# Who do YOU name a new road after? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 26, 2019, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-do-you-name-a-new-road-after/836128 "2019-06-26T22:01:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2019, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-do-you-name-a-new-road-after/836128/21 "2019-06-27T15:16:39Z")
There’s a road in the County I work called ‘Barking Dog Rd’. I guess they want to discourage new homes being built. “Hey, what the hell did you expect?” ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2019, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-do-you-name-a-new-road-after/836128/22 "2019-06-27T15:18:30Z")
Less Traveled By Road ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2019, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-do-you-name-a-new-road-after/836128/23 "2019-06-27T16:16:14Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > Heh. My County GIS department is in charge of approving new road names, so I see quite a few. Most of them have no imagination at all. “No, you can’t use Lakeview, we already have three roads named that”. Our town had two Church Rds, Not Church Rd & Church St or Church Ln. It was a bitch for emergency services because we had to take extra time to look at the cross streets to determine which end of town to head towards. More than once a driver, only knowing about one of them, headed out in the wrong direction. ---
**Author:** ![BobBitchin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7ea924/32.png) [@BobBitchin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobBitchin)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2019, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-do-you-name-a-new-road-after/836128/24 "2019-06-27T16:44:29Z")
> [@Bayaker](#): > > Ninjaed! > > But I’d put my My Way in [Lake Jackson, TX](https://www.roadsideamerica.com/tip/14982), where it would intersect both This Way and That Way. I sing an off-key version(my way) of the song “My Way” every time I drive through. I’ve been to This Way/That Way. It’s just a bit north of Tower Bay where we partied by the lake as teens.🆒 Lake Jackson is the closest place to buy beer. Side note, this is also a stones throw from “The Caves” (bone yard) as mentioned in King of the Hill.😃 ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2019, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-do-you-name-a-new-road-after/836128/25 "2019-06-27T17:00:55Z")
If it’s in my town I name it after the city council member who was able to secure funding for it since they are truly a miracle worker. Our town has so many old tightwad residents who don’t want to spend a dime on any infrastructure and spend their time bitching about how much their property taxes have gone up since 1955 that I stand in awe of anyone who can get a new road built. ---
**Author:** ![Pabitel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bbce88/32.png) [@Pabitel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pabitel)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2019, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-do-you-name-a-new-road-after/836128/26 "2019-06-27T17:34:41Z")
Charles T. Main, American engineer, last name only. Main St. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2019, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-do-you-name-a-new-road-after/836128/27 "2019-06-27T17:42:23Z")
“Second Street” is the most popular street name. “First Street” is usually re-named something else, like “Main Street.” ---
**Author:** ![Pabitel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bbce88/32.png) [@Pabitel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pabitel)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2019, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-do-you-name-a-new-road-after/836128/28 "2019-06-27T17:50:08Z")
Here in Vermont we are famous for prosaic road names. More the 50% of the time the road is named for what is, or used to be, at the end of the road. In my small town we have: Dump Rd. Treatment Plant Rd. Log Yard Rd. Brown Farm Rd. Sawmill Rd. Quarry Rd. among others Also, every town of any size is required to have both a Town Hill Rd. and a Church St. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2019, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-do-you-name-a-new-road-after/836128/29 "2019-06-27T18:10:25Z")
**panache45** , I’ve heard that factoid, too, but is there any city with a Second Street but without a Third Street (and probably Fourth and Fifth, too)? On the other hand, I know of at least one town with a [Third Ave. but no Second Ave.](https://goo.gl/maps/JENCfcNMDK5MPFf4A) (what would be Second is Grand, and what would be First is Willson). And on one of my commutes, I cross over two different Elmwoods, and I think there are a couple more in the vicinity. Though they’re at least all in different municipalities. There’s also, in the municipality I live in, an intersection between Clifton Boulevard and Clifton Avenue. One block east of that intersection is West Clifton, and one block south of that is North Clifton. For me personally, this area already has one major street named after an ancient Greek mathematician, so I’d like an Aristarchus Drive here on the West Side, to balance it out. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2019, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-do-you-name-a-new-road-after/836128/30 "2019-06-27T18:23:01Z")
Every time we are on that stretch of 101 between Florence and Seal Rock, I always find myself watching for the street sign for Lois Ln. ---
**Author:** ![Dahnlor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dahnlor/32/533_2.png) [@Dahnlor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dahnlor)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2019, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-do-you-name-a-new-road-after/836128/31 "2019-06-27T18:35:41Z")
Rhodes Road Square Circle 1st Place ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2019, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-do-you-name-a-new-road-after/836128/32 "2019-06-27T19:01:19Z")
