U.S. Route 61 or U.S. Highway 61 (U.S. 61) is a major
United States highway
The United States Numbered Highway System (often called U.S. Routes or U.S. Highways) is an integrated network of roads and highways numbered within a nationwide grid in the contiguous United States. As the designation and numbering of these hi ...
that extends between
,
Louisiana
Louisiana , group=pronunciation (French: ''La Louisiane'') is a state in the Deep South and South Central regions of the United States. It is the 20th-smallest by area and the 25th most populous of the 50 U.S. states. Louisiana is bord ...
and the city of
Wyoming, Minnesota. The highway generally follows the course of the
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the List of longest rivers of the United States (by main stem), second-longest river and chief river of the second-largest Drainage system (geomorphology), drainage system in North America, second only to the Hudson B ...
and is designated the
Great River Road
The Great River Road is a collection of state and local roads that follow the course of the Mississippi River through ten states of the United States. They are Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Miss ...
for much of its route. As of 2004, the highway's northern terminus in Wyoming, Minnesota, is at an intersection with
Interstate 35
Interstate 35 (I-35) is a major Interstate Highway in the central United States. As with most primary Interstates that end in a five, it is a major cross-country, north–south route. It stretches from Laredo, Texas, near the Mexican borde ...
(I-35). Until 1991, the highway extended north on what is now
Minnesota State Highway 61
Minnesota State Highway 61 (MN 61) is a highway in northeast Minnesota, which runs from a junction with Interstate 35 (I-35) in Duluth at 26th Avenue East, and continues northeast to its northern terminus at the Canadian border near Grand Por ...
(MN 61) through
Duluth
, settlement_type = City
, nicknames = Twin Ports (with Superior), Zenith City
, motto =
, image_skyline =
, image_caption = Clockwise from top: urban Duluth skyline; Minnesota ...
to the
Canada–U.S. border near
Grand Portage. Its southern terminus in New Orleans is at an intersection with
U.S. Route 90 (US 90). The route was an important south–north connection in the days before the
interstate highway
The Dwight D. Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways, commonly known as the Interstate Highway System, is a network of controlled-access highways that forms part of the National Highway System in the United States. T ...
system.
The highway is often called the Blues Highway because of its long history in
blues music
Blues is a music genre and musical form which originated in the Deep South of the United States around the 1860s. Blues incorporated spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts, chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads from the Afric ...
; Part of the route lies on the
Mississippi Blues Trail
The Mississippi Blues Trail was created by the Mississippi Blues Commission in 2006 to place interpretive markers at the most notable historical sites related to the birth, growth, and influence of the blues throughout (and in some cases beyond) ...
and is denoted by markers in
Vicksburg and
Tunica. It is also the subject of numerous musical works, and the route inspired the album ''
Highway 61 Revisited
''Highway 61 Revisited'' is the sixth studio album by American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan, released on August 30, 1965, by Columbia Records. Having until then recorded mostly acoustic music, Dylan used rock musicians as his backing band on eve ...
'' by
Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan (legally Robert Dylan, born Robert Allen Zimmerman, May 24, 1941) is an American singer-songwriter. Often regarded as one of the greatest songwriters of all time, Dylan has been a major figure in popular culture during a career sp ...
.
Route description
Louisiana
US 61 in
Louisiana
Louisiana , group=pronunciation (French: ''La Louisiane'') is a state in the Deep South and South Central regions of the United States. It is the 20th-smallest by area and the 25th most populous of the 50 U.S. states. Louisiana is bord ...
is four-laned from its southern terminus in
to the
Mississippi
Mississippi () is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States, bordered to the north by Tennessee; to the east by Alabama; to the south by the Gulf of Mexico; to the southwest by Louisiana; and to the northwest by Arkansas. Miss ...
state line, where the highway continues to
Natchez as a four-lane highway.
The section of US 61 from New Orleans to
Baton Rouge
Baton Rouge ( ; ) is a city in and the capital of the U.S. state of Louisiana. Located the eastern bank of the Mississippi River, it is the parish seat of East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana's most populous parish—the equivalent of counti ...
is known as the
Airline Highway
Airline Highway is a divided highway in the U.S. state of Louisiana, built in stages between 1925 and 1953 to bypass the older Jefferson Highway. It runs , carrying U.S. Highway 61 from New Orleans northwest to Baton Rouge and U.S. Highway 19 ...
. Although the road fronts the
former terminal of
Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport
Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (French: ''Aéroport international Louis Armstrong de La Nouvelle-Orléans'') is an international airport under Class B airspace in Kenner, Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, United States. It is o ...
and passes near
Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport, the name originally referred to the highway's straight route in contrast to that of the winding
Jefferson Highway
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. ...
, which often paralleled the
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the List of longest rivers of the United States (by main stem), second-longest river and chief river of the second-largest Drainage system (geomorphology), drainage system in North America, second only to the Hudson B ...
. Legend has it that former Louisiana Governor
Huey Long
Huey Pierce Long Jr. (August 30, 1893September 10, 1935), nicknamed "the Kingfish", was an American politician who served as the 40th governor of Louisiana from 1928 to 1932 and as a United States senator from 1932 until his assassination ...
advocated the construction of the "airline" highway to provide him with a quick means of access from the capitol building in Baton Rouge to the bars and other pleasure establishments in New Orleans. On Airline Highway in
Jefferson Parish Jefferson may refer to:
Names
* Jefferson (surname)
* Jefferson (given name)
People
* Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826), third president of the United States
* Jefferson (footballer, born 1970), full name Jefferson Tomaz de Souza, Brazilian f ...
in 1987, Baton Rouge televangelist
Jimmy Swaggart
Jimmy Lee Swaggart (; born March 15, 1935) is an American Pentecostal televangelist, gospel music recording artist, pianist, and Christian author.
