U.S. Route 84
Encyclopedia
U.S. Route 84 is an east–west United States highway. It started as a short Georgia
-Alabama
route in the original 1926 scheme, but now extends all the way to Colorado
. The highway's eastern terminus is a short distance east of Midway, Georgia
, at an intersection with I-95
. The road continues toward the nearby Atlantic Ocean
as a county road. Its western terminus is in Pagosa Springs, Colorado
, at an intersection with U.S. Route 160
.
The section from Brunswick, Georgia
to Roscoe, Texas
has been designated by five state legislatures as part of the El Camino East/West Corridor. The designation was in recognition of its history as a migration route from the Atlantic coast to the present U.S.-Mexico border, one of the routes that Spanish settlers called El Camino Real
. (In Louisiana
, the route was called the Harrisonburg Road
.) The designation is intended to promote the route for both tourism
and NAFTA
-facilitated trade with Mexico
. States are asking for Federal
funds to four-lane the U.S. 84 El Camino East/West Corridor.
, was made famous by C.W. McCall in the 1975 song and album Wolf Creek Pass
. U.S. 84 actually ends approximately 1 miles (1.6 km) east of downtown Pagosa Springs at a T-intersection with U.S. 160 (Main Street).
South of Pagosa Springs, the 28 miles (45.1 km) Colorado miles of U.S. 84 pass through a portion of San Juan National Forest
. The highway climbs over a drainage divide between the Rio Blanco and Navajo River to the village of Chromo
before passing into New Mexico.
28 miles (45.1 km) south of its terminus at U.S. Route 160
. About 6 miles (9.7 km) south of the Colorado
-New Mexico state line, U.S. Route 64
comes from the west and cosigns with U.S. 84 for the next 28 miles (45.1 km). Only 3 miles (4.8 km) east of this intersection, the co-signed route crosses the Continental Divide
at Sargent Pass, elevation 7718 feet (2,352.4 m) above sea level or more than 3100 feet (944.9 m) lower than Wolf Creek Pass, the next Continental Divide highway pass to the north. Therefore, only 37 miles (59.5 km) of U.S. 84 is located west of the Continental Divide. About 12 miles (19.3 km) east of the intersection, U.S. 64/84 enter the town of Chama, NM. At a T-intersection, New Mexico State Highway 17 enters from the north and terminates at said intersection, while U.S. 64/84 enters from the south and west.
After heading south from Chama, U.S. 64/84 combines for about 14 miles (22.5 km) until U.S. 64 exits U.S. 84 and heads southeast, with U.S. 84 continuing south. About 57 miles (91.7 km) down the road, U.S. 84 is joined by U.S. Route 285
south of the small community of Chili, New Mexico. About 5 miles (8 km) further, U.S. 84/285 enter the town of Espanola, NM from the north as N. Paseo de Onate St. At the south end of the town, U.S. 84/285 becomes the Santa Fe Hwy, and about 9 miles (14.5 km) further, U.S. 84/285 becomes a limited access freeway. 15 miles (24.1 km) further south, the two return to surface street status and then travel through downtown Santa Fe, NM. On the south side of Santa Fe at Interstate 25
's exit 282A, U.S. 84/285 enter eastbound Interstate 25/U.S. Route 85
. All four roads then head due south to avoid the Sangre De Cristo Mountains. Just before turning north, U.S. 285 exits the freeway at exit 290 and heads due south. After winding north and south, the freeway finally begins heading solely north, and U.S. 84 exits about 55 miles (88.5 km) later at exit 339 near Romeroville, NM and heads in an east/southeastern direction, while Interstate 25 and U.S. 85 continue north to Colorado. About 50 miles (80.5 km) down its solitary stretch of road, U.S. 84 enters Interstate 40
(and Historic U.S. Route 66
) at Interstate 40's exit 256. Interstate 40/U.S. 84 travel through the town of Santa Rosa, NM about 23 miles (37 km) later. About 25 miles (40.2 km) from its entrance into cosigning with Interstate 40, U.S. 84 exits at exit 227.
U.S. 84 then travels south/southeast for about 53 miles (85.3 km) until picking up U.S. Route 60
in downtown Fort Sumner, New Mexico
. U.S. 84 then heads in an almost due easterly direction, and about 65 miles (104.6 km) due east finds itself in downtown Clovis, New Mexico
, having passed through the towns of Taiban, New Mexico
and Melrose, New Mexico
. In downtown Clovis, U.S. 60/84 is joined by U.S. Route 70
.About 10 miles (16.1 km) east, U.S. 60/70/84 pass through the center of the towns of Texico, New Mexico
and Farwell, Texas
, as well as over the Texas
-New Mexico state line.
US 84/60/70 crosses into Texas at Farwell
. After passing through Farwell, US 60 makes a turn to the northeast, while US 84/70 veers to the southeast, continuing as a co-signed route until Muleshoe
.
From Muleshoe, US 70 leaves the route, while US 84 continues on a southeasterly bearing across the level plains of the Llano Estacado
. Along this stretch, US 84 runs parallel to the BNSF Railway
, crosses a sandy section called the Muleshoe Dunes, and then passes Littlefield, Texas
, the birthplace of country singer Waylon Jennings
. US 84 continues in a southeasterly direction through cotton fields and small towns such as Anton
and Shallowater
, eventually entering Lubbock
, the largest city in the South Plains
and the birthplace of Buddy Holly
. Signed as Avenue Q, US 84 passes through the heart of downtown Lubbock before making a sharp easterly turn on the southeast side of the city, where it is known as the Slaton
Highway. After bypassing the town of Slaton, US 84 makes another gentle turn to the east, following a generally southeasterly heading through Post
, Snyder
, and Roscoe
, where it merges with I-20.