Bolivar Boulevard Drivon Parkway (after any of many people with last name Drivon) ---
**Author:** ![Dandan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a87d85/32.png) [@Dandan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dandan)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2019, 11:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-do-you-name-a-new-road-after/836128/33 "2019-06-28T11:12:24Z")
Rename Pennsylvania Avenue “Don’s Highway To Hell, Paved With Bad Intentions.” Dan ---
**Author:** ![Bayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bayaker/32/3454_2.png) [@Bayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bayaker)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2019, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-do-you-name-a-new-road-after/836128/34 "2019-06-28T17:38:11Z")
> [@BobBitchin](#): > > I’ve been to This Way/That Way. It’s just a bit north of Tower Bay where we partied by the lake as teens.🆒 Lake Jackson is the closest place to buy beer. > > Side note, this is also a stones throw from “The Caves” (bone yard) as mentioned in King of the Hill.😃 I’m confused. The only Tower Bay I know of is up in the DFW area on Lake Lewisville, the same area as the presumed setting of King of the Hill. Lake Jackson is in Brazoria County and is only ten miles north of Surfside Beach and the Gulf of Mexico - about 300 miles south of Tower Bay as the crow flies. Y’all must have been mighty thirsty to drive there for beer:) ---
**Author:** ![BobBitchin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7ea924/32.png) [@BobBitchin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobBitchin)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2019, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-do-you-name-a-new-road-after/836128/35 "2019-06-28T18:32:14Z")
> [@Bayaker](#): > > I’m confused. The only Tower Bay I know of is up in the DFW area on Lake Lewisville, the same area as the presumed setting of King of the Hill. Lake Jackson is in Brazoria County and is only ten miles north of Surfside Beach and the Gulf of Mexico - about 300 miles south of Tower Bay as the crow flies. Y’all must have been mighty thirsty to drive there for beer:) :smack: LAKE DALLAS:o . There’s actually a Lake Jackson near me in central Florida. Wow, 20+ years:rolleyes: I really thought I remembered this/that way…Maybe it was another interesting combo that we always thought would look good on the wall.😕 ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2019, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-do-you-name-a-new-road-after/836128/36 "2019-06-28T22:40:54Z")
In keeping with the OP’s stipulation that it has to be a person’s name: Either Harriet Tubman Boulevard because she’s been my hero ever since I did a report on her in 4th grade, or I’d use my mother’s maiden name because it’s unique and I like it. > [@Pabitel](#): > > Here in Vermont we are famous for prosaic road names. More the 50% of the time the road is named for what is, or used to be, at the end of the road. In my small town we have: > Dump Rd. > Treatment Plant Rd. > Log Yard Rd. > Brown Farm Rd. > Sawmill Rd. > Quarry Rd. > among others > > Also, every town of any size is required to have both a Town Hill Rd. and a Church St. I recall a friend from Vermont telling me that roads often used to have different names depending on the direction you were traveling. For example, if a road connected Greentown and Blueville, the people in Greentown would call it Blueville Road and vice versa . That jibes with what you’re saying about roads being named for what’s at the end of them. She said that things finally got standardized when they put 911 services in place ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2019, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-do-you-name-a-new-road-after/836128/37 "2019-06-28T23:18:40Z")
> [@blondebear](#): > > I’d like to name my road the _Frederick Law Olmsted Parkway_. This name would not go over well. There is a house down the road who’s private drive way has a sign that says, “Goa Way”. ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2019, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-do-you-name-a-new-road-after/836128/38 "2019-06-28T23:54:24Z")
One Way. Then make sure it wasn’t. ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2019, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-do-you-name-a-new-road-after/836128/39 "2019-06-29T00:06:57Z")
I’m torn between [Bazalgette](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Bazalgette) Way and [Hildegard of Bingen](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hildegard_of_Bingen) Boulevard. I don’t know whether to go low or to go high. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2019, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-do-you-name-a-new-road-after/836128/40 "2019-06-29T01:27:13Z")
In 2008, a very angry man walked into a City Council meeting in my home town and started shooting. By the time he was gunned down he had fired about 15 shots and killed two police officers, the mayor, two members of the Council, and the public works director. There are memorials and plaques, but no streets have been renamed. While I’m at it, I could name another street for the City Attorney, who distracted the shooter by throwing chairs at him. After I’m through with that, I’d rename the street my house is on. It’s a stupid name, and I’d rename it to the legal name of the subdivision, which is nice and suburban-y [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-do-you-name-a-new-road-after/836128.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-do-you-name-a-new-road-after/836128.md?page=3)