His television ministry, which began in 1971, and was originally known as the “Camp Meeting Ho ...
was confronted by rival preacher Marvin Gorman as Swaggart exited the Travel Inn after seeing a
prostitute
Prostitution is the business or practice of engaging in Sex work, sexual activity in exchange for payment. The definition of "sexual activity" varies, and is often defined as an activity requiring physical contact (e.g., sexual intercourse, n ...
. This incident increased the area's reputation as a locale of "seedy motels". Partly because of that reputation, the section in Jefferson Parish was later renamed Airline Drive.
Mississippi
US 61 is divided from the
Tennessee
Tennessee ( , ), officially the State of Tennessee, is a landlocked U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. Tennessee is the List of U.S. states and territories by area, 36th-largest by ...
state line to
U.S. 82 in
Leland. The highway south of
Vicksburg to
Natchez is mostly divided and four-lane; only short sections through
Port Gibson need to be upgraded. From Natchez to the
Louisiana
Louisiana , group=pronunciation (French: ''La Louisiane'') is a state in the Deep South and South Central regions of the United States. It is the 20th-smallest by area and the 25th most populous of the 50 U.S. states. Louisiana is bord ...
state line, US 61 is now divided and four lanes. The
Mississippi Department of Transportation is now upgrading the highway between Vicksburg and Leland to four lanes, beginning with replacement of the
Yazoo River
The Yazoo River is a river in the U.S. states of Louisiana and Mississippi. It is considered by some to mark the southern boundary of what is called the Mississippi Delta, a broad floodplain that was cultivated for cotton plantations before th ...
bridge at
Redwood
Sequoioideae, popularly known as redwoods, is a subfamily of coniferous trees within the family Cupressaceae. It includes the largest and tallest trees in the world.
Description
The three redwood subfamily genera are '' Sequoia'' from coasta ...
in
Warren County.
The road is also known as the Blues Highway because it runs through the
Mississippi Delta
The Mississippi Delta, also known as the Yazoo–Mississippi Delta, or simply the Delta, is the distinctive northwest section of the U.S. state of Mississippi (and portions of Arkansas and Louisiana) that lies between the Mississippi and Yaz ...
country, which was an important source of
blues
Blues is a music genre and musical form which originated in the Deep South of the United States around the 1860s. Blues incorporated spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts, chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads from the ...
music. Highway 61 has been referenced in music by various artists with roots in the region.
The former junction of US 61 and
U.S. 49 in
Clarksdale (North State Street and Desoto Avenue) is designated as the famous crossroads where, according to legend,
Robert Johnson
Robert Leroy Johnson (May 8, 1911August 16, 1938) was an American blues musician and songwriter. His landmark recordings in 1936 and 1937 display a combination of singing, guitar skills, and songwriting talent that has influenced later generati ...
supposedly
sold his soul to the Devil in exchange for mastery of
the blues
Blues is a music genre and musical form which originated in the Deep South of the United States around the 1860s. Blues incorporated spiritual (music), spirituals, work songs, field hollers, Ring shout, shouts, chants, and rhymed simple narra ...
. US 49 and US 61 are currently routed around the city on a bypass. It was on this stretch of highway that blues singer
Bessie Smith
Bessie Smith (April 15, 1894 – September 26, 1937) was an American blues singer widely renowned during the Jazz Age. Nicknamed the " Empress of the Blues", she was the most popular female blues singer of the 1930s. Inducted into the Rock an ...
died as a result of a car accident on September 26, 1937.
Like
Route 66 in the Western U.S., the iconic US 61 sign is so strongly identified with the Clarksdale area that it is used to market different products and services. US 61 is defined in Mississippi Code Annotated § 65-3-3.
Tennessee
US 61 enters
Memphis from
Walls as South 3rd Street in South Memphis, then joins
I-55
Interstate 55 (I-55) is a major Interstate Highway in the central United States. As with most primary Interstates that end in a five, it is a major cross-country, north–south route, connecting the Gulf of Mexico to the Great Lakes. The h ...
as they cross the
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the List of longest rivers of the United States (by main stem), second-longest river and chief river of the second-largest Drainage system (geomorphology), drainage system in North America, second only to the Hudson B ...
to
West Memphis, a distance of approximately .
Arkansas
US 61 runs through the state for from West Memphis to just north of
Blytheville, near the
Missouri
Missouri is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States. Ranking 21st in land area, it is bordered by eight states (tied for the most with Tennessee): Iowa to the north, Illinois, Kentucky and Tennessee to the east, Arkansas t ...
border.
The route enters
Arkansas
Arkansas ( ) is a landlocked state in the South Central United States. It is bordered by Missouri to the north, Tennessee and Mississippi to the east, Louisiana to the south, and Texas and Oklahoma to the west. Its name is from the O ...
in a concurrency with
I-55
Interstate 55 (I-55) is a major Interstate Highway in the central United States. As with most primary Interstates that end in a five, it is a major cross-country, north–south route, connecting the Gulf of Mexico to the Great Lakes. The h ...
and
US 64,
US 70, and
US 79 near
West Memphis. The route skirts the northwest edge of the city, briefly meeting
Interstate 40
Interstate 40 (I-40) is a major east–west Interstate Highway running through the south-central portion of the United States. At a length of , it is the third-longest Interstate Highway in the country, after I-90 and I-80. From west to ea ...
before continuing north with I-55,
US 63 and US 64. US 61 overlaps I-55 until an area near
Turrell, when US 61 branches east but continues to run parallel to I-55. The old alignment of US 61 between West Memphis and Turrell is currently signed as
Arkansas Highway 77. The route runs through many small towns in
Mississippi County, and becomes a city street in
Osceola
Osceola (1804 – January 30, 1838, Asi-yahola in Muscogee language, Creek), named Billy Powell at birth in Alabama, became an influential leader of the Seminole people in Florida. His mother was Muscogee, and his great-grandfather was a S ...
. Continuing north, the route crosses over I-55, south of Blytheville. In the city, US 61 becomes South Division Street until crossing
Main Street (AR 18). The route runs north through the rest of Blytheville and beyond until a junction with
AR 150 near
Yarbro. After this junction, the route continues due north to Missouri.
