vehicles per day, it is one of the busiest freeways in the United States. U.S. 59 is known as the "Eastex Freeway" in the north/northeast part of the Houston region. On US-Mexico Border, it ends in Laredo, Texas in at an intersection with Interstate 35
Interstate 35
Interstate 35 is a north–south Interstate Highway in the central United States. I-35 stretches from Laredo, Texas, on the U.S.-Mexico border to Duluth, Minnesota, at Minnesota Highway 61 and 26th Avenue East. Many interstates used to have splits or spurs indicated with suffixed letters , but I-35...
which also ends at the Juarez-Lincoln International Bridge
Juárez-Lincoln International Bridge
The Juárez–Lincoln International Bridge is one of four vehicular international bridges located in the cities of Laredo, Texas, and Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, that connect the United States and Mexico over the Rio Grande...
. After crossing the bridge into Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
Mexican Federal Highway 85
Mexican Federal Highway 85
Mexico's Federal Highway 85 connects Mexico City with the U.S. border at Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas. It is the original route of the Inter-American Highway. Highway 85 runs through Monterrey, Nuevo León; Ciudad Victoria, Tamaulipas; Ciudad Valles, San Luis Potosí; and Pachuca, Hidalgo...
starts at Nuevo Laredo
Nuevo Laredo
Nuevo Laredo is a city located in the Municipality of Nuevo Laredo in the Mexican state of Tamaulipas. The city lies on the banks of the Río Grande, across from the United States city of Laredo, Texas. The 2010 census population of the city was 373,725. Nuevo Laredo is part of the Laredo-Nuevo...
which then runs through Mexico and Central America
Central America
Central America is the central geographic region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmian portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast. When considered part of the unified continental model, it is considered a subcontinent...
and ends at in Panama
Panama
Panama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
at the Panama Canal
Panama Canal
The Panama Canal is a ship canal in Panama that joins the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean and is a key conduit for international maritime trade. Built from 1904 to 1914, the canal has seen annual traffic rise from about 1,000 ships early on to 14,702 vessels measuring a total of 309.6...
.
Arkansas
In ArkansasArkansas
Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
, U.S. 59 is concurrent with U.S. Route 71
U.S. Route 71
U.S. Route 71 is a north–south United States highway. This original 1926 route has remained largely unchanged by encroaching Interstate highways. Currently, the highway's northern terminus is in International Falls, Minnesota at the Canadian border, at the southern end of the Fort...
from Interstate 30
Interstate 30
Interstate 30 is an Interstate Highway in the southern United States. I-30 runs from Interstate 20 west of Fort Worth, Texas, northeast via Dallas, Texas, and Texarkana, Texas, to Interstate 40 in North Little Rock, Arkansas. The route parallels U.S. Route 67 except for the portion west of...
at Texarkana
Texarkana, Arkansas
As of the census of 2000, there were 26,448 people, 10,384 households, and 7,040 families residing in the city. The population density was 830.5 people per square mile . There were 11,721 housing units at an average density of 368.1 per square mile...
to Acorn
Acorn, Arkansas
Acorn, Arkansas is an unincorporated town in Polk County, Arkansas, United States, approximately 6 miles north of Mena. The town is located at the junction of U.S. Route 59, U.S. Route 71 and U.S. Route 270 in the northern part of the county. Though Acorn is only a three-way junction, it marks the...
, and with U.S. Route 270
U.S. Route 270
U.S. Route 270 is a spur of U.S. Route 70. It currently runs for 643 miles from Liberal, Kansas at U.S. Route 54 to White Hall, Arkansas at Interstate 530 and U.S. Route 65. It passes through the states of Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Kansas...
from Acorn to the Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
state line.