From this point, US 84 follows I-20, unsigned, until Abilene
where it leaves the interstate, making a hard southerly turn and forming the western side of a 3/4 loop around the city (along with US Highways 83 and 277). From the south side of Abilene, US 84 continues as a co-signed route with US 83 (signed as US 84 West/East and US 83 South/North) until the two highways split approximately 2 miles (3.2 km) northeast of Tuscola
, and, though still signed as east/west, maintains a due south/north heading. US 84 makes a gentle turn back to the southeast at Lawn
, following this bearing until Santa Anna
, where it merges with US 67 and takes a more due easterly turn.
US 84 merges with US 183 at Brownwood
, and once again turns to the southeast, continuing as a co-signed route until Goldthwaite
, where it leaves US 283 and yet again makes a sharp turn to the east. It follows this heading all the way to McGregor
. From McGregor, the highway makes a turn to the northeast to Woodway
; this stretch of US 84 is also signed as the George W. Bush Parkway. US 84 then crosses into Waco
, passing through the heart of downtown as Waco Drive, and then northeast into the suburb of Bellmead
. After briefly being co-signed with State Highway 31 through Bellmead, US 84 continues more or less due east until Teague
, where it takes yet another turn to the north before turning back to the east at an intersection with I-45 in Fairfield
.
US 84 merges with US 79 and makes another northerly turn southwest of Palestine
, and then splits from Highway 79 just southwest of downtown before making another turn eastward and passing through town. The highway follows a gentle northeasterly path all the way to Timpson
, passing through the towns of Maydelle
, Rusk
where it intersects with US 69, Reklaw
, Mount Enterprise
where it intersects US 259 and Timpson
where it merges with US 59, and serves as the northern terminus of SH 87 . From Timpson to Tenaha
it is briefly co-signed with US 59 to its intersection with US 96. From this point, US 84 continues its easterly path through to rest of eastern Texas, passing through Joaquin
before crossing into Louisiana across the Sabine River into the town of Logansport
.
. It then travels 4 miles to the northeast where it reaches the western terminus of US-98 at Washington, where it is paired with US 98
until Bude/Meadville. The road continues east, crossing under I-55 and heads east towards Collins.
A new bypass of Collins opened in March 2009, relieving the heavily-congested original route through downtown. The new bypass provides improved access to U.S. Route 49
, another of Mississippi's major four-lane highways connecting Jackson and points north through the Delta with the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Highway 84 runs concurrent with Interstate 59
for a short distance through Laurel, including a segment currently under reconstruction to remove a notorious 'S' curve. It then heads east to Waynesboro and continues to the Alabama state line.
eastward to Andalusia
, near Opp
where a recent bypass of the downtown area now carries US-84 in a southern arc around the town, and from Enterprise
eastward thru the Dothan
area and onto the Georgia state line at the Chattahoochee River
.
Plans exist of widening the US-84 corridor to four lanes elsewhere in Alabama but due to funding issues the projects are in various stages of development. One such stretch is just east of Opp
where construction began on a four lane eastward towards Elba
but has stalled due to funding.
US-84 has brief stretches of being co-signed with other US Highways in Alabama. US 84 shares a routing with US-31 from just southwest of Evergreen
to a few miles east of the town. It briefly shares a routing with US-29 in the city of Andalusia
. It also shares a routing with US-331 near the city of Opp
. At Dothan
US-84 shares a concurrency with US-231 and US-431 on the Ross Clark Circle which is the circular bypass of downtown Dothan
.
US-84 crosses three major navigable waterways in Alabama. They are the Tombigbee River
at Coffeeville
, the Alabama River
at Claiborne
, and the Chattahoochee River
at the Alabama-Georgia state line. US-84 passes very near the large military facility of Fort Rucker
which is the US Army's helicopter training school. Most of US-84 in Alabama traverses the Gulf Coastal Plain which is relatively lowlying land with some sand content. The area is heavily agriculural with little heavy industry. Dothan
is the largest city in Alabama traversed by US-84 and it is the business and agricultural center of Southeast Alabama. The area is commonly referred to as the Wiregrass Region.
, from Brunswick
to the north edge of the Okefenokee Swamp
, then west to Dothan, Alabama
, just across the Alabama
line.
In 1934, U.S. 84 was extended to Grove Hill, Alabama
, then south on US 43 to Wagarville, Alabama
, west to State Line, Mississippi
, north on US 45 to Waynesboro, Mississippi
, and then across Mississippi and Louisiana to Farwell, Texas
. State Line was bypassed in the 1960s by a direct connection between Grove Hill and Waynesboro. A few sources report that the part between Natchez, Mississippi
and Wagarville was planned as US 86 a year before. The Alabama Department of Transportation library in Montgomery, Alabama, holds state-issued maps and documents from that era with the stretch from US 43 to Mississippi labeled that way. At one point, funding was not secure for building a bridge over the Alabama River
, and a US 86 designation would have made the absence of a bridge less obvious.
The east ends of U.S. 84 and U.S. Route 82
were swapped in 1989 after the roads around Waycross, Georgia
, were reconfigured.
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
-Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
route in the original 1926 scheme, but now extends all the way to Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
. The highway's eastern terminus is a short distance east of Midway, Georgia
Midway, Georgia
Midway is a city in Liberty County, Georgia, United States. It is a part of the Hinesville-Fort Stewart metropolitan statistical area. Midway is situated near Savannah, Brunswick, St. Simons Island, and Jekyll Island. The population was 1,100 as of the 2000 census.Midway has several museums...
