Historic US highway endpoint in Boone, NC
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1930-1961
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US 321 was commissioned in 1930; at the time it ran from Bristol TN, through Boone, and down into South Carolina. US 421 was commissioned that same year, and its north end was originally at its junction with US 321 in Boone. Three years later, US 421 was extended north and west from Boone, through Bristol, along what had been US 321! So US 321 was truncated to Boone, ending at US 421:
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c. 1956, Gousha
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It is unclear why the US 321 designation was not simply extended west from Bristol. This photo shows the junction where these routes ended historically:
Elkins
That was looking west on King Street at Hardin Street. In 1930, US 321 followed the same route that is indicated on that assembly, but US 421 went only as far as that junction and ended there. Then in 1932, US 421 was extended north (ahead on King, as it is today), but the north beginning of US 321 was to the left on Hardin. That remained the case until 1961, which is when US 321 was extended west out of Boone again (although it goes to Elizabethton TN now - not Bristol).
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Research and/or photo credits: H.B. Elkins; Mike Roberson; Dale Sanderson
Page originally created 2006;
last updated August 13, 2016.
last updated August 13, 2016.