Missouri
US 61 enters Missouri south of
Steele, passing under
a concrete arch that was constructed by the
Mississippi County,
Arkansas
Arkansas ( ) is a landlocked state in the South Central United States. It is bordered by Missouri to the north, Tennessee and Mississippi to the east, Louisiana to the south, and Texas and Oklahoma to the west. Its name is from the O ...
highway department in 1924. The alignment of the highway is closely followed by
I-55
Interstate 55 (I-55) is a major Interstate Highway in the central United States. As with most primary Interstates that end in a five, it is a major cross-country, north–south route, connecting the Gulf of Mexico to the Great Lakes. The h ...
between there and the
St. Louis area, with portions of the two highways overlapping. Between
Howardville and
Sikeston
Sikeston is a city located both in southern Scott County and northern New Madrid County, in the state of Missouri, United States. It is situated just north of the "Missouri Bootheel", although many locals consider Sikeston a part of it. By way ...
, US 61 overlaps with
US 62. At Sikeston, US 61 also meets
US 60. Crossing
Route 32 at the "one of the oldest
French Colonial
French colonial architecture includes several styles of architecture used by the French during colonization. Many former French colonies, especially those in Southeast Asia, have previously been reluctant to promote their colonial architectur ...
settlements west of the Mississippi River (1735)",
Ste. Genevieve, the road continues through Ste. Genevieve County. The highway then turns northwest and meets
US 67 at
Festus. The two highways overlap until separating in the St. Louis area at
Ladue
Ladue is an inner-ring suburb of St. Louis, located in St. Louis County, Missouri. As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 8,989.
Ladue has the highest median household income of any city in Missouri with a population over 1,000.
Geo ...
, where US 61 meets
I-64
Interstate 64 (I-64) is an east–west Interstate Highway in the Eastern United States. Its western terminus is at I-70, U.S. Route 40 (US 40), and US 61 in Wentzville, Missouri. Its eastern terminus is at an interchang ...
and
US 40, just north of the junction of US 61 and Old Route 66 (now
Route 100), located in
Kirkwood, which is referred to locally as "the rock 'n roll crossroads of America". While in the St. Louis area, US 61 is on
Lindbergh Boulevard.
After meeting I-64 and US 40, US 61 turns west with them and its overlap with the
Avenue of the Saints begins. At
Wentzville, the overlap with I-64 and US 40 ends when it meets
I-70
Interstate 70 (I-70) is a major east–west Interstate Highway in the United States that runs from I-15 near Cove Fort, Utah, to a park and ride lot just east of I-695 in Baltimore, Maryland, and is the fifth-longest Interstate in the c ...
, with the former ending at I-70. It continues in a general northwesterly route, meeting
US 54 at
Bowling Green
A bowling green is a finely laid, close-mown and rolled stretch of turf for playing the game of bowls.
Before 1830, when Edwin Beard Budding of Thrupp, near Stroud, UK, invented the lawnmower, lawns were often kept cropped by grazing sheep ...
and
US 36 and
I-72 at
Hannibal
Hannibal (; xpu, 𐤇𐤍𐤁𐤏𐤋, ''Ḥannibaʿl''; 247 – between 183 and 181 BC) was a Carthaginian general and statesman who commanded the forces of Carthage in their battle against the Roman Republic during the Second Pu ...
, an intersection which is I-72's western terminus. Northwest of Hannibal, US 61 meets
US 24 and the two overlap until they separate at
Taylor. US 61 continues north until near
Wayland, where the highway turns east at
Route 27 and the overlap with the Avenue of the Saints ends. Shortly before leaving Missouri, US 61 meets
US 136 and the two overlap until entering
Iowa
Iowa () is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States, bordered by the Mississippi River to the east and the Missouri River and Big Sioux River to the west. It is bordered by six states: Wiscon ...
. US 61 in Missouri was formerly known as Route 9.
US 61 runs along the western side of the Mississippi River between
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the U.S. state of Tennessee. It is the seat of Shelby County in the southwest part of the state; it is situated along the Mississippi River. With a population of 633,104 at the 2020 U.S. census, Memphis is the second-mo ...
, and
Dubuque, Iowa
Dubuque (, ) is the county seat of Dubuque County, Iowa, United States, located along the Mississippi River. At the time of the 2020 census, the population of Dubuque was 59,667. The city lies at the junction of Iowa, Illinois, and Wisconsin, a r ...
, and therefore never enters the state of
Illinois
Illinois ( ) is a state in the Midwestern United States. Its largest metropolitan areas include the Chicago metropolitan area, and the Metro East section, of Greater St. Louis. Other smaller metropolitan areas include, Peoria and Rock ...
.
Iowa
US 61 enters Iowa overlapped with US 136 near
Keokuk. They separate in Keokuk and US 61 turns north there and meets
US 218
U.S. Highway 218 (US 218) is an original United States Highway that was created in 1926. Although technically a spur of US 18, US 218 neither begins nor ends at US 18, but overlaps US 18 for near Charles City, Iowa. US ...
in northwestern Keokuk. They overlap for , then US 218 turns northwest. US 61 goes north until crossing
Iowa 2
Iowa Highway 2 (Iowa 2) is a state highway which runs across the southernmost tier of counties in the U.S. state of Iowa. At no point along its route is Iowa 2 more than from the Missouri state line, except for a small section near its ea ...
and becomes a four-lane
freeway
A controlled-access highway is a type of highway that has been designed for high-speed vehicular traffic, with all traffic flow—ingress and egress—regulated. Common English terms are freeway, motorway and expressway. Other similar terms ...
bypass around
Fort Madison
Fort Madison is a city and a county seat of Lee County, Iowa, United States along with Keokuk. Of Iowa's 99 counties, Lee County is the only one with two county seats. The population was 10,270 at the time of the 2020 census. Located along th ...