, at an intersection with I-95
Interstate 95 in Georgia
Interstate 95, the main Interstate Highway on the east coast of the United States, serves the Atlantic coast of Georgia. It begins at the St. Marys River at the Florida state line north of Jacksonville and heads north past the border of South Carolina at the Savannah River...
. The road continues toward the nearby Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
as a county road. Its western terminus is in Pagosa Springs, Colorado
Pagosa Springs, Colorado
Pagosa Springs is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat of, and the only incorporated municipality in, Archuleta County, Colorado, United States. The population was 1,591 at the 2000 census...
, at an intersection with U.S. Route 160
U.S. Route 160
U.S. Route 160 is a 1,465 mile long east–west United States highway in the Midwestern United States. The western terminus of the route is at U.S. Route 89 five miles west of Tuba City, Arizona. The eastern terminus is at U.S...
.
The section from Brunswick, Georgia
Brunswick, Georgia
Brunswick is the major urban and economic center in southeastern Georgia in the United States. The municipality is located on a harbor near the Atlantic Ocean, approximately 30 miles north of Florida and 70 miles south of South Carolina. Brunswick is bordered on the east by the Atlantic...
to Roscoe, Texas
Roscoe, Texas
Roscoe is a town in Nolan County, Texas, United States. The population was 1,378 at the 2000 census, but has decreased to only 900.-Geography:Roscoe is located at ....
has been designated by five state legislatures as part of the El Camino East/West Corridor. The designation was in recognition of its history as a migration route from the Atlantic coast to the present U.S.-Mexico border, one of the routes that Spanish settlers called El Camino Real
Old San Antonio Road
The Old San Antonio Road was a historic roadway located in the U.S. states of Texas and Louisiana. Parts of it were based on traditional Native American trails. Its Texas terminus was about southeast of Eagle Pass at the Rio Grande in Maverick County, and its northern terminus was at...
. (In Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
, the route was called the Harrisonburg Road
Harrisonburg Road
The Harrisonburg Road was an old wagon train road in Louisiana which connected the Natchez Trace to the El Camino Real in Texas. In modern times the route has been called the Natchez Trace on some highway markers and the El Camino Real in other places, but the original name would have been the...
.) The designation is intended to promote the route for both tourism
Tourism
Tourism is travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people "traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes".Tourism has become a...
and NAFTA
North American Free Trade Agreement
The North American Free Trade Agreement or NAFTA is an agreement signed by the governments of Canada, Mexico, and the United States, creating a trilateral trade bloc in North America. The agreement came into force on January 1, 1994. It superseded the Canada – United States Free Trade Agreement...
-facilitated trade with 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...
. States are asking for Federal
Federal government of the United States
The federal government of the United States is the national government of the constitutional republic of fifty states that is the United States of America. The federal government comprises three distinct branches of government: a legislative, an executive and a judiciary. These branches and...
funds to four-lane the U.S. 84 El Camino East/West Corridor.
Colorado
The western endpoint of U.S. 84, Pagosa Springs, ColoradoPagosa Springs, Colorado
Pagosa Springs is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat of, and the only incorporated municipality in, Archuleta County, Colorado, United States. The population was 1,591 at the 2000 census...
, was made famous by C.W. McCall in the 1975 song and album Wolf Creek Pass
Wolf Creek Pass (album)
Wolf Creek Pass is an album by country musician C. W. McCall, released in 1975 on MGM Records. It was recorded after the success of a song included in the album, "Old Home Filler-up an' Keep on a-Truckin' Cafe", which was used in a popular television commercial that helped make McCall famous...
. U.S. 84 actually ends approximately 1 miles (1.6 km) east of downtown Pagosa Springs at a T-intersection with U.S. 160 (Main Street).
South of Pagosa Springs, the 28 miles (45.1 km) Colorado miles of U.S. 84 pass through a portion of San Juan National Forest
San Juan National Forest
The San Juan National Forest is a U.S. National Forest covering over 1,878,846 acres in Archuleta, Conjeos, Dolores, Hinsdale, La Plata, Mineral, Montezuma, Rio Grande, San Miguel and San Juan Counties in western Colorado. It borders the Uncompahgre National Forest to the north and the Rio Grande...
. The highway climbs over a drainage divide between the Rio Blanco and Navajo River to the village of Chromo
Chromo, Colorado
Chromo is an unincorporated town and U.S. Post Office in Archuleta County, Colorado, United States. The Chromo Post Office has the ZIP Code 81128.-Geography:Chromo is located at ....
before passing into New Mexico.
New Mexico
U.S. 84 enters Rio Arriba County, New MexicoNew Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
28 miles (45.1 km) south of its terminus at U.S. Route 160
U.S. Route 160
U.S. Route 160 is a 1,465 mile long east–west United States highway in the Midwestern United States. The western terminus of the route is at U.S. Route 89 five miles west of Tuba City, Arizona. The eastern terminus is at U.S...
. About 6 miles (9.7 km) south of the Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
-New Mexico state line, 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...
comes from the west and cosigns with U.S. 84 for the next 28 miles (45.1 km). Only 3 miles (4.8 km) east of this intersection, the co-signed route crosses the Continental Divide
Continental Divide
The Continental Divide of the Americas, or merely the Continental Gulf of Division or Great Divide, is the name given to the principal, and largely mountainous, hydrological divide of the Americas that separates the watersheds that drain into the Pacific Ocean from those river systems that drain...
at Sargent Pass, elevation 7718 feet (2,352.4 m) above sea level or more than 3100 feet (944.9 m) lower than Wolf Creek Pass, the next Continental Divide highway pass to the north. Therefore, only 37 miles (59.5 km) of U.S. 84 is located west of the Continental Divide. About 12 miles (19.3 km) east of the intersection, U.S. 64/84 enter the town of Chama, NM. At a T-intersection, New Mexico State Highway 17 enters from the north and terminates at said intersection, while U.S. 64/84 enters from the south and west.
