# What are these red and white lines on Google Maps **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 7, 2024, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-these-red-and-white-lines-on-google-maps/997211 "2024-02-07T00:25:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2024, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-these-red-and-white-lines-on-google-maps/997211/1 "2024-02-07T00:25:04Z")
I googled it, but none of the answers given (that I read) seemed to fit. [![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/gs-geo-images/60ff5871-83d4-4472-911c-7963094d9c0d_l.png) ](https://s3.amazonaws.com/gs-geo-images/60ff5871-83d4-4472-911c-7963094d9c0d_l.png) ETA: Closer view [![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/gs-geo-images/4c8642bb-58cd-4a71-8956-e5dc675c7374_l.png) ](https://s3.amazonaws.com/gs-geo-images/4c8642bb-58cd-4a71-8956-e5dc675c7374_l.png) ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2024, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-these-red-and-white-lines-on-google-maps/997211/2 "2024-02-07T00:42:04Z")
I think it is just showing the building(s) that the street address is associated with when it might not be obvious. The address for that collection of structures is on Vineyard Trl Rd. even though they are a distance from it. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2024, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-these-red-and-white-lines-on-google-maps/997211/3 "2024-02-07T00:54:36Z")
I see those dotted lines on Google Maps all the time, when my search term is an area (such as a town or subdivision), rather than a street address. IME, Google uses the dotted lines to delineate the area on that map that fits my search term. What search term did you enter into Google Maps, which yielded that image? > [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](#): > > The address for that collection of structures is on Vineyard Trl Rd. even though they are a distance from it. That sounds like a plausible explanation in this case, though it’s an interesting placement of the lines to get to it (i.e., it doesn’t seem to be following an access road or driveway, but instead seems to just be cutting through fields). ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2024, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-these-red-and-white-lines-on-google-maps/997211/4 "2024-02-07T04:52:10Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > What search term did you enter into Google Maps, which yielded that image? Santa Maria, CA ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2024, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-these-red-and-white-lines-on-google-maps/997211/5 "2024-02-07T05:15:54Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > That sounds like a plausible explanation in this case, though it’s an interesting placement of the lines to get to it (i.e., it doesn’t seem to be following an access road or driveway, but instead seems to just be cutting through fields). The lines are definitely the city limits or whatever town you searched for. I use this feature from time to time. My guess as to why they’re cutting through fields and buildings is that there used to be other things in those locations that the lines were following the borders of. Things have changed, but the borders have not kept up. Of course, one can’t rule out errors in where the lines are placed. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2024, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-these-red-and-white-lines-on-google-maps/997211/6 "2024-02-07T05:43:23Z")
It’s actually an enclave east of Santa Maia proper. The only other exterior enclave is the city water treatment plant. I’m not sure why the city would annex what is apparently part of a winery. > **[1678 Vineyard Trl Rd · 1678 Vineyard Trl Rd, Santa Maria, CA 93454](https://maps.google.com/maps/place/1678+Vineyard+Trl+Rd,+Santa+Maria,+CA+93454/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x80ec1325619f567b:0x2e94581d6a94e9ff?entry=s&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjApfLRwZiEAxUFjIkEHYooAFEQhuMEegQIKBAA&hl=en-US)** > > Building ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2024, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-these-red-and-white-lines-on-google-maps/997211/7 "2024-02-07T06:34:32Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > (i.e., it doesn’t seem to be following an access road or driveway, but instead seems to just be cutting through fields). Could be a pipeline track. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2024, 9:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-these-red-and-white-lines-on-google-maps/997211/8 "2024-02-07T09:00:22Z")
Assuming there’s no error in its placement, it’s most likely the location of a lane going to a house or farmstead (the rectangle at the bottom). Those things are no longer there and probably haven’t been for decades, but that doesn’t erase the city limits. The real question is why they aren’t connected to the rest of the city. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Feldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lord_feldon/32/341_2.png) [@Lord\_Feldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Feldon)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2024, 11:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-these-red-and-white-lines-on-google-maps/997211/9 "2024-02-07T11:26:11Z")
I think there is an error somewhere, and the whole boundary needs to be shifted slightly southwest (or the images need to be shifted slightly northeast). It would then line up with those rectangular things and the driveway used to access them. I assume it’s some kind of municipal infrastructure, probably for water. Some states allow municipalities to annex municipal property even if non-contiguous annexations aren’t normally allowed. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Feldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lord_feldon/32/341_2.png) [@Lord\_Feldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Feldon)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2024, 11:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-these-red-and-white-lines-on-google-maps/997211/10 "2024-02-07T11:50:06Z")
An [old city budget](http://www.cityofsantamariaonline.org/Budget/2014-16/01-Entire_Budget_2014-16.pdf) (PDF) mentions a “reservoir site located on Prell Road,” which seems to be the actual name of “Vineyard Trail Road” according to the [sign at the end of the road](https://maps.app.goo.gl/C3XFrYNz7uMMBjzV8). ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2024, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-these-red-and-white-lines-on-google-maps/997211/11 "2024-02-07T16:29:44Z")
Nice work. I guess an annexed parcel seems to fit. Weird that it’s so specifically shaped. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2024, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-these-red-and-white-lines-on-google-maps/997211/12 "2024-02-07T16:30:43Z")
It’s absolutely the city limits. I originally googled the “gold buckle ranch”, and no lines. But searching for santa maria, and I got them. Zoomed out, you can see that it’s a weird little exclave. > **[Santa Maria · California](https://maps.app.goo.gl/javkBAQjSTCV61oP6)** > > California ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2024, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-these-red-and-white-lines-on-google-maps/997211/13 "2024-02-07T16:37:43Z")
Ah, yes. Easy to see from that perspective. It make sense seeing the wastewater plat and the landfill annexed areas. Thanks ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2024, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-these-red-and-white-lines-on-google-maps/997211/14 "2024-02-07T22:09:50Z")
> [@Lord\_Feldon](#): > > An [old city budget](http://www.cityofsantamariaonline.org/Budget/2014-16/01-Entire_Budget_2014-16.pdf) (PDF) mentions a “reservoir site located on Prell Road, If you compare the length of the shadows from those three buildings with the little (guard?) shed to the left, you can tell they are really low to the ground like the roofs of underground tanks. ---
**Author:** ![Twoflower](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/twoflower/32/22_2.png) [@Twoflower](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Twoflower)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2024, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-these-red-and-white-lines-on-google-maps/997211/15 "2024-02-07T22:39:13Z")
The city’s [zoning map](https://www.cityofsantamaria.org/home/showpublisheddocument/10037/636837414217430000) shows that parcel to be zoned “Public Facilities”. I can’t find any reference to what the facility might be, but a covered water supply reservoir would make sense. ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2024, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-these-red-and-white-lines-on-google-maps/997211/16 "2024-02-08T18:24:53Z")
> [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](#): > > If you compare the length of the shadows from those three buildings with the little (guard?) shed to the left, you can tell they are really low to the ground like the roofs of underground tanks. For what it’s worth, here’s how they show up on Google Earth: [![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/gs-geo-images/4b985023-4fbe-4042-bbcd-4833757750a2_l.png) ](https://s3.amazonaws.com/gs-geo-images/4b985023-4fbe-4042-bbcd-4833757750a2_l.png) From the west [![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/gs-geo-images/93628447-81fa-48bd-ac2e-8dbbf2ef3295_l.png) ](https://s3.amazonaws.com/gs-geo-images/93628447-81fa-48bd-ac2e-8dbbf2ef3295_l.png) From the NW