U.S. Route 81
Encyclopedia
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.
The route of US-81 follows that of the old Meridian Highway (so called because it roughly followed the Sixth Principal Meridian
of the US Public Land Survey System
) which dates back as early as 1911. The highway has alternately (and unofficially) been known as part of the Pan-American Highway
. In the segment in the State of Oklahoma, the highway closely corresponds to the old Chisholm Trail
for cattle drives from Texas to railheads in Kansas in the 1860s and 1870s.
As of 2004, the highway's northern terminus is just north of Pembina, North Dakota
at the Canadian
border. At this point, it is routed along Interstate 29
and continues northward into Manitoba
on Highway 29, a short feeder route into Highway 75 that in turn leads to Winnipeg
.
Its southern terminus is in Fort Worth, Texas
, at an intersection with Interstate 35W
. Between the inception of the numbered highway system in 1926 through 1991, US 81's southern terminus was at the Mexican
border in Laredo, Texas
. In 1991, the terminus was moved to San Antonio
. The route was shortened to its present length of 1234 miles (1,985.9 km) in 1993, when the terminus was moved to Fort Worth. In both cases, the dropped portions of US 81 were replaced by Interstate 35
.
and passed through San Antonio
, Austin
, Waco
, and Fort Worth
before passing over the Red River
into Oklahoma
four miles (6 km) north of Ringgold
. The 1936 Official Map of the Highway System of Texas clearly shows the route labeled both as US 81 and S.H. 2. It was cosigned with U.S. Highway 83 for 18 miles (29 km) from Laredo to 2 miles (3.2 km) south of Webb
, with U.S. Highway 79 for 18 miles (29 km) from Austin north to Round Rock
, and with U.S. Highway 77 for 33 miles (53.1 km) from Waco to Hillsboro
. In 1940 U.S. Highway 287 was extended south into Texas, and a 67 miles (107.8 km) stretch from Fort Worth northwest to Bowie
was cosigned with US 81. The Summer 1941 Texas Highway Map shows this pairing, and the current southern terminus of US 81 is still cosigned with US 287.
The Spring and Summer 1949 Texas Highway Department Official Map designates the length of US 81 from Laredo to Fort Worth as part of the National System of Interstate Highways
, but no numeric designation is given.
It is not until 1959 that parts of US 81 in Texas appear on the Texas Official Highway Travel Map cosigned with Interstate 35 shields. Succeeding maps reflect the slow completion of I-35 and I-35W
over the stretch of US 81 between Laredo and Fort Worth, with the 1978-79 Texas Official Highway Travel Map showing only a 14 miles (22.5 km) section from Encinal
north to 3 miles (4.8 km) south of Artesia Wells
as incomplete, and the 1980 Texas Official Highway Travel Map showing that section completed. In 1980, US 81 was cosigned with I-35 and I-35W except where the Interstate bypassed towns, with US 81 providing the main route through town and then reconnecting with I-35 on the other side. The longest section of US 81 in 1980 not cosigned with the Interstate ran from I-35 in Hillsboro 20 miles (32.2 km) north to I-35W, just north of Grandview
.
of the Post-Civil-War decades roughly followed along the corridor of present-day Route 81; the region was not opened for settlement until several years after the cattle drives were discontinued; cultural memory harkened exclusively for many years to Indian Meridian Highway until recognition of the old cattle trail grew in the late 1900s.
Nearly all of US-81 in Kansas is either freeway or expressway. The route enters Kansas as a two-lane near Caldwell
. From South Haven
to Wichita
it closely parallels Interstate 35, which is also known as the Kansas Turnpike
in that area. At Wichita, US-81 joins Interstate 135. The two highways remain joined until Salina
, with I-135's mile markers taking precedence. Interstate 135 ends at Interstate 70 but US-81 continues as a freeway to Minneapolis
, then as an expressway passing through Concordia
before exiting the state north of Belleville
.
From Salina to the Nebraska state line, the highway is named the Frank Carlson Memorial Highway, in honor of the late Senator
Frank Carlson
. Senator Carlson was a native of Concordia who represented Kansas in the U.S. Senate from 1951-1969. Before serving in the Senate, he was Governor of Kansas
from 1947–1950.
and continues as an expressway to York
, where the highway intersects Interstate 80
. After a two-lane section going north from York and an overlap with Nebraska Highway 92
, U.S. 81 again becomes an expressway at Nebraska Highway 64
. This expressway section passes through Columbus
and Norfolk
. North of Norfolk, U.S. 81 is a two-lane, undivided highway which passes through no towns before exiting the state in Cedar County
.
by a Missouri River
crossing, via the Discovery Bridge
at Yankton
. Its junction with Interstate 90
is south of Salem
. U.S. 81 passes near Madison
before it joins with Interstate 29
at Watertown
. The two highways remain concurrent through the rest of the state, leaving South Dakota near New Effington
.