After heading south from Chama, U.S. 64/84 combines for about 14 miles (22.5 km) until U.S. 64 exits U.S. 84 and heads southeast, with U.S. 84 continuing south. About 57 miles (91.7 km) down the road, U.S. 84 is joined by U.S. Route 285
U.S. Route 285
U.S. Route 285 is a north–south United States highway, running 845 miles through the states of Texas, New Mexico and Colorado. The highway's northern terminus is in Denver, Colorado, at exit 201 on Interstate 25. Its southern terminus is in Sanderson, Texas at an intersection with U.S....
south of the small community of Chili, New Mexico. About 5 miles (8 km) further, U.S. 84/285 enter the town of Espanola, NM from the north as N. Paseo de Onate St. At the south end of the town, U.S. 84/285 becomes the Santa Fe Hwy, and about 9 miles (14.5 km) further, U.S. 84/285 becomes a limited access freeway. 15 miles (24.1 km) further south, the two return to surface street status and then travel through downtown Santa Fe, NM. On the south side of Santa Fe at Interstate 25
Interstate 25
Interstate 25 is an Interstate Highway in the western United States. It is primarily a north–south highway. I-25 stretches from Interstate 10 at Las Cruces, New Mexico, , to Interstate 90 in Buffalo, Wyoming, .Interstate 25 is the main north–south expressway through...
's exit 282A, U.S. 84/285 enter eastbound Interstate 25/U.S. Route 85
U.S. Route 85
U.S. Route 85 is a north–south United States highway that runs for in the Mountain - Northern Plains states of the United States. The southern terminus of the route is at the United States-Mexico border in El Paso, Texas, connecting with Mexican Federal Highway 45...
. All four roads then head due south to avoid the Sangre De Cristo Mountains. Just before turning north, U.S. 285 exits the freeway at exit 290 and heads due south. After winding north and south, the freeway finally begins heading solely north, and U.S. 84 exits about 55 miles (88.5 km) later at exit 339 near Romeroville, NM and heads in an east/southeastern direction, while Interstate 25 and U.S. 85 continue north to Colorado. About 50 miles (80.5 km) down its solitary stretch of road, U.S. 84 enters Interstate 40
Interstate 40
Interstate 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...
(and Historic U.S. Route 66
U.S. Route 66
U.S. Route 66 was a highway within the U.S. Highway System. One of the original U.S. highways, Route 66 was established on November 11, 1926 -- with road signs erected the following year...
) at Interstate 40's exit 256. Interstate 40/U.S. 84 travel through the town of Santa Rosa, NM about 23 miles (37 km) later. About 25 miles (40.2 km) from its entrance into cosigning with Interstate 40, U.S. 84 exits at exit 227.
U.S. 84 then travels south/southeast for about 53 miles (85.3 km) until picking up U.S. Route 60
U.S. Route 60
U.S. Route 60 is an east–west United States highway, running from the Atlantic Ocean on the east coast in Virginia to western Arizona. Despite the final "0" in its number, indicating a transcontinental designation, the 1926 route formerly ended in Springfield, Missouri, at its intersection...
in downtown Fort Sumner, New Mexico
Fort Sumner, New Mexico
Fort Sumner is a village in De Baca County, New Mexico, United States. The population was 1,249 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of De Baca County...
. U.S. 84 then heads in an almost due easterly direction, and about 65 miles (104.6 km) due east finds itself in downtown Clovis, New Mexico
Clovis, New Mexico
Clovis is the county seat of Curry County, New Mexico, United States. Its population was 32,667 at the 2000 census; according to 2010 Census Bureau estimates, the population had risen to 37,775....
, having passed through the towns of Taiban, New Mexico
Taiban, New Mexico
Taiban is an unincorporated community in De Baca County, New Mexico, United States. It is located on New Mexico Highway 252 at U.S. Routes 60 and 84. Founded in 1906 as a ranching community, it was named for nearby Taiban Creek.-External links:...
and Melrose, New Mexico
Melrose, New Mexico
Melrose is a village in Curry County, New Mexico, United States. The population was 736 at the 2000 census. The town is losing population due to rural exodus...
. In downtown Clovis, U.S. 60/84 is joined by U.S. Route 70
U.S. Route 70
U.S. Route 70 is an east–west United States highway that runs for 2,385 miles from eastern North Carolina to east-central Arizona. As can be derived from its number, it is a major east–west highway of the Southern and Southwestern United States...
.About 10 miles (16.1 km) east, U.S. 60/70/84 pass through the center of the towns of Texico, New Mexico
Texico, New Mexico
Texico is a city in Curry County, New Mexico, United States. The population was 1,065 at the 2000 census.-Name:The name is a portmanteau of "Texas" and "New Mexico". Texico is located on the Texas-New Mexico border...
and Farwell, Texas
Farwell, Texas
Farwell is a city in and the county seat of Parmer County, Texas, United States. Farwell is located on the Texas-New Mexico border with the town of Texico, New Mexico on the opposite side...
, as well as over the Texas
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...
-New Mexico state line.
Texas
Farwell, Texas
Farwell is a city in and the county seat of Parmer County, Texas, United States. Farwell is located on the Texas-New Mexico border with the town of Texico, New Mexico on the opposite side...