Oklahoma
U.S. 59 and U.S. Route 412U.S. Route 412
U.S. Route 412 is an east–west United States highway, first commissioned in 1982. Its route number is a "violation" of the usual AASHTO numbering scheme, as it comes nowhere near its implied "parent", US 12. U.S...
are co-signed for 10 miles (16.1 km) in Delaware County
Delaware County, Oklahoma
Delaware County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of 2000, the population was 37,077 and the newest population estimate is 45,000. Its county seat is Jay. The county was named for the Delaware Indians resettled in what was then Indian Territory in the 1830s. .Delaware County...
, Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
.
U.S. 59 is co-signed with U.S. Route 270
U.S. Route 270
U.S. Route 270 is a spur of U.S. Route 70. It currently runs for 643 miles from Liberal, Kansas at U.S. Route 54 to White Hall, Arkansas at Interstate 530 and U.S. Route 65. It passes through the states of Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Kansas...
from the Arkansas State Line to Heavener
Heavener, Oklahoma
Heavener is a city in Le Flore County, Oklahoma, United States. It is part of the Fort Smith, Arkansas-Oklahoma Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 3,201 at the 2000 census.-Heavener Runestone:...
and U.S. Route 271
U.S. Route 271
U.S. Route 271 is a north–south United States highway. Never a long highway, it went from bi-state route to a tri-state route . The highway's northern terminus is in Fort Smith, Arkansas at an intersection with Business U.S. Route 71 and Highway 255...
from Poteau
Poteau, Oklahoma
Poteau is a city in Le Flore County, Oklahoma, United States. It is part of the Fort Smith, Arkansas-Oklahoma Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 8,520 at the 2010 census, ranking fifth in the Greater Fort Smith Area. It is the county seat of Le Flore County...
to west of Spiro
Spiro, Oklahoma
Spiro is a town in Le Flore County, Oklahoma, United States. It is part of the Fort Smith, Arkansas-Oklahoma Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 2,227 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Spiro is located at ....
. Also with U.S. Route 64
U.S. Route 64
U.S. Route 64 is an east–west United States highway that runs for 2,326 miles from eastern North Carolina to just southwest of the Four Corners in northeast Arizona. The western terminus is at U.S. Route 160 in Teec Nos Pos, Arizona. The highway's eastern terminus is at NC 12 and U.S. Route...
in Sallisaw
Sallisaw, Oklahoma
Sallisaw is a city in Sequoyah County, Oklahoma, United States. It is part of the Fort Smith, Arkansas-Oklahoma Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 8,880 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Sequoyah County. It has three highways running through it: U.S. 59, or Kerr Boulevard,...
Kansas
U.S. 59 enters the state just south of ChetopaChetopa, Kansas
Chetopa is a city in Labette County, Kansas, United States. The population was 1,281 at the 2000 census. Chetopa was named for Chief Chetopa, an Osage Indian chief.-Geography:Chetopa is located at...
and runs nearly directly north across the state. U.S. 59 runs concurrently with U.S. 169 starting about four miles (6 km) south of Garnett
Garnett, Kansas
Garnett is a city in and the county seat of Anderson County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 3,415.-Geography:Garnett is located at...
and diverges north again immediately south of Garnett. The intersection immediately south of Garnett used to be a "braided" intersection with Stop and Yield signs. It was identified as a high crash location in 2001, and was rebuilt as a roundabout that opened in April 2006. The Kansas Department of Transportation is rebuilding or planning to rebuild several other rural intersections as roundabouts for increased safety. U.S. 59 passes through Lawrence
Lawrence, Kansas
Lawrence is the sixth largest city in the U.S. State of Kansas and the county seat of Douglas County. Located in northeastern Kansas, Lawrence is the anchor city of the Lawrence, Kansas, Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Douglas County...
, home of the University of Kansas
University of Kansas
The University of Kansas is a public research university and the largest university in the state of Kansas. KU campuses are located in Lawrence, Wichita, Overland Park, and Kansas City, Kansas with the main campus being located in Lawrence on Mount Oread, the highest point in Lawrence. The...