The South Dakota section of U.S. 81, with the exception of a concurrency with U.S. 14, is defined at South Dakota Codified Laws § 31-4-179.http://legis.state.sd.us/statutes/DisplayStatute.aspx?Type=Statute&Statute=31-4-179
. It is paired with I-29 from the South Dakota border, passing through Fargo
, to the north side of Grand Forks
. There it splits off to the northwest, passing through the city of Manvel. It parallels I-29, passing through the town of Grafton
before joining North Dakota Highway 5
near Cavalier
. It rejoins I-29 and continues to the US/Canada border at Pembina
. The original route of US 81 survives as ND State Route 127 and 'County Road 81' in Richland, Cass, Traill, and Grand Forks counties.
organized in 1911 to connect Winnipeg, Canada to the Gulf of Mexico
near the Sixth Principal Meridian
. The southern terminus, initially at Galveston, was later moved to Laredo, where it would connect with a proposed extension to Mexico City (later built as part of the Pan-American Highway
). Five of the six states along the route assigned a single number to the highway, mostly changing at the state line. (Kansas
did not number its highways until 1926.) Planning to replace these designations — and the Meridian Highway name — began in 1925, when the Joint Board on Interstate Highways created a preliminary list of interstate routes to be marked by the states; the entire Meridian Highway was assigned Route 81. The new number was officially adopted in late 1926.
The Interstate Highway System
was approved in 1956, and included several routes that would replace much of US 81. Interstate 35
followed the corridor from Laredo north to Wichita, where I-35 turned northeast towards Kansas City, with a branch - Interstate 35W
- continuing parallel to US 81 to Salina, Kansas
. Between Fort Worth, Texas
and South Haven, Kansas
, I-35 did not directly replace US 81, instead following U.S. Route 77
through Oklahoma City, but replaced it as a long-distance highway. From Salina north through Nebraska
, the US 81 corridor was not part of the Interstate system, but Interstate 29
began at Kansas City, gradually heading northwest and intersecting US 81 at Watertown, South Dakota
, then following it north to the Canadian border. The portion through northern Kansas and Nebraska remains an important regional corridor, but by the late 1970s, the rest had been mostly replaced by I-35 and I-29 for non-local traffic. The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials
approved a truncation in 1991, changing the southern terminus from Laredo to north of Fort Worth and removing long overlaps with and short sections parallel to I-35.
The portion of US 81 between Grandview, Texas
and Hillsboro, Texas
that was not part of Interstate 35W was renamed State Highway 81
.
Business US 81 in San Antonio, Texas was replaced by Loop 368
and Loop 353
. The north side (Loop 368) traveled down Broadway & Austin Highway while the south side (Loop 353) was Nogalitos & Laredo Highway. When it was replaced, they renamed the street New Laredo Highway.
Old portions of US 81 in various parts of North Dakota are now county routes. The current US 81 in these areas is co-signed with Interstate 29
.
Completion of the four-lane section of U.S. 81 between Salina and Minneapolis, Kansas occurred in 1971.
Between Wichita and Salina, Kansas, old sections of US-81 are now county routes and short sections of state highways. The current US-81 in this area is co-signed with Interstate 135. In McPherson County
, the old alignment of US-81 is signed as Business US-81.
United States Numbered Highways
The system of United States Numbered Highways is an integrated system of roads and highways in the United States numbered within a nationwide grid...
established in 1926 by the US Department of Agriculture Bureau of Public Roads.
The route of US-81 follows that of the old Meridian Highway (so called because it roughly followed the Sixth Principal Meridian
Sixth Principal Meridian
The Sixth Principal Meridian extends from the base line coincident with the north boundary of Kansas in latitude 40°N south through the state to its south boundary in latitude 37°N and north through Nebraska to the Missouri River and governs the surveys in Kansas and Nebraska; the surveys in...
of the US Public Land Survey System
Public Land Survey System
The Public Land Survey System is a method used in the United States to survey and identify land parcels, particularly for titles and deeds of rural, wild or undeveloped land. Its basic units of area are the township and section. It is sometimes referred to as the rectangular survey system,...