. After passing through Farwell, US 60 makes a turn to the northeast, while US 84/70 veers to the southeast, continuing as a co-signed route until Muleshoe
Muleshoe, Texas
Muleshoe is a small city in Bailey County, Texas, United States. The town of Muleshoe was founded in 1913 when the Pecos and Northern Texas Railway built an line from Farwell, Texas to Lubbock through northern Bailey County. In 1926, Muleshoe was incorporated. The population was 5,158 at the 2010...
.
From Muleshoe, US 70 leaves the route, while US 84 continues on a southeasterly bearing across the level plains of the Llano Estacado
Llano Estacado
Llano Estacado , commonly known as the Staked Plains, is a region in the Southwestern United States that encompasses parts of eastern New Mexico and northwestern Texas, including the South Plains and parts of the Texas Panhandle...
. Along this stretch, US 84 runs parallel to the BNSF Railway
BNSF Railway
The BNSF Railway is a wholly owned subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Inc., and is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas. It is one of seven North American Class I railroads and the second largest freight railroad network in North America, second only to the Union Pacific Railroad, its primary...
, crosses a sandy section called the Muleshoe Dunes, and then passes Littlefield, Texas
Littlefield, Texas
Littlefield is a city in and the county seat of Lamb County, Texas, United States. The population was 6,507 at the 2000 census. It is located in a significant cotton growing region, northwest of Lubbock on the Llano Estacado just south of the beginning of the Texas Panhandle...
, the birthplace of country singer Waylon Jennings
Waylon Jennings
Waylon Arnold Jennings was an American country music singer, songwriter, and musician. Jennings began playing at eight. He began performing at twelve, on KVOW radio. Jennings formed a band The Texas Longhorns. Jennings worked as a D.J on KVOW, KDAV and KLLL...
. US 84 continues in a southeasterly direction through cotton fields and small towns such as Anton
Anton, Texas
Anton is a city in Hockley County, Texas, United States. The population was 1,200 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Anton is located at ....
and Shallowater
Shallowater, Texas
Shallowater is a city in Lubbock County, Texas, United States. Shallowater is on U.S. Route 84 and the Burlington Northern Santa Fe line, twelve miles northwest of Lubbock, Texas. Population was 2,086 according to the 2000 census...
, eventually entering Lubbock
Lubbock, Texas
Lubbock is a city in and the county seat of Lubbock County, Texas, United States. The city is located in the northwestern part of the state, a region known historically as the Llano Estacado, and the home of Texas Tech University and Lubbock Christian University...
, the largest city in the South Plains
South Plains
South Plains is a vernacular term that refers to a region in West Texas consisting of the portion of the Llano Estacado extending south of the Texas Panhandle, centered at Lubbock. While prominent in the area of petroleum production, the South Plains is mainly an agricultural region, producing a...
and the birthplace of Buddy Holly
Buddy Holly
Charles Hardin Holley , known professionally as Buddy Holly, was an American singer-songwriter and a pioneer of rock and roll...
. Signed as Avenue Q, US 84 passes through the heart of downtown Lubbock before making a sharp easterly turn on the southeast side of the city, where it is known as the Slaton
Slaton, Texas
Slaton is a city in Lubbock County, Texas, United States. The population was 6,109 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Lubbock Metropolitan Statistical Area.Slaton is named for Lubbock rancher and banker O.L. Slaton, Sr...
Highway. After bypassing the town of Slaton, US 84 makes another gentle turn to the east, following a generally southeasterly heading through Post
Post, Texas
Post is a city in and the county seat of Garza County, Texas, United States. The population was 3,708 at the 2000 census.There are many ranchers and civic boosters in Garza County, among them Giles McCrary, a former mayor who operates the OS Museum, a hybrid of exhibits from both the American West...
, Snyder
Snyder, Texas
Snyder is a city in and the county seat of Scurry County, Texas, United States. The population was 10,653 at the 2010 census. It is located on Deep Creek, a minor tributary of the Colorado River of Texas. Snyder is approximately 150 km southeast of Lubbock.Located in Snyder is the Scurry County...
, and Roscoe
Roscoe, Texas
Roscoe is a town in Nolan County, Texas, United States. The population was 1,378 at the 2000 census, but has decreased to only 900.-Geography:Roscoe is located at ....
, where it merges with I-20.
From this point, US 84 follows I-20, unsigned, until Abilene
Abilene, Texas
Abilene is a city in Taylor and Jones counties in west central Texas. The population was 117,063 at the 2010 census. It is the principal city of the Abilene Metropolitan Statistical Area, which had a 2006 estimated population of 158,063. It is the county seat of Taylor County...
where it leaves the interstate, making a hard southerly turn and forming the western side of a 3/4 loop around the city (along with US Highways 83 and 277). From the south side of Abilene, US 84 continues as a co-signed route with US 83 (signed as US 84 West/East and US 83 South/North) until the two highways split approximately 2 miles (3.2 km) northeast of Tuscola
Tuscola, Texas
Tuscola is a city in Taylor County, Texas, United States. The population was 714 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Abilene, Texas Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Tuscola is located at ....
, and, though still signed as east/west, maintains a due south/north heading. US 84 makes a gentle turn back to the southeast at Lawn
Lawn, Texas
Lawn is a town in Taylor County, Texas, in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the town population was 353. It is part of the Abilene, Texas Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Lawn is located at ....
, following this bearing until Santa Anna
Santa Anna, Texas
Santa Anna is a town in Coleman County, Texas, United States. The population was 1,081 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Santa Anna is located at ....
, where it merges with US 67 and takes a more due easterly turn.