Jayhawks. The street name of U.S. 59 in Lawrence is Iowa Street, then 6th street as it joins U.S. 40 and jogs east to cross the Kansas River
Kansas River
The Kansas River is a river in northeastern Kansas in the United States. It is the southwestern-most part of the Missouri River drainage, which is in turn the northwestern-most portion of the extensive Mississippi River drainage. Its name come from the Kanza people who once inhabited the area...
near downtown. North of the bridge, it splits with U.S. 40 as it joins U.S. 24 briefly and jogs back west before resuming a northerly course. It continues north to Nortonville
Nortonville, Kansas
Nortonville is a city in Jefferson County, Kansas, United States. The population was 620 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Topeka, Kansas Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Nortonville is located at ....
, then northeast to Atchison
Atchison, Kansas
Atchison is a city situated along the Missouri River in the eastern part of Atchison County, located in northeast Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 11,021. It is the county seat and most populous city of Atchison County...
, where it crosses the Missouri River
Missouri River
The Missouri River flows through the central United States, and is a tributary of the Mississippi River. It is the longest river in North America and drains the third largest area, though only the thirteenth largest by discharge. The Missouri's watershed encompasses most of the American Great...
over the Amelia Earhart Bridge
Amelia Earhart Bridge
The Amelia Earhart Memorial Bridge is a truss bridge over the Missouri River on U.S. Route 59 between Atchison, Kansas and Buchanan County, Missouri.It was built in 1937–1938 by the Works Progress Administration. It was designed by Sverdrup & Parcel...
. U.S.59 is currently being rebuilt and rerouted just to the east between Lawrence and Ottawa
Ottawa, Kansas
Ottawa is a city situated along the Marais des Cygnes River in the central part of Franklin County, located in east-central Kansas, 50 miles southwest of Kansas City, Mo., in the central United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 12,649. It is the county seat and most populous...
as a divided highway, as the current road has become one of the most dangerous stretches of highway in the state.http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2007/jun/21/end_road_silent_killer/
Missouri
In MissouriMissouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
, U.S. 59 roughly follows the Missouri River
Missouri River
The Missouri River flows through the central United States, and is a tributary of the Mississippi River. It is the longest river in North America and drains the third largest area, though only the thirteenth largest by discharge. The Missouri's watershed encompasses most of the American Great...
in the northwest corner of the state, from its entrance at Winthrop. In Saint Joseph
Saint Joseph, Missouri
Saint Joseph is the second largest city in northwest Missouri, only second to Kansas City in size, serving as the county seat for Buchanan County. As of the 2010 census, Saint Joseph had a total population of 76,780, making it the eighth largest city in the state. The St...
the highway is paired with Interstate 229
Interstate 229 (Missouri)
Interstate 229 in the state of Missouri, USA, is an approximately 14 mile Interstate Highway spur designed to speed traffic from Interstate 29 to downtown Saint Joseph....
through downtown. U.S. 59 departs from I-229 as Saint Joseph Avenue, joining with U.S. Route 71 at Interstate 29. The two highways then separate in Savannah
Savannah, Missouri
Savannah is a city in Andrew County, Missouri, United States. The population was 4,762 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Andrew County.Savannah is part of the St...
. U.S. 59 then follows Interstate 29 very closely until turning northward at Craig
Craig, Missouri
Craig is a city in Holt County, Missouri, United States. The population was 309 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Craig is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land....
. It exits the state ten miles (16 km) north of Tarkio
Tarkio, Missouri
Tarkio is a city in Tarkio Township, Atchison County, Missouri, United States. The population was 1,583 at the 2010 census . It was platted in 1880 and incorporated in 1881. The name "Tarkio" is from a Native American word meaning "place where walnuts grow"...
.
Iowa
In IowaIowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
, U.S. 59 is a main north–south artery in the far western part of the state. It enters Iowa south of Shenandoah
Shenandoah, Iowa
Shenandoah is a city in Fremont and Page Counties in the U.S. state of Iowa. The population was 5,546 at the 2000 census.Once referred to as the "seed and nursery center of the world," Shenandoah is the home to Earl May Seed Company and the radio station KMA, founded by Earl May...