. US 61 then turns northeast and meets
US 34 in
Burlington. The highway goes north and overlaps
Iowa 92 from
Grandview to
Muscatine. At Muscatine, the highway turns east to go towards the
Quad Cities
The Quad Cities is a region of cities (originally four, see History) in the U.S. states of Iowa and Illinois: Davenport and Bettendorf in southeastern Iowa, and Rock Island, Moline and East Moline in northwestern Illinois. These cities are t ...
. At
Davenport
Davenport may refer to:
Places Australia
*Davenport, Northern Territory, a locality
*Hundred of Davenport, cadastral unit in South Australia
**Davenport, South Australia, suburb of Port Augusta
** District Council of Davenport, former local govern ...
, US 61 follows
I-280 and
I-80 around Davenport and meets Business 61.
After I-80, the highway turns back north as a freeway until
De Witt, which is where it meets
US 30. It continues north from there to Dubuque as an
expressway except for a freeway section in the
Maquoketa area. The highway joins with
US 151 about south of
Dubuque
Dubuque (, ) is the county seat of Dubuque County, Iowa, United States, located along the Mississippi River. At the time of the 2020 census, the population of Dubuque was 59,667. The city lies at the junction of Iowa, Illinois, and Wisconsin, a ...
. US 61 and US 151 are joined at the
Southwest Arterial
U.S. Highway 52 (US 52) is a United States Numbered Highway in northeast Iowa. The route begins at the Dale Gardner Veterans Memorial Bridge over the Mississippi River between Sabula and Savanna, Illinois. From Sabula, it heads north along th ...
in Dubuque by
US 52, which separates in
Key West
Key West ( es, Cayo Hueso) is an island in the Straits of Florida, within the U.S. state of Florida. Together with all or parts of the separate islands of Dredgers Key, Fleming Key, Sunset Key, and the northern part of Stock Island, it cons ...
. Also in Dubuque, a short connecting highway links US 61 and US 151 with
US 20. Together, US 61 and US 151 continue through Dubuque, where they cross the
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the List of longest rivers of the United States (by main stem), second-longest river and chief river of the second-largest Drainage system (geomorphology), drainage system in North America, second only to the Hudson B ...
and enter Wisconsin via the
Dubuque-Wisconsin Bridge.
The
61 Drive In 61 may refer to:
* 61 (number)
* one of the years 61 BC, AD 61, 1961, 2061
* In some countries, a slang name for the Cyrillic letter Ы
* '' 61*'', a 2001 American sports drama film
* "Sixty One", a song by Karma to Burn from the album ''Mountain ...
, one of the few
drive-in theater
A drive-in theater or drive-in cinema is a form of cinema structure consisting of a large outdoor movie screen, a projection booth, a concession stand, and a large parking area for automobiles. Within this enclosed area, customers can view movi ...
s left in the nation, is located along US 61. The theater is located about south of
Maquoketa, near exit 153 (the
Delmar/
Lost Nation exit). Another drive-in theater is located outside of Grandview and can be seen from US 61 just north of Grandview.
A four-lane freeway bypass of
Fort Madison
Fort Madison is a city and a county seat of Lee County, Iowa, United States along with Keokuk. Of Iowa's 99 counties, Lee County is the only one with two county seats. The population was 10,270 at the time of the 2020 census. Located along th ...
was completed and opened to traffic in November 2011. A project to upgrade a segment between the Louisa–Muscatine county line near
Letts and the south junction of Iowa 92 near
Grandview to a four-lane expressway was completed in December 2017. Construction on upgrading US-61 to a divided highway is underway between
Burlington and
Mediapolis. The remaining segments between Iowa 92 and Mediapolis, and between the northern end of the
Keokuk bypass and the Missouri state line have not been programmed yet by the Iowa DOT.
Wisconsin
On the opposite bank of the Mississippi, US 61 and US 151 enter
Grant County, with US 61 going north through Wisconsin about to
La Crosse
La Crosse is a city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the county seat of La Crosse County. Positioned alongside the Mississippi River, La Crosse is the largest city on Wisconsin's western border. La Crosse's population as of the 2020 census ...
. US 151 separates from US 61 at
Dickeyville, with US 61 proceeding through
Lancaster,
Fennimore, and
Boscobel. At
Readstown US 61 and US 14 join and proceed together to La Crosse.
In 2004, a new two-lane
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the List of longest rivers of the United States (by main stem), second-longest river and chief river of the second-largest Drainage system (geomorphology), drainage system in North America, second only to the Hudson B ...
Bridge opened in La Crosse, creating a four-lane highway from downtown La Crosse to the
Minnesota
Minnesota () is a state in the upper midwestern region of the United States. It is the 12th largest U.S. state in area and the 22nd most populous, with over 5.75 million residents. Minnesota is home to western prairies, now given over t ...
state line. The new bridge brings traffic into La Crosse, and is located just south of the old Cass Street Bridge which continues to be used by traffic heading towards
Minnesota
Minnesota () is a state in the upper midwestern region of the United States. It is the 12th largest U.S. state in area and the 22nd most populous, with over 5.75 million residents. Minnesota is home to western prairies, now given over t ...
.
Minnesota
The four-lane highway continues north to
La Crescent.
US 61 follows the Mississippi River through southeast Minnesota through the cities of
Winona Winona, Wynona or Wynonna may refer to:
Places Canada
* Winona, Ontario
United States
* Winona, Arizona
* Winona, Indiana
* Winona Lake, Indiana
* Winona, Kansas
* Winona, Michigan
* Winona County, Minnesota
** Winona, Minnesota, the seat of ...
,
Lake City, and
Red Wing. It crosses the river at
Hastings
Hastings () is a large seaside town and borough in East Sussex on the south coast of England,
east to the county town of Lewes and south east of London. The town gives its name to the Battle of Hastings, which took place to the north-west ...
using the
Hastings Bridge and joins
US 10 before entering St. Paul. Within the city, the route follows
I-94 for a short distance, and then follows Mounds Boulevard, East 7th Street, and Arcade Street through the east side of St. Paul.