US 84 merges with US 183 at Brownwood
Brownwood, Texas
Brownwood is a city in and the county seat of Brown County, Texas, United States. The population was 18,813 at the 2000 census.-History:The original site of the Brown County seat of Brownwood was on the east of Pecan Bayou. A dispute arose over land and water rights, and the settlers were forced...
, and once again turns to the southeast, continuing as a co-signed route until Goldthwaite
Goldthwaite, Texas
Goldthwaite is a small city located in Mills County in Central Texas. The population was 1,802 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Mills County, which is named for John T. Mills, a justice of the Supreme Court for the Third, Seventh, and Eighth districts of the former Republic of Texas....
, where it leaves US 283 and yet again makes a sharp turn to the east. It follows this heading all the way to McGregor
McGregor, Texas
McGregor is a city in Coryell and McLennan Counties in the U.S. state of Texas. The population was 4,727 at the 2000 census.McGregor lies in two counties as well as two metropolitan areas...
. From McGregor, the highway makes a turn to the northeast to Woodway
Woodway, Texas
Woodway is a city in McLennan County, Texas, United States. The population was 8,733 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Waco Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Woodway is located at ....
; this stretch of US 84 is also signed as the George W. Bush Parkway. US 84 then crosses into 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....
, passing through the heart of downtown as Waco Drive, and then northeast into the suburb of Bellmead
Bellmead, Texas
Bellmead is a city in McLennan County, Texas, United States. The population was 9,214 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Waco Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Bellmead is located at ....
. After briefly being co-signed with State Highway 31 through Bellmead, US 84 continues more or less due east until Teague
Teague, Texas
Teague is a city in Freestone County, Texas, United States. The population was 4,557 at the 2000 census.-Settlement:The area was first settled around the time of the Civil War. During the latter...
, where it takes yet another turn to the north before turning back to the east at an intersection with I-45 in Fairfield
Fairfield, Texas
Fairfield is a city in Freestone County, Texas, United States. The population was 3,094 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Freestone County.-Geography:Fairfield is located at ....
.
US 84 merges with US 79 and makes another northerly turn southwest of Palestine
Palestine, Texas
Palestine is a city in Anderson County, Texas, in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 17,598, and 18,458 in the 2009 estimate. It is the county seat of Anderson County and is situated in East Texas...
, and then splits from Highway 79 just southwest of downtown before making another turn eastward and passing through town. The highway follows a gentle northeasterly path all the way to Timpson
Timpson, Texas
Timpson is a city in Shelby County, Texas, United States. The population was 1,094 at the 2000 census. The community is named after T.B Timpson, a railroad engineer.- History :...
, passing through the towns of Maydelle
Maydelle, Texas
Maydelle is a small unincorporated community in Cherokee County, Texas, United States, located between Palestine and Rusk on U.S. Route 84. It lies at an elevation of 410 feet .-External links:...
, Rusk
Rusk, Texas
Rusk is a city in Cherokee County, Texas, United States. The population was 5,085 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Cherokee County.-Geography:Rusk is located at ....
where it intersects with US 69, Reklaw
Reklaw, Texas
Reklaw is a city in Cherokee and Rusk Counties in the U.S. state of Texas. The population was 327 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Reklaw is located at ....
, Mount Enterprise
Mount Enterprise, Texas
Mount Enterprise is a city in Rusk County, Texas, United States. The population was 525 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Mount Enterprise is located at ....
where it intersects US 259 and Timpson
Timpson, Texas
Timpson is a city in Shelby County, Texas, United States. The population was 1,094 at the 2000 census. The community is named after T.B Timpson, a railroad engineer.- History :...
where it merges with US 59, and serves as the northern terminus of SH 87 . From Timpson to Tenaha
Tenaha, Texas
Tenaha is a town in Shelby County, Texas, United States- established February 2, 1886. The population was 1,046 at the 2000 census. The town's name is taken from the Caddo language for "Muddy Water". Tenaha is a town in Shelby County, Texas, United States- established February 2, 1886. The...
it is briefly co-signed with US 59 to its intersection with US 96. From this point, US 84 continues its easterly path through to rest of eastern Texas, passing through Joaquin
Joaquin, Texas
Joaquin is a city in northeastern Shelby County, Texas, United States. The population was 925 at the 2000 census. It is located on U.S. Highway 84 and the tracks of the Southern Pacific Railroad.-Geography:Joaquin is located at ....
before crossing into Louisiana across the Sabine River into the town of Logansport
Logansport, Louisiana
Logansport is a town in western DeSoto Parish adjacent to the Sabine River in western Louisiana, United States. The population was 1,630 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Shreveport–Bossier City Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
.
Louisiana
Once the highway leaves Logansport, it travels through Stanley and then northeast into Mansfield, where it merges for a brief stretch with US-171. It continues east, crossing under I-49, until it reaches Grand Bayou, where it turns to the southeast, merging with LA-1. After two miles, it turns back again to the east, where it merges with US-71 in Coushatta and stays with that highway until Clarence. It then heads northeast towards Winnfield, where it merges for a short time with US-167. It turns to the northeast towards Joyce, then begins a long stretch to the southeast, passing through Tullos, where it intersects US-165, through the parish seat of Jena, and continues in that direction until it crosses into Catahoula Parish. It bears east through Jonesville until Ferriday, where it merges with both US-65 and US-425. It then heads southeast through Vidalia where it crosses the Mississippi River into Natchez.Mississippi
The four-laned Natchez-Vidalia Bridge, crossing the Mississippi River, carries Highway 84 into Natchez here it merges with U.S. 61U.S. Route 61
U.S. Route 61 is the official designation for a United States highway that runs from New Orleans, Louisiana, to the city of Wyoming, Minnesota. The highway generally follows the course of the Mississippi River, and is designated the Great River Road for much of its route. As of 2004, the highway's...