, Everly Brothers Ave. in Shenandoah's city limits, and junctions Interstate 80
Interstate 80
Interstate 80 is the second-longest Interstate Highway in the United States, following Interstate 90. It is a transcontinental artery running from downtown San Francisco, California to Teaneck, New Jersey in the New York City Metropolitan Area...
at Avoca
Avoca, Iowa
Avoca is a city in Pottawattamie County, Iowa, United States. The population was 1,610 at the 2000 census.-History:Avoca was founded in 1869 in connection with the construction of the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad through the area. It quickly developed as a regional service center for...
. It passes through the county seats of Harlan
Harlan, Iowa
Harlan is a city in Shelby County, Iowa, United States, along the West Nishnabotna River. The population was 5,282 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Shelby County.-History:...
, Denison
Denison, Iowa
Denison is a city in Crawford County, Iowa, United States, along the Boyer River. The population was 7,339 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Crawford County.-Geography:Denison is located at ....
, and Cherokee
Cherokee, Iowa
Cherokee is a city in Cherokee County, Iowa, United States. The population was 5,932 at the 2010 Census, up from 5,369 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Cherokee County. Cherokee is also the home of the Cherokee Mental Health Institute, under the Iowa Department of Human Services...
. Except for small stretches of expressway
Limited-access road
A limited-access road known by various terms worldwide, including limited-access highway, dual-carriageway and expressway, is a highway or arterial road for high-speed traffic which has many or most characteristics of a controlled-access highway , including limited or no access to adjacent...
near Avoca
Avoca, Iowa
Avoca is a city in Pottawattamie County, Iowa, United States. The population was 1,610 at the 2000 census.-History:Avoca was founded in 1869 in connection with the construction of the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad through the area. It quickly developed as a regional service center for...
, Denison, and Holstein
Holstein, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 1,396 in the city, with a population density of . There were 674 housing units, of which 616 were occupied. -2000 census:...
, the entire length of U.S. 59 in Iowa is an undivided two-lane road. U.S. 59 exits the state near Hawkeye Point
Hawkeye Point
Hawkeye Point is the highest natural point in Iowa at . Located approximately north of Sibley on the eastern side of SR 60 and approximately south of the Iowa-Minnesota state border...
, the highest point in the state of Iowa.
Minnesota
U.S. 59 enters MinnesotaMinnesota
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...
south of Worthington
Worthington, Minnesota
Worthington is a city in Nobles County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 12,764 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Nobles County.The city's site was first settled in the 1870s as Okabena Station on a line of the Chicago, St...
, just one mile (1.6 km) east of Bigelow
Bigelow, Minnesota
Bigelow is a city in Nobles County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 235 at the 2010 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land. The town of Bigelow is located in southcentral Nobles County in section 31 of Bigelow...
. It passes through rural western Minnesota for its entire length in the state. Some cities along the way include Currie
Currie, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 225 people, 109 households, and 67 families residing in the city. The population density was 393.0 people per square mile . There were 127 housing units at an average density of 221.9 per square mile . The racial makeup of the city was 99.56% White, and 0.44%...
, Marshall
Marshall, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 12,735 people, 4,914 households, and 2,914 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,537.0 people per square mile . There were 5,182 housing units at an average density of 625.4 per square mile...
, Clarkfield
Clarkfield, Minnesota
Clarkfield is a city in Yellow Medicine County, Minnesota, United States, surrounded by Friendship Township. The population was 863 at the 2010 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land....
, Montevideo
Montevideo, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 5,346 people, 2,353 households, and 1,444 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,190.5 people per square mile . There were 2,551 housing units at an average density of 568.1 per square mile...
, and Morris
Morris, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 5,068 people, 1,929 households, and 985 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,183.2 people per square mile . There were 2,067 housing units at an average density of 482.6 per square mile...