) which dates back as early as 1911. The highway has alternately (and unofficially) been known as part of the Pan-American Highway
Pan-American Highway
The Pan-American Highway is a network of roads measuring about in total length. Except for an rainforest break, called the Darién Gap, the road links the mainland nations of the Americas in a connected highway system. According to Guinness World Records, the Pan-American Highway is the world's...
. In the segment in the State of Oklahoma, the highway closely corresponds to the old Chisholm Trail
Chisholm Trail
The Chisholm Trail was a trail used in the late 19th century to drive cattle overland from ranches in Texas to Kansas railheads. The portion of the trail marked by Jesse Chisholm went from his southern trading post near the Red River, to his northern trading post near Kansas City, Kansas...
for cattle drives from Texas to railheads in Kansas in the 1860s and 1870s.
As of 2004, the highway's northern terminus is just north of 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...
at the Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
border. At this point, it is routed along 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...
and continues northward into Manitoba
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
on Highway 29, a short feeder route into Highway 75 that in turn leads to Winnipeg
Winnipeg
Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...
.
Its southern terminus is in Fort Worth, Texas
Fort Worth, Texas
Fort Worth is the 16th-largest city in the United States of America and the fifth-largest city in the state of Texas. Located in North Central Texas, just southeast of the Texas Panhandle, the city is a cultural gateway into the American West and covers nearly in Tarrant, Parker, Denton, and...
, at an intersection with Interstate 35W
Interstate 35W (Texas)
Interstate 35W , an Interstate Highway, is the western half of Interstate 35 where it splits to serve different cities in Texas. I-35 splits into two branch routes, I-35W and I-35E at Hillsboro. I-35W runs north for , carrying its own separate sequence of exit numbers. It runs through Fort Worth...
. Between the inception of the numbered highway system in 1926 through 1991, US 81's southern terminus was at the Mexican
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...
border 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,...
. In 1991, the terminus was moved to San Antonio
San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States of America and the second-largest city within the state of Texas, with a population of 1.33 million. Located in the American Southwest and the south–central part of Texas, the city serves as the seat of Bexar County. In 2011,...
. The route was shortened to its present length of 1234 miles (1,985.9 km) in 1993, when the terminus was moved to Fort Worth. In both cases, the dropped portions of US 81 were replaced by 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...
.
Texas
US 81 at its inception in 1926 followed the route of State Highway 2, which began in LaredoLaredo, 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,...
and passed through San Antonio
San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States of America and the second-largest city within the state of Texas, with a population of 1.33 million. Located in the American Southwest and the south–central part of Texas, the city serves as the seat of Bexar County. In 2011,...
, Austin
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
, Waco
Waco, Texas
Waco is a city in and the county seat of McLennan County, Texas. Situated along the Brazos River and on the I-35 corridor, halfway between Dallas and Austin, it is the economic, cultural, and academic center of the 'Heart of Texas' region....
, and Fort Worth
Fort Worth, Texas
Fort Worth is the 16th-largest city in the United States of America and the fifth-largest city in the state of Texas. Located in North Central Texas, just southeast of the Texas Panhandle, the city is a cultural gateway into the American West and covers nearly in Tarrant, Parker, Denton, and...
before passing over the Red River
Red River (Mississippi watershed)
The Red River, or sometimes the Red River of the South, is a major tributary of the Mississippi and Atchafalaya Rivers in the southern United States of America. The river gains its name from the red-bed country of its watershed. It is one of several rivers with that name...
into 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...
four miles (6 km) north of Ringgold
Ringgold, Texas
Ringgold is an unincorporated town in Montague County, Texas, United States, with an estimated population of 100 people. It is located approximately 20 miles northwest of Montague, the county seat.The town's major industry is cattle ranching.-Schools:...
. The 1936 Official Map of the Highway System of Texas clearly shows the route labeled both as US 81 and S.H. 2. It was cosigned with U.S. Highway 83 for 18 miles (29 km) from Laredo to 2 miles (3.2 km) south of Webb
Webb, Texas
Webb is a rural unincorporated community in Webb County, Texas, United States, located 20 miles north of Laredo. According to the 1990 census it had a population of 40.-History:...
, with U.S. Highway 79 for 18 miles (29 km) from Austin north to Round Rock
Round Rock, Texas
Round Rock is a city in Travis and Williamson counties in the U.S. state of Texas. It is part of the metropolitan area. The 2010 census places the population at 99,887....