The section of US 61 from
La Crescent to
Cottage Grove is officially designated the Disabled American Veterans Highway.
The portion of US 61 north of
Duluth
, settlement_type = City
, nicknames = Twin Ports (with Superior), Zenith City
, motto =
, image_skyline =
, image_caption = Clockwise from top: urban Duluth skyline; Minnesota ...
is now part of the Minnesota State Highway system, bearing the designation
MN 61 since 1991. Between the city of
Wyoming
Wyoming () is a state in the Mountain West subregion of the Western United States. It is bordered by Montana to the north and northwest, South Dakota and Nebraska to the east, Idaho to the west, Utah to the southwest, and Colorado to t ...
and Duluth, the highway has been turned back to local jurisdiction or supplanted by
I-35
Interstate 35 (I-35) is a major Interstate Highway in the central United States. As with most primary Interstates that end in a five, it is a major cross-country, north–south route. It stretches from Laredo, Texas, near the Mexican border ...
.
History
US 61 once ran from
through
Duluth
, settlement_type = City
, nicknames = Twin Ports (with Superior), Zenith City
, motto =
, image_skyline =
, image_caption = Clockwise from top: urban Duluth skyline; Minnesota ...
,
Minnesota
Minnesota () is a state in the upper midwestern region of the United States. It is the 12th largest U.S. state in area and the 22nd most populous, with over 5.75 million residents. Minnesota is home to western prairies, now given over t ...
all the way to the
Canada–US border. The road has been shortened to ending now in the city of
Wyoming
Wyoming () is a state in the Mountain West subregion of the Western United States. It is bordered by Montana to the north and northwest, South Dakota and Nebraska to the east, Idaho to the west, Utah to the southwest, and Colorado to t ...
, Minnesota at an intersection with
I-35
Interstate 35 (I-35) is a major Interstate Highway in the central United States. As with most primary Interstates that end in a five, it is a major cross-country, north–south route. It stretches from Laredo, Texas, near the Mexican border ...
.
The northern section of US 61 in Minnesota was separated when I-35 was constructed, and decommissioned in 1991.
Mississippi
The section of US 61 in northwestern
Mississippi
Mississippi () is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States, bordered to the north by Tennessee; to the east by Alabama; to the south by the Gulf of Mexico; to the southwest by Louisiana; and to the northwest by Arkansas. Miss ...
, between the state line and
Clarksdale, has received numerous upgrades since 1990, when
casino
A casino is a facility for certain types of gambling. Casinos are often built near or combined with hotels, resorts, restaurants, retail shopping, cruise ships, and other tourist attractions. Some casinos are also known for hosting live enterta ...
s were legalized by the state, in concert with expanding suburban development from Memphis into Mississippi. The resulting boom in casino development in
Tunica County, coupled with dramatic population and development growth in
DeSoto County south of Memphis has led to relocating most of the highway and expanding to a divided four-lane highway.
Missouri
The present-day course of US 61 south of
St. Louis largely follows the original course of the Spanish colonial road ''El Camino Real''. In 1776, when the Spanish lieutenant governor recognized that the two principal communities of St. Louis and
Ste. Genevieve needed an overland connection, he wrote his superior requesting permission. Construction then began, with parts of the Spanish road following old Indian trails. The road had been reportedly constructed by 1779, and then extended further south to the provincial posts at
Cape Girardeau and
New Madrid, and extended northwest to the post of
St. Charles. The sole rationale for the ''Camino Real'' was a military road to connect the several district posts for defense and administrative purposes. Much of the road was a simple trace for horses and foot travelers, and by 1796 transport large enough to require the use of wagons was largely being moved up the Mississippi River.
The original Spanish name ''el camino real'' was conferred by Colonel George Morgan in honor of
Charles IV of Spain
, house = Bourbon-Anjou
, father = Charles III of Spain
, mother = Maria Amalia of Saxony
, birth_date =11 November 1748
, birth_place =Palace of Portici, Portici, Naples
, death_date =
, death_place ...
, the reigning King of Spain (1788-1808). The government road was known as ''le Chemin du Roi'' or ''Rue Royale'' by the local French-speaking population and known as ''King's Highway'' or the old ''King's Trace'' by early American settlers. Because the road led to the French colonial "
Illinois Country
The Illinois Country (french: Pays des Illinois ; , i.e. the Illinois people)—sometimes referred to as Upper Louisiana (french: Haute-Louisiane ; es, Alta Luisiana)—was a vast region of New France claimed in the 1600s in what is n ...
", which also included parts of present-day Missouri, early American settlers sometimes referred to it as the ''Illinois Road''. It is also known as the ''Royal Road of the King's Domain'' in St.Charles County, Missouri. ''King's Highway'' or ''Kingshighway'' continues as street names in present-day St.Charles, St.Louis,
Perryville, Cape Girardeau,
Sikeston
Sikeston is a city located both in southern Scott County and northern New Madrid County, in the state of Missouri, United States. It is situated just north of the "Missouri Bootheel", although many locals consider Sikeston a part of it. By way ...
and New Madrid.
When it was designated in 1926, US 61 replaced most of Route 9, which had been established in 1922 between Arkansas and Iowa. The only part that did not become part of US 61 was north of
Wayland, where US 61 turned east on
Route 4
Route 4, or Highway 4, may refer to several highways in the following countries:
International
* AH4, Asian Highway 4
* European route E04
* European route E004
* Cairo – Cape Town Highway
Albania
* SH-4 road in Albania from Durres to Kakav ...
, and Route 9 became
Route 4B (now
Route 81) to the state line. Since then, US 61 has been moved to a shorter route between
Jackson
Jackson may refer to:
People and fictional characters
* Jackson (name), including a list of people and fictional characters with the surname or given name
Places
Australia
* Jackson, Queensland, a town in the Maranoa Region
* Jackson North, Qu ...
and
Festus, replacing much of
Route 25; the old alignment is now
Route 72 and
US 67.