. U.S. 59 overlaps Interstate 94
Interstate 94
Interstate 94 is the northernmost east–west Interstate Highway, connecting the Great Lakes and Intermountain regions of the United States. I-94's western terminus is in Billings, Montana at a junction with Interstate 90; its eastern terminus is the U.S...
in the Fergus Falls
Fergus Falls, Minnesota
Fergus Falls is a city in and the county seat of Otter Tail County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 13,138 at the 2010 census.-Today:...
area. North of Fergus Falls, U.S. 59 passes through Pelican Rapids
Pelican Rapids, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 2,374 people, 884 households, and 558 families residing in the city. The population density was 905.8 people per square mile . There were 962 housing units at an average density of 367.0 per square mile...
, Detroit Lakes
Detroit Lakes, Minnesota
-Demographics:As of the official census of 2000, there were 7,348 people, 3,319 households, and 1,845 families permanently residing in the city. The population density was 980.4 people per square mile . There were 3,782 housing units at an average density of 504.6 per square mile...
and Thief River Falls
Thief River Falls, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 8,410 people, 3,619 households, and 2,091 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,760.0 people per square mile . There were 3,931 housing units at an average density of 822.7 per square mile...
before ending at the Canadian border north of Lancaster
Lancaster, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 363 people, 154 households, and 91 families residing in the city. The population density was 161.6 people per square mile . There were 193 housing units at an average density of 85.9 per square mile . The racial makeup of the city was 98.90% White, 28% Native...
.
The Minnesota section of U.S. 59 is legally defined as all or part of Routes 265, 16, 17, 88, 66, 144, 3, 30, and 174 in Minnesota Statutes §§ 161.115(19), (75), and (196) and 161.114(2).
History
U.S. Route 73
U.S. Route 73 is a north–south United States highway that runs for 112 miles from northeast Kansas to southeast Nebraska. The highway's southern terminus is Bonner Springs, Kansas at Interstate 70. Its northern terminus is near Dawson, Nebraska at U.S. Highway 75.-Kansas:U.S. Route 73...
north from Atchison, Kansas
Atchison, Kansas
Atchison is a city situated along the Missouri River in the eastern part of Atchison County, located in northeast Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 11,021. It is the county seat and most populous city of Atchison County...
. However, AASHO approved the route as U.S. Route 59 instead.
The part in Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
was defined in 1922 as Route 52 from Kansas
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
to St. Joseph, Route 1 from St. Joseph to Tarkio, and Route 61 from Tarkio to Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
. Route 61 became Route 9 in 1926, and Route 52 became part of Route 4 in the late 1920s, before being removed in favor of U.S. 59 in the 1930s.
U.S. 59 originally crossed into North Dakota
North Dakota
North Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States of America, along the Canadian border. The state is bordered by Canada to the north, Minnesota to the east, South Dakota to the south and Montana to the west. North Dakota is the 19th-largest state by area in the U.S....
at Pembina
Pembina, North Dakota
Pembina is a city in Pembina County, North Dakota in the United States. The population was 592 at the 2010 census.The area of Pembina was long inhabited by various indigenous peoples...
until the early 1950s.
Historic termini
Before the 1960s, U.S. 59 headed northwest to U.S. 75U.S. Route 75
U.S. Route 75 is a north–south U.S. Highway. The highway's northern terminus is in Kittson County, Minnesota, at the Canadian border, where it continues as Manitoba Highway 75 on the other side of a closed border crossing. Its southern terminus is at Interstate 30 and Interstate 45 in Dallas,...
, crossed the Red River of the North
Red River of the North
The Red River is a North American river. Originating at the confluence of the Bois de Sioux and Otter Tail rivers in the United States, it flows northward through the Red River Valley and forms the border between the U.S. states of Minnesota and North Dakota before continuing into Manitoba, Canada...
at St. Vincent
St. Vincent, Minnesota
St. Vincent is a city in Kittson County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 64 at the 2010 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which, of it is land and of it is water....
and terminated at U.S. 81
U.S. Route 81
U.S. Route 81 is one of the many United States Numbered Highways established in 1926 by the US Department of Agriculture Bureau of Public Roads....
in Pembina, North Dakota
Pembina, North Dakota
Pembina is a city in Pembina County, North Dakota in the United States. The population was 592 at the 2010 census.The area of Pembina was long inhabited by various indigenous peoples...