, and with U.S. Highway 77 for 33 miles (53.1 km) from Waco to Hillsboro
Hillsboro, Texas
Hillsboro is a city in and the county seat of Hill County in Central Texas. The population was 8,232 at the 2000 census.Hillsboro, located on Interstate 35 where I-35E and I-35W meet south of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, is the primary center for trade and commerce in Hill County...
. In 1940 U.S. Highway 287 was extended south into Texas, and a 67 miles (107.8 km) stretch from Fort Worth northwest to Bowie
Bowie, Texas
Bowie is a city in Montague County, Texas, United States. The population was 5,219 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, Bowie has a total area of , of which, of it is land and of it is water.-Demographics:...
was cosigned with US 81. The Summer 1941 Texas Highway Map shows this pairing, and the current southern terminus of US 81 is still cosigned with US 287.
The Spring and Summer 1949 Texas Highway Department Official Map designates the length of US 81 from Laredo to Fort Worth as part of the National System of Interstate Highways
Interstate Highway System
The Dwight D. Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways, , is a network of limited-access roads including freeways, highways, and expressways forming part of the National Highway System of the United States of America...
, but no numeric designation is given.
It is not until 1959 that parts of US 81 in Texas appear on the Texas Official Highway Travel Map cosigned with Interstate 35 shields. Succeeding maps reflect the slow completion of I-35 and I-35W
Interstate 35W (Texas)
Interstate 35W , an Interstate Highway, is the western half of Interstate 35 where it splits to serve different cities in Texas. I-35 splits into two branch routes, I-35W and I-35E at Hillsboro. I-35W runs north for , carrying its own separate sequence of exit numbers. It runs through Fort Worth...
over the stretch of US 81 between Laredo and Fort Worth, with the 1978-79 Texas Official Highway Travel Map showing only a 14 miles (22.5 km) section from Encinal
Encinal, Texas
Encinal is a city in La Salle County, Texas, United States. The population was 629 at the 2000 census. Interstate 35 Business runs through the community. There are few businesses in Encinal; most have closed along the main street....
north to 3 miles (4.8 km) south of Artesia Wells
Artesia Wells, Texas
Artesia Wells is an unincorporated community in La Salle County, Texas, United States. According to the Handbook of Texas, the community had an estimated population of 35 in 2000....
as incomplete, and the 1980 Texas Official Highway Travel Map showing that section completed. In 1980, US 81 was cosigned with I-35 and I-35W except where the Interstate bypassed towns, with US 81 providing the main route through town and then reconnecting with I-35 on the other side. The longest section of US 81 in 1980 not cosigned with the Interstate ran from I-35 in Hillsboro 20 miles (32.2 km) north to I-35W, just north of Grandview
Grandview, Texas
Grandview is a city in Johnson County, Texas, United States. The population was 3,358 at the 2010 Census.David's Supermarkets, an independent chain of grocery stores, is headquartered in Grandview.-Geography:...
.
Oklahoma
Enid & El Reno are major Oklahoma towns on the highway; historically, the small town of Hennessey is notable. Among the elders throughout the small towns that are dotted along Route 81 in Oklahoma, the sixth meridian is commonly known among the locals as the "Indian Meridian" but Route 81 is not known as the "Indian Meridian Highway." The Indian Meridan is located some 40 miles (64.4 km) east and parallel of U.S. Route 81. By pure coincidence, the Chisholm TrailChisholm Trail
The Chisholm Trail was a trail used in the late 19th century to drive cattle overland from ranches in Texas to Kansas railheads. The portion of the trail marked by Jesse Chisholm went from his southern trading post near the Red River, to his northern trading post near Kansas City, Kansas...
of the Post-Civil-War decades roughly followed along the corridor of present-day Route 81; the region was not opened for settlement until several years after the cattle drives were discontinued; cultural memory harkened exclusively for many years to Indian Meridian Highway until recognition of the old cattle trail grew in the late 1900s.
Kansas
Nearly all of US-81 in Kansas is either freeway or expressway. The route enters Kansas as a two-lane near Caldwell
Caldwell, Kansas
Caldwell is a city in Sumner County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 1,068.-19th century:In 1887, the Chicago, Kansas and Nebraska Railway built a branch line north-south from Herington to Caldwell...