Iowa
Prior to 1958, US 61 followed the route now known as
Iowa 22 between
Davenport
Davenport may refer to:
Places Australia
*Davenport, Northern Territory, a locality
*Hundred of Davenport, cadastral unit in South Australia
**Davenport, South Australia, suburb of Port Augusta
** District Council of Davenport, former local govern ...
and
Muscatine. US 61 was then rerouted onto the old Iowa 22 which passed through
Blue Grass.
Starting in the early 1980s, US 61 between Davenport and
Dubuque
Dubuque (, ) is the county seat of Dubuque County, Iowa, United States, located along the Mississippi River. At the time of the 2020 census, the population of Dubuque was 59,667. The city lies at the junction of Iowa, Illinois, and Wisconsin, a ...
was rebuilt as a four-lane highway. The first link, a stretch between Davenport and
De Witt, was finished in 1982; a bypass around De Witt, which overlapped US 30, was in use starting in November 1975. Subsequent links were completed to
Maquoketa (in 1996) and finally to Dubuque in 1999. When the final link was completed, Dubuque finally had a direct four-lane connection to
Interstate 80
Interstate 80 (I-80) is an east–west transcontinental freeway that crosses the United States from downtown San Francisco, California, to Teaneck, New Jersey, in the New York metropolitan area. The highway was designated in 1956 as one ...
.
In 1983, two multi-lane one-way routes were designated through Davenport starting at the northern city limits. Southbound traffic used the newly constructed Welcome Way until it merges with Harrison Street just north of 35th Street; northbound traffic use Brady Street (which had been a two-way, four-lane street). Other two-way stretches of the highway through Davenport have four (or more) lanes. In 2010, in large part due to a railroad bridge with a low clearance in downtown Davenport, US 61 through Davenport was moved to Interstates 80 and 280, with signing taking place in the fall of 2011; the highway through Davenport was redesignated as "US 61 Business."
A bypass around
Muscatine was opened in 1984, but other upgrades on the stretch south of Davenport would not happen for another decade. The changes came as follows:
*1996 – The completion of a , four-lane stretch between Blue Grass and
I-280 in Davenport.
*November 2000 — A stretch between Blue Grass and the Muscatine bypass was opened.
*May 2001 — A bypass around Blue Grass.
*July 2002 — A stretch, from the Muscatine bypass to the southern tip of
Muscatine County
Muscatine County is a county located in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of the 2020 census, the population was 43,235. The county seat is Muscatine. The southeastern border is formed by the Mississippi River.
Muscatine County comprises the Musca ...
, just north of
Letts.
*December 2017 — A new stretch of divided highway from the Muscatine-
Louisa county line to near
Grandview was opened to traffic, including an interchange with
Iowa 92 and County Highway G48.
The final stretch completed a continuous multi-laned link between
Dickeyville,
Wisconsin
Wisconsin () is a state in the upper Midwestern United States. Wisconsin is the 25th-largest state by total area and the 20th-most populous. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake M ...
south to Grandview.
Illinois
Prior to the construction of the
Dubuque-Wisconsin Bridge, US 61 passed through a short distance through
Jo Daviess County
Jo Daviess County () is the northwesternmost county in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it had a population of 22,678. Its county seat is Galena.
Jo Daviess County is part of the Tri-State Area and is located near D ...
between Dubuque and Wisconsin, concurrent with
US 151. Now both highways cross the Mississippi on the Dubuque-Wisconsin Bridge, which directly connects Wisconsin and Iowa, with neither US 61 nor US 151 passing through
Illinois
Illinois ( ) is a state in the Midwestern United States. Its largest metropolitan areas include the Chicago metropolitan area, and the Metro East section, of Greater St. Louis. Other smaller metropolitan areas include, Peoria and Rock ...
.
Minnesota
US 61 follows the west bank of the
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the List of longest rivers of the United States (by main stem), second-longest river and chief river of the second-largest Drainage system (geomorphology), drainage system in North America, second only to the Hudson B ...
from the Wisconsin border through
Hastings
Hastings () is a large seaside town and borough in East Sussex on the south coast of England,
east to the county town of Lewes and south east of London. The town gives its name to the Battle of Hastings, which took place to the north-west ...
where it crosses the river and proceeds to
St. Paul. North from the city of Wyoming, Old US 61 continues as "Forest Boulevard" in
Chisago County, and then as "County 61" through
Pine
A pine is any conifer tree or shrub in the genus ''Pinus'' () of the family (biology), family Pinaceae. ''Pinus'' is the sole genus in the subfamily Pinoideae. The World Flora Online created by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and Missouri Botanic ...
and
Carlton counties before ending at
MN 210. The original US 61 had continued east along MN 210 to
Carlton and north on present-day
MN 45 to
Scanlon before turning northeast on what is now "County 61 / Old US 61" through
Esko.
I-35
Interstate 35 (I-35) is a major Interstate Highway in the central United States. As with most primary Interstates that end in a five, it is a major cross-country, north–south route. It stretches from Laredo, Texas, near the Mexican border ...
has replaced the original US 61 descending Thompson Hill into
West Duluth West Duluth refers to an official neighborhood district in the west–central part of Duluth, Minnesota, United States.
Grand Avenue, Central Avenue, Cody Street, and Interstate Highway 35 are four of the main routes in West Duluth.
Other main ...
, from which most of the city of
Duluth
, settlement_type = City
, nicknames = Twin Ports (with Superior), Zenith City
, motto =
, image_skyline =
, image_caption = Clockwise from top: urban Duluth skyline; Minnesota ...
can be seen entering town, including the
Aerial Lift Bridge and the waterfront. The original US 61 in the city of Duluth had previously followed Cody Street, Grand Avenue, Superior Street, Second Street, Third Street, and London Road.