. It then travels 4 miles to the northeast where it reaches the western terminus of US-98 at Washington, where it is paired with US 98
U.S. Route 98
U.S. Route 98 is an east–west United States highway that runs from western Mississippi to southern Florida. It was established in 1933 as a route between Pensacola, Florida and Apalachicola, Florida, and has since been extended westward into Mississippi and eastward across the Florida...
until Bude/Meadville. The road continues east, crossing under I-55 and heads east towards Collins.
A new bypass of Collins opened in March 2009, relieving the heavily-congested original route through downtown. The new bypass provides improved access to U.S. Route 49
U.S. Route 49
U.S. Route 49 is a north–south United States highway. The highway's northern terminus is in Piggott, Arkansas, at an intersection with U.S. Route 62. Its southern terminus is in Gulfport, Mississippi, at an intersection with U.S. Route 90. US 49 is approximately 516 miles in length.It...
, another of Mississippi's major four-lane highways connecting Jackson and points north through the Delta with the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Highway 84 runs concurrent with Interstate 59
Interstate 59
Interstate 59 is an Interstate Highway in the southern United States. Its southern terminus is near Slidell, Louisiana, a suburb of New Orleans, at an intersection with Interstate 10 and Interstate 12, its northern terminus is at Wildwood, Georgia, at an intersection with Interstate 24.The road's...
for a short distance through Laurel, including a segment currently under reconstruction to remove a notorious 'S' curve. It then heads east to Waynesboro and continues to the Alabama state line.
Alabama
In Alabama, U.S. 84 is paired with unsigned State Route 12. Parts of the route have been widened in recent years to four lane status. The most significant exist from River FallsRiver Falls, Alabama
River Falls is a town in Covington County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 616.-Geography:River Falls is located about 7 kilometers northwest of Andalusia, the county seat, at . According to the U.S...
eastward to Andalusia
Andalusia, Alabama
Andalusia is a city in and the county seat of Covington County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 8,794.According to the 2007 U.S. Census estimates, the city had a population of 8,705...
, near Opp
Opp, Alabama
Opp is a city in Covington County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 6,607. -Geography:Opp is located at . According to the U.S...
where a recent bypass of the downtown area now carries US-84 in a southern arc around the town, and from Enterprise
Enterprise, Alabama
Enterprise is a city in the southeastern part of Coffee and Dale Counties in the southeastern part of Alabama in the Southern United States. The population was estimated to be 25,909 in the year 2009....
eastward thru the Dothan
Dothan, Alabama
Dothan is a city located in the southeastern corner of the US state of Alabama, situated approximately west of the Georgia state line and north of Florida. It is the seat of Houston County, with portions extending into nearby Dale County and Henry County...
area and onto the Georgia state line at the Chattahoochee River
Chattahoochee River
The Chattahoochee River flows through or along the borders of the U.S. states of Georgia, Alabama, and Florida. It is a tributary of the Apalachicola River, a relatively short river formed by the confluence of the Chattahoochee and Flint Rivers and emptying into Apalachicola Bay in the Gulf of...
.
Plans exist of widening the US-84 corridor to four lanes elsewhere in Alabama but due to funding issues the projects are in various stages of development. One such stretch is just east of Opp
Opp, Alabama
Opp is a city in Covington County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 6,607. -Geography:Opp is located at . According to the U.S...
where construction began on a four lane eastward towards Elba
Elba, Alabama
Elba is a city in Coffee County, Alabama. At the time of the 2000 U.S. census, its population was 4,185.Elba is the official county seat of Coffee County, though Coffee County has two County Courthouses, with the other one being located in the town of Enterprise...
but has stalled due to funding.
US-84 has brief stretches of being co-signed with other US Highways in Alabama. US 84 shares a routing with US-31 from just southwest of Evergreen
Evergreen, Alabama
Evergreen is a city in Conecuh County, Alabama, United States. As of the 2010 census the population was 3,944. The city is the county seat of Conecuh County.-History:Early settlers to the area came from Georgia and South Carolina beginning in 1818...
to a few miles east of the town. It briefly shares a routing with US-29 in the city of Andalusia
Andalusia, Alabama
Andalusia is a city in and the county seat of Covington County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 8,794.According to the 2007 U.S. Census estimates, the city had a population of 8,705...
. It also shares a routing with US-331 near the city of Opp
Opp, Alabama
Opp is a city in Covington County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 6,607. -Geography:Opp is located at . According to the U.S...
. At Dothan
Dothan, Alabama
Dothan is a city located in the southeastern corner of the US state of Alabama, situated approximately west of the Georgia state line and north of Florida. It is the seat of Houston County, with portions extending into nearby Dale County and Henry County...
US-84 shares a concurrency with US-231 and US-431 on the Ross Clark Circle which is the circular bypass of downtown Dothan
Dothan, Alabama
Dothan is a city located in the southeastern corner of the US state of Alabama, situated approximately west of the Georgia state line and north of Florida. It is the seat of Houston County, with portions extending into nearby Dale County and Henry County...
.
US-84 crosses three major navigable waterways in Alabama. They are the Tombigbee River
Tombigbee River
The Tombigbee River is a tributary of the Mobile River, approximately 200 mi long, in the U.S. states of Mississippi and Alabama. It is one of two major rivers, along with the Alabama River, that unite to form the short Mobile River before it empties into Mobile Bay on the Gulf of Mexico...
at Coffeeville
Coffeeville, Alabama
Coffeeville is a town in Clarke County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 360.-Geography:Coffeeville is located at 31°45'40.543" North, 88°5'20.940" West .According to the U.S...