. A new highway and border crossing was built north of Lancaster on the present alignment. The former segment of U.S. 59 between Lancaster and U.S. 75 became Kittson County 6, and the extremely short segment between U.S. 75 and U.S. 81 became Minnesota State Highway 171
Minnesota State Highway 171
Minnesota State Highway 171 is a short highway in the northwest corner of Minnesota, which runs from North Dakota Highway 59 at the North Dakota state line and continues east to its eastern terminus at its intersection with U.S. Highway 75 near St. Vincent....
and North Dakota Highway 59. ND Route 59 still exists in Pembina from the MN-ND border to Interstate 29
Interstate 29
Interstate 29 is an Interstate Highway in the Midwestern United States. I-29 runs from Kansas City, Missouri, at a junction with Interstate 35 and Interstate 70 to the Canadian border near Pembina, North Dakota, where it connects with Manitoba Highway 75 via the short Manitoba Highway 29.-Route...
.
From 1934 to 1935, the U.S. 59 designation referred to a 50 miles (80.5 km)-long route across southeastern 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...
, from Lake City, Minnesota
Lake City, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 4,950 people, 2,131 households, and 1,402 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,166.9 people per square mile . There were 2,347 housing units at an average density of 553.3 per square mile...
, to the Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
border just short of Chester, Iowa
Chester, Iowa
Chester is a city in Howard County, Iowa, United States. The population was 127 in the 2010 census, a decrease of 15.9% from the 151 population in the 2000 census...
. That entire route is now part of U.S. Route 63
U.S. Route 63
U.S. Route 63 is a long north–south United States highway primarily in the Midwestern United States. The southern terminus of the route is at Interstate 20 in Ruston, Louisiana. The northern terminus is at U.S. Route 2 in Benoit, Wisconsin, about east of Duluth, Minnesota. It is not related to U.S...
, and nowhere close to the present U.S. 59, established in 1935.
Future
A large portion of U.S. 59 is proposed to become part of the future extension of Interstate 69Interstate 69
Interstate 69 is an Interstate Highway in the United States. It exists in two parts: a completed highway from Indianapolis, Indiana, northeast to the Canadian border in Port Huron, Michigan, and a mostly proposed extension southwest to the Mexican border in Texas...
through Texas, allowing the current alignment and right-of-way to be upgraded without the need for extensive eminent domain proceedings.
Major intersections
Interstate 35Interstate 35Interstate 35 is a north–south Interstate Highway in the central United States. I-35 stretches from Laredo, Texas, on the U.S.-Mexico border to Duluth, Minnesota, at Minnesota Highway 61 and 26th Avenue East. Many interstates used to have splits or spurs indicated with suffixed letters , but I-35...
in Laredo, Texas
Interstate 37Interstate 37Interstate 37 is a intrastate Interstate Highway located within the U.S. state of Texas. The highway was first designated in 1959 as a route between Corpus Christi and San Antonio. Construction in the urban areas of Corpus Christi and San Antonio began in the 1960s and the segments of the...
east of George West, TexasGeorge West, TexasGeorge West is a city in Live Oak County, Texas, United States. The population was 2,524 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Live Oak County. George West was named the "storytelling capital of Texas" in 2005 by the Texas Senate; and it hosts the George West Storyfest, a festival that...