The original US 61 between
Duluth
, settlement_type = City
, nicknames = Twin Ports (with Superior), Zenith City
, motto =
, image_skyline =
, image_caption = Clockwise from top: urban Duluth skyline; Minnesota ...
and Canada was designated as
MN 61 in 1991. MN 61, part of the ''Lake Superior Circle Tour'' route, follows the
North Shore of
Lake Superior
Lake Superior in central North America is the largest freshwater lake in the world by surface areaThe Caspian Sea is the largest lake, but is saline, not freshwater. and the third-largest by volume, holding 10% of the world's surface fresh wa ...
, where it becomes Ontario
Highway 61 upon entering Canada. Highway 61 continues to the city of
Thunder Bay
Thunder Bay is a city in and the seat of Thunder Bay District, Ontario, Canada. It is the most populous municipality in Northwestern Ontario and the second most populous (after Greater Sudbury) municipality in Northern Ontario; its populati ...
, where it ends at an intersection with the
Trans-Canada Highway
The Trans-Canada Highway (Canadian French, French: ; abbreviated as the TCH or T-Can) is a transcontinental federal–provincial highway system that travels through all ten provinces of Canada, from the Pacific Ocean on the west coast to the A ...
.
Starting in 2012
Chisago,
Carlton and
Pine
A pine is any conifer tree or shrub in the genus ''Pinus'' () of the family (biology), family Pinaceae. ''Pinus'' is the sole genus in the subfamily Pinoideae. The World Flora Online created by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and Missouri Botanic ...
Counties began placing "OLD US 61" markers along the former routing of US 61 through their respective counties.
Major intersections
;Louisiana
: in
: in New Orleans
: in
St. Rose
: in
LaPlace
Pierre-Simon, marquis de Laplace (; ; 23 March 1749 – 5 March 1827) was a French scholar and polymath whose work was important to the development of engineering, mathematics, statistics, physics, astronomy, and philosophy. He summarized ...
: southeast of
Sorrento
Sorrento (, ; nap, Surriento ; la, Surrentum) is a town overlooking the Bay of Naples in Southern Italy. A popular tourist destination, Sorrento is located on the Sorrentine Peninsula at the south-eastern terminus of the Circumvesuviana rail ...
: in
Baton Rouge
Baton Rouge ( ; ) is a city in and the capital of the U.S. state of Louisiana. Located the eastern bank of the Mississippi River, it is the parish seat of East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana's most populous parish—the equivalent of counti ...
: in Baton Rouge. The highways travel concurrently through the city.
: in Baton Rouge
: in Baton Rouge
;Mississippi
: in
Natchez. US 61/US 84 travels concurrently to west-southwest of
Washington
Washington commonly refers to:
* Washington (state), United States
* Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States
** A metonym for the federal government of the United States
** Washington metropolitan area, the metropolitan area centered o ...
.
: west-southwest of Washington
: in
Vicksburg. The highways travel concurrently through the city.
: east of
Leland. US 61/US 278 travels concurrently to
Clarksdale.
: near
Merigold. I-69/US 61 will travel concurrently to near
Tunica.
: in Clarksdale. The highways travel concurrently to west-northwest of
Rich.
;Tennessee
: in
Memphis
: in Memphis. US 61/US 64 travels concurrently to
Marion, Arkansas
Marion is a city in and the county seat of Crittenden County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 12,345 at the 2010 census, a 38.7% increase since 2000. The city is part of the Memphis metropolitan area. It is the second largest city ...
. US 61/US 70/US 79 travels concurrently to
West Memphis, Arkansas
West Memphis is the largest city in Crittenden County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 26,245 at the 2010 census, ranking it as the state's 18th largest city, behind Bella Vista. It is part of the Memphis metropolitan area, and is ...
.
: in Memphis. The highways travel concurrently to
Turrell.
;Arkansas
: in West Memphis. The highways travel concurrently through the city.
: in West Memphis. US 61/US 63 travels concurrently to Turrell.
: in Turrell
: in
Blytheville
;Missouri
: east of
Steele. The highways travel concurrently to
Portageville.
: in
Hayti
: southwest of
Howardville. The highways travel concurrently to
Sikeston
Sikeston is a city located both in southern Scott County and northern New Madrid County, in the state of Missouri, United States. It is situated just north of the "Missouri Bootheel", although many locals consider Sikeston a part of it. By way ...
.
: in
New Madrid
: north of New Madrid
: in Sikeston
: in
Scott City. The highways travel concurrently to
Cape Girardeau.
: in Cape Girardeau
: north-northeast of
Jackson
Jackson may refer to:
People and fictional characters
* Jackson (name), including a list of people and fictional characters with the surname or given name
Places
Australia
* Jackson, Queensland, a town in the Maranoa Region
* Jackson North, Qu ...
: south-southeast of
Festus
: in
Crystal City. The highways travel concurrently to the
Frontenac–
Ladue
Ladue is an inner-ring suburb of St. Louis, located in St. Louis County, Missouri. As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 8,989.
Ladue has the highest median household income of any city in Missouri with a population over 1,000.
Geo ...
city line.
: in
Mehlville
: in Mehlville. The highways travel concurrently to the
Sunset Hills
Sunset Hills is a city in south St. Louis County, Missouri, United States. The population was 8,496 at the 2010 census.
Geography
Sunset Hills is located at 38°32'8" North, 90°24'14" West (38.535570, -90.403759).
According to the United ...
–
Kirkwood city line.
: on the
Concord
Concord may refer to:
Meaning "agreement"
* Pact or treaty, frequently between nations (indicating a condition of harmony)
* Harmony, in music
* Agreement (linguistics), a change in the form of a word depending on grammatical features of other ...
–Mehlville–
Green Park line
: on the Sunset Hills–Kirkwood city line
: on the Frontenac–Ladue city line. The highways travel concurrently to
Wentzville.