, the Alabama River
Alabama River
The Alabama River, in the U.S. state of Alabama, is formed by the Tallapoosa and Coosa rivers, which unite about north of Montgomery.The river flows west to Selma, then southwest until, about from Mobile, it unites with the Tombigbee, forming the Mobile and Tensaw rivers, which discharge into...
at Claiborne
Claiborne, Alabama
Claiborne is a ghost town on a bluff above the Alabama River in Monroe County, Alabama. Situated near the Federal Road, Claiborne began during the Mississippi Territory period with a ferry over the river. During the Creek War a large stockade fort, named Fort Claiborne, was established at the...
, and the Chattahoochee River
Chattahoochee River
The Chattahoochee River flows through or along the borders of the U.S. states of Georgia, Alabama, and Florida. It is a tributary of the Apalachicola River, a relatively short river formed by the confluence of the Chattahoochee and Flint Rivers and emptying into Apalachicola Bay in the Gulf of...
at the Alabama-Georgia state line. US-84 passes very near the large military facility of Fort Rucker
Fort Rucker
Fort Rucker is a U.S. Army post located mostly in Dale County, Alabama, United States. It was named for a Civil War officer, Confederate General Edmund Rucker. The post is the primary flight training base for Army Aviation and is home to the United States Army Aviation Center of Excellence and...
which is the US Army's helicopter training school. Most of US-84 in Alabama traverses the Gulf Coastal Plain which is relatively lowlying land with some sand content. The area is heavily agriculural with little heavy industry. Dothan
Dothan, Alabama
Dothan is a city located in the southeastern corner of the US state of Alabama, situated approximately west of the Georgia state line and north of Florida. It is the seat of Houston County, with portions extending into nearby Dale County and Henry County...
is the largest city in Alabama traversed by US-84 and it is the business and agricultural center of Southeast Alabama. The area is commonly referred to as the Wiregrass Region.
History
The original 1926 route of U.S. 84 skirted the southern border of GeorgiaGeorgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
, from Brunswick
Brunswick, Georgia
Brunswick is the major urban and economic center in southeastern Georgia in the United States. The municipality is located on a harbor near the Atlantic Ocean, approximately 30 miles north of Florida and 70 miles south of South Carolina. Brunswick is bordered on the east by the Atlantic...
to the north edge of the Okefenokee Swamp
Okefenokee Swamp
The Okefenokee Swamp is a shallow, 438,000 acre , peat-filled wetland straddling the Georgia–Florida border in the United States. A majority of the swamp is in Georgia and protected by the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge and the Okefenokee Wilderness. The Okefenokee Swamp is considered to be...
, then west to Dothan, Alabama
Dothan, Alabama
Dothan is a city located in the southeastern corner of the US state of Alabama, situated approximately west of the Georgia state line and north of Florida. It is the seat of Houston County, with portions extending into nearby Dale County and Henry County...
, just across the Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
line.
In 1934, U.S. 84 was extended to Grove Hill, Alabama
Grove Hill, Alabama
Grove Hill is a town in Clarke County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 1,438. It is the county seat of Clarke County and home of the Clarke County Museum.-History:...
, then south on US 43 to Wagarville, Alabama
Wagarville, Alabama
Wagarville is an unincorporated community in Washington County, Alabama, United States. As of 2010, the population of the area was 3,353....
, west to State Line, Mississippi
State Line, Mississippi
State Line is a town in Greene and Wayne counties in the U.S. state of Mississippi. The population was 555 at the 2000 census.-Geography:State Line is located at . The town is on the boundary between Wayne County on the north and Greene County on the south, with the town's area approximately...
, north on US 45 to Waynesboro, Mississippi
Waynesboro, Mississippi
Waynesboro is a city in Wayne County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 5,197 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Wayne County.-Geography:Waynesboro is located at , just east of the Chickasawhay River....
, and then across Mississippi and Louisiana to Farwell, Texas
Farwell, Texas
Farwell is a city in and the county seat of Parmer County, Texas, United States. Farwell is located on the Texas-New Mexico border with the town of Texico, New Mexico on the opposite side...
. State Line was bypassed in the 1960s by a direct connection between Grove Hill and Waynesboro. A few sources report that the part between Natchez, Mississippi
Natchez, Mississippi
Natchez is the county seat of Adams County, Mississippi, United States. With a total population of 18,464 , it is the largest community and the only incorporated municipality within Adams County...
and Wagarville was planned as US 86 a year before. The Alabama Department of Transportation library in Montgomery, Alabama, holds state-issued maps and documents from that era with the stretch from US 43 to Mississippi labeled that way. At one point, funding was not secure for building a bridge over the Alabama River
Alabama River
The Alabama River, in the U.S. state of Alabama, is formed by the Tallapoosa and Coosa rivers, which unite about north of Montgomery.The river flows west to Selma, then southwest until, about from Mobile, it unites with the Tombigbee, forming the Mobile and Tensaw rivers, which discharge into...
, and a US 86 designation would have made the absence of a bridge less obvious.
The east ends of U.S. 84 and U.S. Route 82
U.S. Route 82
U.S. Route 82 is an east–west United States highway in the southern United States. What started as a 1932 addition to the system across central Mississippi and southern Arkansas eventually became a 1,609 mile route extending from the White Sands of New Mexico to Georgia's Atlantic coast.The...
were swapped in 1989 after the roads around Waycross, Georgia
Waycross, Georgia
Waycross is the county seat of, and only incorporated city in, Ware County in the U.S. state of Georgia. The population was 14,725 at the 2010 Census. A small portion of the city extends into Pierce County. According the U.S...
, were reconfigured.