. From South Haven
South Haven, Kansas
South Haven is a city in Sumner County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 363.-Geography:South Haven is located at...
to Wichita
Wichita, Kansas
Wichita is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kansas.As of the 2010 census, the city population was 382,368. Located in south-central Kansas on the Arkansas River, Wichita is the county seat of Sedgwick County and the principal city of the Wichita metropolitan area...
it closely parallels Interstate 35, which is also known as the Kansas Turnpike
Kansas Turnpike
The Kansas Turnpike is a freeway-standard toll road that lies entirely within the U.S. state of Kansas. It runs in a general southwest-northeast direction from the Oklahoma border, and passes through several major Kansas cities, including Wichita, Topeka, Lawrence and Kansas City...
in that area. At Wichita, US-81 joins Interstate 135. The two highways remain joined until Salina
Salina, Kansas
Salina is a city in and the county seat of Saline County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 47,707. Located in one of the world's largest wheat-producing areas, Salina is a regional trade center for north-central Kansas...
, with I-135's mile markers taking precedence. Interstate 135 ends at Interstate 70 but US-81 continues as a freeway to Minneapolis
Minneapolis, Kansas
Minneapolis is a city in and the county seat of Ottawa County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 2,032. Minneapolis is part of the Salina Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
, then as an expressway passing through Concordia
Concordia, Kansas
Concordia is a city in and the county seat of Cloud County, Kansas, United States. Located on the Republican River in the Smoky Hills region of the Great Plains, Concordia was founded in 1871 and is an economic and cultural center in north-central Kansas...
before exiting the state north of Belleville
Belleville, Kansas
Belleville is a city in and the county seat of Republic County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 1,991.-Geography:Belleville is located at...
.
From Salina to the Nebraska state line, the highway is named the Frank Carlson Memorial Highway, in honor of the late Senator
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
Frank Carlson
Frank Carlson
Frank Carlson was an American politician who served as the 30th Governor of Kansas and United States Representative and United States Senator from Kansas.-Biography:...
. Senator Carlson was a native of Concordia who represented Kansas in the U.S. Senate from 1951-1969. Before serving in the Senate, he was Governor of Kansas
Governor of Kansas
The Governor of the State of Kansas is the head of state for the State of Kansas, United States. Under the Kansas Constitution, the Governor is also the head of government, serving as the chief executive of the Kansas executive branch, of the government of Kansas. The Governor is the...
from 1947–1950.
Nebraska
U.S. 81 enters Nebraska as an expressway at ChesterChester, Nebraska
Chester is a village in Thayer County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 294 at the 2000 census.Chester is notable as being the birthplace of six-man football.-Geography:Chester is located at ....
and continues as an expressway to York
York, Nebraska
York is a city in York County, Nebraska, in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 7,766. It is the county seat of York County. It is the home of York College and the Nebraska Correctional Center for Women.-Geography:...
, where the highway intersects 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...
. After a two-lane section going north from York and an overlap with Nebraska Highway 92
Nebraska Highway 92
Nebraska Highway 92 is a highway in Nebraska. Its western terminus is at the Wyoming border west of Lyman, Nebraska and its eastern terminus is in Omaha at the Missouri River, where it enters Iowa. Nebraska Highway 92 is part of a continuous 4-state "Highway 92" which begins in Torrington,...
, U.S. 81 again becomes an expressway at Nebraska Highway 64
Nebraska Highway 64
Nebraska Highway 64 is a highway in Nebraska. There are two segments to the highway. The western segment lies in Butler County between U.S. Highway 81 and Nebraska Highway 15. The eastern segment goes through Saunders and Douglas counties between U.S. Highway 77 and U.S. Highway 75.-Western...
. This expressway section passes through Columbus
Columbus, Nebraska
Columbus is a city in east central Nebraska, United States. Its population was 22,111 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Platte County.-Pre-settlement history:...
and Norfolk
Norfolk, Nebraska
Norfolk is a city in Madison County, Nebraska, United States, 113 miles northwest of Omaha and 83 miles west of Sioux City at the intersection of U.S. Routes 81 and 275. The population was 24,210 at the 2010 census, making it the ninth-largest city in Nebraska. It is the principal city of the...
. North of Norfolk, U.S. 81 is a two-lane, undivided highway which passes through no towns before exiting the state in Cedar County
Cedar County, Nebraska
-History:Cedar County was formed in 1855. It was named for the great number of cedars that grow there.-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 9,615 people, 3,623 households, and 2,565 families residing in the county. The population density was 13 people per square mile . There were...
.