Alternate 90U.S. Route 90 Alternate (Texas)U.S. Highway 90 Alternate is an alternate route to U.S. Highway 90 in the U.S. state of Texas, running from west of Seguin east via Seguin, Gonzales, Hallettsville, Eagle Lake, Rosenberg and Sugar Land to northeastern Houston...
in Sugar Land, TexasSugar Land, TexasSugar Land is a city in the U.S. state of Texas within the metropolitan area and Fort Bend County. Sugar Land is one of the most affluent and fastest-growing cities in Texas, having grown more than 158 percent in the last decade. In the time period of 2000–2007, Sugar Land also enjoyed a...
Interstate 610Interstate 610 (Texas)Interstate 610 is a freeway that forms a forty-two-mile loop around the downtown sector of city of Houston, Texas. Interstate 610, colloquially known as "The Loop", "Loop 610", "The 610 Loop", or just "610", traditionally marks the border between the inner city of Houston and its surrounding areas...
in Houston, Texas (twice)
Interstate 45Interstate 45Interstate 45 is an intrastate Interstate Highway located entirely within the U.S. state of Texas. It connects the cities of Dallas and Houston, continuing southeast from Houston to Galveston over the Galveston Causeway to the Gulf of Mexico...
in Houston, Texas
Interstate 10Interstate 10Interstate 10 is the fourth-longest Interstate Highway in the United States, after I-90, I-80, and I-40. It is the southernmost east–west, coast-to-coast Interstate Highway, although I-4 and I-8 are further south. It stretches from the Pacific Ocean at State Route 1 in Santa Monica,...
in Houston, Texas
Interstate 20Interstate 20Interstate 20 is a major east–west Interstate Highway in the Southern United States. I‑20 runs 1,535 miles from near Kent, Texas, at Interstate 10 to Florence, South Carolina, at Interstate 95...
south of Marshall, TexasMarshall, TexasMarshall is a city in Harrison County in the northeastern corner of Texas. Marshall is a major cultural and educational center in East Texas and the tri-state area. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, the population of Marshall was about 23,523...
Interstate 30Interstate 30Interstate 30 is an Interstate Highway in the southern United States. I-30 runs from Interstate 20 west of Fort Worth, Texas, northeast via Dallas, Texas, and Texarkana, Texas, to Interstate 40 in North Little Rock, Arkansas. The route parallels U.S. Route 67 except for the portion west of...
in Texarkana.svg.png)
Interstate 40Interstate 40Interstate 40 is the third-longest major east–west Interstate Highway in the United States, after I-90 and I-80. Its western end is at Interstate 15 in Barstow, California; its eastern end is at a concurrency of U.S. Route 117 and North Carolina Highway 132 in Wilmington, North Carolina...
in Sallisaw, OklahomaSallisaw, OklahomaSallisaw is a city in Sequoyah County, Oklahoma, United States. It is part of the Fort Smith, Arkansas-Oklahoma Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 8,880 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Sequoyah County. It has three highways running through it: U.S. 59, or Kerr Boulevard,....svg.png)
Interstate 44Interstate 44Interstate 44 is a major highway in the central United States. Its western terminus is in Wichita Falls, Texas at a concurrency with US 277, US 281 and US 287; its eastern terminus is at the Illinois state line on the Poplar Street Bridge over the Mississippi River in St...
near Afton, OklahomaAfton, OklahomaAfton is a town in Ottawa County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 1,118 at the 2000 census, most of the recent population growth was from the near abandonment of nearby towns of Cardin and Picher from ground contamination sites by local mining quarries.-Geography:Afton is located at ....svg.png)
Interstate 70 in Lawrence, KansasLawrence, KansasLawrence is the sixth largest city in the U.S. State of Kansas and the county seat of Douglas County. Located in northeastern Kansas, Lawrence is the anchor city of the Lawrence, Kansas, Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Douglas County....svg.png)
Interstate 229Interstate 229 (Missouri)Interstate 229 in the state of Missouri, USA, is an approximately 14 mile Interstate Highway spur designed to speed traffic from Interstate 29 to downtown Saint Joseph....
in St. Joseph, Missouri (concurrent for 2 miles (3 km)).svg.png)
Interstate 29 north of St. Joseph, Missouri (concurrent for 3 miles (5 km))- Interstate 229Interstate 229 (Missouri)Interstate 229 in the state of Missouri, USA, is an approximately 14 mile Interstate Highway spur designed to speed traffic from Interstate 29 to downtown Saint Joseph....
north of St. Joseph, Missouri, at intersection of I-29 and I-229 - Interstate 29, four times between Craig, MissouriCraig, MissouriCraig is a city in Holt County, Missouri, United States. The population was 309 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Craig is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land....
