| Jefferson Highway | |
|---|---|
| Major junctions | |
| From: | New Orleans, Louisiana |
| To: | Winnipeg, Manitoba |
| Highway system | |
| Auto trail | |
The Jefferson Highway was an automobile highway stretching through the central United States from New Orleans, Louisiana, to Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. The Jefferson Highway was replaced with the new numbered US Highway system in the late 1920s. Portions of the highway are still named Jefferson Highway, for example, the portions that run through Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana, Osseo, Minnesota, and Wadena, Minnesota.
It was built in the 1910s as part of the National Auto Trail system.
The Jefferson Highway was inspired by the east–west Lincoln Highway.
It was nicknamed the "Palm to Pine Highway", for the varying types of trees found at either end.
Contents |
There is direct evidence that the Jefferson Highway travelled along the current highway of U.S. Highway 71. In Montgomery, Louisiana, the old segments of Hwy. 71 are called Old Jefferson Highway. In Pineville, Louisiana, there is a road that connects U.S. 71 with the business route of U.S. 165/71 named Jefferson Highway. In Alexandria, Louisiana, the main part of U.S. 71 south of the traffic circle at the intersection of Business 165, 165, and 71 is called Jefferson Highway. Also, the road south of I-49 labeled Old Baton Rouge Hwy (called that because it is the old alignment of Highway 71) is also called Old Jefferson Highway. In Lecompte, Louisiana, LA 456, which is a former alignment of US 71, is called "Jefferson Highway."