South Dakota
U.S. 81 enters South DakotaSouth Dakota
South Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is named after the Lakota and Dakota Sioux American Indian tribes. Once a part of Dakota Territory, South Dakota became a state on November 2, 1889. The state has an area of and an estimated population of just over...
by a 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...
crossing, via the Discovery Bridge
Discovery Bridge (Yankton)
The Discovery Bridge is a bridge that carries US Route 81 across the Missouri River from the Nebraska border to the South Dakota border. The Discovery Bridge connects Yankton, South Dakota, with rural Cedar County, Nebraska....
at Yankton
Yankton, South Dakota
Yankton is a city in, and the county seat of, Yankton County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 14,454 at the 2010 census. Yankton was the original capital of Dakota Territory. It is named for the Yankton tribe of Nakota Native Americans...
. Its junction with Interstate 90
Interstate 90
Interstate 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...
is south of Salem
Salem, South Dakota
Salem is a city in and the county seat of McCook County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 1,347 at the 2010 census. The current mayor is Kennth Scott, a long-time resident. Salem at one time was called Melas...
. U.S. 81 passes near Madison
Madison, South Dakota
Madison is a city in Lake County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 6,474 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Lake County and is home to Dakota State University.-Geography:Madison is located at ....
before it joins with 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...
at Watertown
Watertown, South Dakota
Watertown is a city in and the county seat of Codington County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 21,482 at the 2010 census. It is also the principal city of the Watertown Micropolitan Statistical Area, which includes all of Codington and Hamlin counties...
. The two highways remain concurrent through the rest of the state, leaving South Dakota near New Effington
New Effington, South Dakota
New Effington is a town in Roberts County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 256 at the 2010 census.-Geography:New Effington is located at ....
.
The South Dakota section of U.S. 81, with the exception of a concurrency with U.S. 14, is defined at South Dakota Codified Laws § 31-4-179.http://legis.state.sd.us/statutes/DisplayStatute.aspx?Type=Statute&Statute=31-4-179
North Dakota
U.S. 81 enters North Dakota concurrently with Interstate 29Interstate 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...
. It is paired with I-29 from the South Dakota border, passing through Fargo
Fargo, North Dakota
Fargo is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Dakota and the county seat of Cass County. In 2010, its population was 105,549, and it had an estimated metropolitan population of 208,777...
, to the north side of Grand Forks
Grand Forks, North Dakota
Grand Forks is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of North Dakota and the county seat of Grand Forks County. According to the 2010 census, the city's population was 52,838, while that of the city and surrounding metropolitan area was 98,461...
. There it splits off to the northwest, passing through the city of Manvel. It parallels I-29, passing through the town of Grafton
Grafton, North Dakota
-Education:The city of Grafton is served by the Grafton Public Schools system. The system includes Century Elementary School , Central Middle School , and Grafton High School .-Library:...
before joining North Dakota Highway 5
North Dakota Highway 5
North Dakota 5 is a mostly two-lane and long east–west highway the touches the northern border of the state and is never farther than about 17 miles south of the Canadian border. The eastern terminus is located about four miles east of Joliette at the Red River where the highway continues...
near Cavalier
Cavalier, North Dakota
Cavalier is a city in Pembina County, North Dakota in the United States. It is the county seat of Pembina County. The population was 1,302 at the 2010 census. Cavalier was founded in 1877 and became the county seat in 1911....
. It rejoins I-29 and continues to the US/Canada border 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...
. The original route of US 81 survives as ND State Route 127 and 'County Road 81' in Richland, Cass, Traill, and Grand Forks counties.
History
US 81 started out as the Meridian Highway, an auto trailAuto trail
The system of auto trails was an informal network of marked routes that existed in the United States and Canada in the early part of the 20th century. Marked with colored bands on telephone poles, the trails were intended to help travellers in the early days of the automobile.Auto trails were...
organized in 1911 to connect Winnipeg, Canada to the Gulf of Mexico
Gulf of Mexico
The Gulf of Mexico is a partially landlocked ocean basin largely surrounded by the North American continent and the island of Cuba. It is bounded on the northeast, north and northwest by the Gulf Coast of the United States, on the southwest and south by Mexico, and on the southeast by Cuba. In...
near the Sixth Principal Meridian
Sixth Principal Meridian
The Sixth Principal Meridian extends from the base line coincident with the north boundary of Kansas in latitude 40°N south through the state to its south boundary in latitude 37°N and north through Nebraska to the Missouri River and governs the surveys in Kansas and Nebraska; the surveys in...
. The southern terminus, initially at Galveston, was later moved to Laredo, where it would connect with a proposed extension to Mexico City (later built as part of the Pan-American Highway
Pan-American Highway
The Pan-American Highway is a network of roads measuring about in total length. Except for an rainforest break, called the Darién Gap, the road links the mainland nations of the Americas in a connected highway system. According to Guinness World Records, the Pan-American Highway is the world's...