, and Savannah, MissouriSavannah, MissouriSavannah is a city in Andrew County, Missouri, United States. The population was 4,762 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Andrew County.Savannah is part of the St...
, including a 2 miles (3.2 km) long concurrency near Richville, Missouri .svg.png)
Interstate 80Interstate 80Interstate 80 is the second-longest Interstate Highway in the United States, following Interstate 90. It is a transcontinental artery running from downtown San Francisco, California to Teaneck, New Jersey in the New York City Metropolitan Area...
in Avoca, IowaAvoca, IowaAvoca is a city in Pottawattamie County, Iowa, United States. The population was 1,610 at the 2000 census.-History:Avoca was founded in 1869 in connection with the construction of the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad through the area. It quickly developed as a regional service center for...
Interstate 90Interstate 90Interstate 90 is the longest Interstate Highway in the United States at . It is the northernmost coast-to-coast interstate, and parallels US 20 for the most part. Its western terminus is in Seattle, at Edgar Martinez Drive S. near Safeco Field and CenturyLink Field, and its eastern terminus is in...
in Worthington, MinnesotaWorthington, MinnesotaWorthington is a city in Nobles County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 12,764 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Nobles County.The city's site was first settled in the 1870s as Okabena Station on a line of the Chicago, St...
*
Interstate 94Interstate 94Interstate 94 is the northernmost east–west Interstate Highway, connecting the Great Lakes and Intermountain regions of the United States. I-94's western terminus is in Billings, Montana at a junction with Interstate 90; its eastern terminus is the U.S...
in Fergus Falls, MinnesotaFergus Falls, MinnesotaFergus Falls is a city in and the county seat of Otter Tail County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 13,138 at the 2010 census.-Today:...
Bannered routes
- U.S. Route 59 Business in Carthage, TexasCarthage, TexasCarthage is a city in Panola County, Texas, United States. The population was 6,664 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Panola County, and is situated in East Texas near the Louisiana state line.-Geography:...
- U.S. Route 59 Business in Cleveland, TexasCleveland, TexasCleveland is a city in Liberty County, Texas, United States. The population was 7,605 at the 2000 census.-History:In 1854, a church and convent was built by Father Peter La Cour near the town's present site...
- U.S. Route 59 Business in Lufkin, TexasLufkin, TexasLufkin is a city in Angelina County, Texas, United States. Founded in 1882, the population was 35,067 in 2010. It is the county seat of Angelina County, and is situated in Deep East Texas.-History:...
- U.S. Route 59 Business in Nacogdoches, TexasNacogdoches, TexasNacogdoches is a city in Nacogdoches County, Texas, in the United States. The 2010 census recorded the city's population to be 32,996. It is the county seat of Nacogdoches County and is situated in East Texas. Nacogdoches is a sister city of Natchitoches, Louisiana.Nacogdoches is the home of...
- U.S. Route 59 Business in Texarkana, TexasTexarkana, TexasTexarkana is a city in Bowie County, Texas, United States. It effectively functions as one half of a city which crosses a state line — the other half, the city of Texarkana, Arkansas, lies on the other side of State Line Avenue...
decommissioned - U.S. Route 59 Business in Victoria, TexasVictoria, TexasVictoria is a city in and the seat of Victoria County, Texas, United States. The population was 60,603 at the 2000 census. The three counties of the Victoria Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 111,163 at the 2000 census,...