). Five of the six states along the route assigned a single number to the highway, mostly changing at the state line. (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...
did not number its highways until 1926.) Planning to replace these designations — and the Meridian Highway name — began in 1925, when the Joint Board on Interstate Highways created a preliminary list of interstate routes to be marked by the states; the entire Meridian Highway was assigned Route 81. The new number was officially adopted in late 1926.
The Interstate Highway System
Interstate Highway System
The Dwight D. Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways, , is a network of limited-access roads including freeways, highways, and expressways forming part of the National Highway System of the United States of America...
was approved in 1956, and included several routes that would replace much of US 81. 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...
followed the corridor from Laredo north to Wichita, where I-35 turned northeast towards Kansas City, with a branch - Interstate 35W
Interstate 135
Interstate 135 is a 95.7-mile-long Interstate Highway in central and south-central Kansas, USA. I-135 runs between the cities of Salina and Wichita. The interstate's northern terminus is at the junction of Interstate 70 and its southern terminus is with Interstate 35 .Until 1976, I-135 was...
- continuing parallel to US 81 to Salina, Kansas
Salina, Kansas
Salina is a city in and the county seat of Saline County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 47,707. Located in one of the world's largest wheat-producing areas, Salina is a regional trade center for north-central Kansas...
. Between Fort Worth, Texas
Fort Worth, Texas
Fort Worth is the 16th-largest city in the United States of America and the fifth-largest city in the state of Texas. Located in North Central Texas, just southeast of the Texas Panhandle, the city is a cultural gateway into the American West and covers nearly in Tarrant, Parker, Denton, and...
and South Haven, Kansas
South Haven, Kansas
South Haven is a city in Sumner County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 363.-Geography:South Haven is located at...
, I-35 did not directly replace US 81, instead following U.S. Route 77
U.S. Route 77
U.S. Route 77 is a north–south United States highway. It is unsigned in and around Dallas, Texas. Its historic segment through South Dakota and Minnesota was decommissioned with the advent of Interstate 29 but otherwise the route has been spared the decommissioning that has shortened other US...
through Oklahoma City, but replaced it as a long-distance highway. From Salina north through Nebraska
Nebraska
Nebraska is a state on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States. The state's capital is Lincoln and its largest city is Omaha, on the Missouri River....
, the US 81 corridor was not part of the Interstate system, but 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...
began at Kansas City, gradually heading northwest and intersecting US 81 at Watertown, South Dakota
Watertown, South Dakota
Watertown is a city in and the county seat of Codington County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 21,482 at the 2010 census. It is also the principal city of the Watertown Micropolitan Statistical Area, which includes all of Codington and Hamlin counties...
, then following it north to the Canadian border. The portion through northern Kansas and Nebraska remains an important regional corridor, but by the late 1970s, the rest had been mostly replaced by I-35 and I-29 for non-local traffic. The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials
American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials
AASHTO, the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, is a standards setting body which publishes specifications, test protocols and guidelines which are used in highway design and construction throughout the United States...
approved a truncation in 1991, changing the southern terminus from Laredo to north of Fort Worth and removing long overlaps with and short sections parallel to I-35.
The portion of US 81 between Grandview, Texas
Grandview, Texas
Grandview is a city in Johnson County, Texas, United States. The population was 3,358 at the 2010 Census.David's Supermarkets, an independent chain of grocery stores, is headquartered in Grandview.-Geography:...
and Hillsboro, Texas
Hillsboro, Texas
Hillsboro is a city in and the county seat of Hill County in Central Texas. The population was 8,232 at the 2000 census.Hillsboro, located on Interstate 35 where I-35E and I-35W meet south of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, is the primary center for trade and commerce in Hill County...
that was not part of Interstate 35W was renamed State Highway 81
State Highway 81 (Texas)
State Highway 81 is a Texas state highway that runs from Hillsboro to Grandview. It was designated in 1991 to replace U.S. Highway 81, which was decommissioned south of Fort Worth.-Route description:...
.
Business US 81 in San Antonio, Texas was replaced by Loop 368
Texas State Highway Loop 368
Loop 368 is a loop route in the U.S. state of Texas that follows a former route of U.S. Highway 81 in San Antonio. Loop 368 follows Broadway Street from Interstate 35 northeast of downtown San Antonio towards the northeast and follows Austin Highway before ending near the interchange of I-35...
and Loop 353
Texas State Highway Loop 353
Loop 353 is a loop route in the U.S. state of Texas that follows a former route of U.S. Highway 81 in San Antonio. Loop 353 follows New Laredo Highway from Interstate 35 on the southwest side of San Antonio towards the northeast and follows Nogalitos Street before ending at another point on...
. The north side (Loop 368) traveled down Broadway & Austin Highway while the south side (Loop 353) was Nogalitos & Laredo Highway. When it was replaced, they renamed the street New Laredo Highway.
Old portions of US 81 in various parts of North Dakota are now county routes. The current US 81 in these areas is co-signed with 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...
.
Completion of the four-lane section of U.S. 81 between Salina and Minneapolis, Kansas occurred in 1971.
Between Wichita and Salina, Kansas, old sections of US-81 are now county routes and short sections of state highways. The current US-81 in this area is co-signed with Interstate 135. In McPherson County
McPherson County, Kansas
McPherson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 29,180. The largest city and county seat is McPherson. The county is named for Civil War General James B. McPherson...
, the old alignment of US-81 is signed as Business US-81.
Major intersections
- Interstate 35WInterstate 35W (Texas)Interstate 35W , an Interstate Highway, is the western half of Interstate 35 where it splits to serve different cities in Texas. I-35 splits into two branch routes, I-35W and I-35E at Hillsboro. I-35W runs north for , carrying its own separate sequence of exit numbers. It runs through Fort Worth...
in northern Fort Worth, Texas - 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...
at Chickasha, Oklahoma - 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...
just south of El Reno, Oklahoma - Interstate 135Interstate 135Interstate 135 is a 95.7-mile-long Interstate Highway in central and south-central Kansas, USA. I-135 runs between the cities of Salina and Wichita. The interstate's northern terminus is at the junction of Interstate 70 and its southern terminus is with Interstate 35 .Until 1976, I-135 was...
in southern Wichita, Kansas (concurrent with all but the southernmost half-mile of Interstate 135) - Interstate 70 in Salina, Kansas
- 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...
4 miles (6.4 km) south of York, Nebraska - 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...
3 miles (4.8 km) south of Salem, South DakotaSalem, South DakotaSalem is a city in and the county seat of McCook County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 1,347 at the 2010 census. The current mayor is Kennth Scott, a long-time resident. Salem at one time was called Melas... - Interstate 29Interstate 29Interstate 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...
north of Watertown, South DakotaWatertown, South DakotaWatertown is a city in and the county seat of Codington County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 21,482 at the 2010 census. It is also the principal city of the Watertown Micropolitan Statistical Area, which includes all of Codington and Hamlin counties...
(concurrent with route with Interstate 29 until 11 miles (17.7 km) north of Grand Forks, North Dakota) - 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...
at Fargo, North Dakota
Related U.S. Routes
Though it did in the past, US 81 currently does not connect to either of its spur routes.- U.S. Highway 181
- U.S. Highway 281
Bannered and suffixed routes
- U.S. Route 81 Business in Rush Springs, OklahomaRush Springs, OklahomaRush Springs is a town in Grady County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 1,278 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Rush Springs is located at ....
- U.S. Route 81 Business in McPherson, KansasMcPherson, KansasMcPherson is a city in and the county seat of McPherson County, Kansas, United States, in the central part of the state. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 13,155. The city is named after Union General James Birdseye McPherson, a Civil War general...
- U.S. Route 81 Business in Lindsborg, KansasLindsborg, KansasLindsborg is a city in McPherson County, Kansas, USA. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 3,458. It is known for its association with Swedish heritage and the biennial Svensk Hyllningsfest...
- U.S. Route 81 Business in Fargo, North DakotaFargo, North DakotaFargo is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Dakota and the county seat of Cass County. In 2010, its population was 105,549, and it had an estimated metropolitan population of 208,777...
- U.S. Route 81 Business in Grand Forks, North DakotaGrand Forks, North DakotaGrand Forks is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of North Dakota and the county seat of Grand Forks County. According to the 2010 census, the city's population was 52,838, while that of the city and surrounding metropolitan area was 98,461...
Former bannered and suffixed routes
- U.S. Route 81 Business in San Antonio, TexasSan Antonio, TexasSan Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States of America and the second-largest city within the state of Texas, with a population of 1.33 million. Located in the American Southwest and the south–central part of Texas, the city serves as the seat of Bexar County. In 2011,...
- U.S. Route 81 Business in McPherson County, KansasMcPherson County, KansasMcPherson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 29,180. The largest city and county seat is McPherson. The county is named for Civil War General James B. McPherson...