: in
Town and Country
: in Wentzville
: north of
Bowling Green
A bowling green is a finely laid, close-mown and rolled stretch of turf for playing the game of bowls.
Before 1830, when Edwin Beard Budding of Thrupp, near Stroud, UK, invented the lawnmower, lawns were often kept cropped by grazing sheep ...
: in
Hannibal
Hannibal (; xpu, 𐤇𐤍𐤁𐤏𐤋, ''Ḥannibaʿl''; 247 – between 183 and 181 BC) was a Carthaginian general and statesman who commanded the forces of Carthage in their battle against the Roman Republic during the Second Pu ...
: south of
Palmyra
Palmyra (; Palmyrene: () ''Tadmor''; ar, تَدْمُر ''Tadmur'') is an ancient city in present-day Homs Governorate, Syria. Archaeological finds date back to the Neolithic period, and documents first mention the city in the early secon ...
. The highways travel concurrently to
Taylor.
: west-northwest of
Alexandria
Alexandria ( or ; ar, ٱلْإِسْكَنْدَرِيَّةُ ; grc-gre, Αλεξάνδρεια, Alexándria) is the second largest city in Egypt, and the largest city on the Mediterranean coast. Founded in by Alexander the Great, Alexandri ...
. The highways travel concurrently to
Keokuk, Iowa
Keokuk is a city in and a county seat of Lee County, Iowa, United States, along with Fort Madison. It is Iowa's southernmost city. The population was 9,900 at the time of the 2020 census. The city is named after the Sauk chief Keokuk, who is ...
.
;Iowa
: in Keokuk. The highways travel concurrently to southwest of
Montrose.
: in
Burlington
: in
Davenport
Davenport may refer to:
Places Australia
*Davenport, Northern Territory, a locality
*Hundred of Davenport, cadastral unit in South Australia
**Davenport, South Australia, suburb of Port Augusta
** District Council of Davenport, former local govern ...
. The highways travel concurrently through the city.
: in Davenport. The highways travel concurrently through the city.
: in Davenport. I-80/US 61 travels concurrently through the city.
: southwest of
DeWitt. The highways travel concurrently to DeWitt.
: south of
Dubuque
Dubuque (, ) is the county seat of Dubuque County, Iowa, United States, located along the Mississippi River. At the time of the 2020 census, the population of Dubuque was 59,667. The city lies at the junction of Iowa, Illinois, and Wisconsin, a ...
. The highways travel concurrently to south of
Dickeyville, Wisconsin
Dickeyville is a village in Grant County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 1,061 at the 2010 census.
The Dickeyville Grotto is located in the heart of the village.
History
Dickeyville was not formally platted. The village was named ...
.
: in
Dubuque County
Dubuque County is a county located in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of the 2020 census, the population was 99,266, making it the eighth-most populous county in Iowa. The county seat is Dubuque. The county is named for Julien Dubuque, the first ...
. The highways travel concurrently for a short distance south of Dubuque .
;Wisconsin
: in
Fennimore. The highways travel concurrently through the city.
: in
Readstown. The highways travel concurrently to
Winona, Minnesota
Winona is a city in and the county seat of Winona County, Minnesota, Winona County, in the U.S. state, state of Minnesota. Located in bluff country on the Mississippi River, its most noticeable physical landmark is Sugar Loaf (Winona, Minnesota ...
.
: in
La Crosse, Wisconsin
La Crosse is a city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the county seat of La Crosse County. Positioned alongside the Mississippi River, La Crosse is the largest city on Wisconsin's western border. La Crosse's population as of the 2020 census wa ...
;Minnesota
: north of
La Crescent. The highways travel concurrently to
Dakota.
: in
Lake City. The highways travel concurrently to
Red Wing.
: north of
Hastings
Hastings () is a large seaside town and borough in East Sussex on the south coast of England,
east to the county town of Lewes and south east of London. The town gives its name to the Battle of Hastings, which took place to the north-west ...
. The highways travel concurrently to
Saint Paul
Paul; grc, Παῦλος, translit=Paulos; cop, ⲡⲁⲩⲗⲟⲥ; hbo, פאולוס השליח (previously called Saul of Tarsus;; ar, بولس الطرسوسي; grc, Σαῦλος Ταρσεύς, Saũlos Tarseús; tr, Tarsuslu Pavlus; ...
.
: in
Newport
: in Saint Paul. The highways travel concurrently through the city.
: in Saint Paul
: in
Vadnais Heights
: in
Forest Lake
: in
Wyoming
Wyoming () is a state in the Mountain West subregion of the Western United States. It is bordered by Montana to the north and northwest, South Dakota and Nebraska to the east, Idaho to the west, Utah to the southwest, and Colorado to t ...
See also
*
Avenue of the Saints
* ''
Highway 61'', a 1991 film
Special routes
*
Special routes of U.S. Route 61
*
U.S. Route 61 Business (Keokuk, Iowa)
*
U.S. Route 61 Business (Muscatine, Iowa)
Several special routes of U.S. Route 61 exist in the states of Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, and Iowa.
Business routes
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
U.S. Highway 61 Business (US 61 Bus.) runs through Baton Rouge, the capital city of Lo ...
*
U.S. Route 61 Business (Davenport, Iowa)
Several special routes of U.S. Route 61 exist in the states of Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, and Iowa.
Business routes
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
U.S. Highway 61 Business (US 61 Bus.) runs through Baton Rouge, the capital city of Lo ...
*
U.S. Route 61 Business (St. Francisville, Louisiana)
*
U.S. Route 61 Business (Vicksburg, Mississippi)
*
U.S. Route 61 Business (Natchez, Mississippi)
Related routes
*
U.S. Route 161
References
Notes
Sources
Endpoints of US highwaysMN Highway Endings. Accessed August 27, 2004.
Unofficial Minnesota Highways Page. Accessed August 27, 2004.
The Iowa Highways Pageby Scott Stanton
External links
The Blues Highway Association at The Delta Center for Culture and Learning at Delta State University
Missouri Department of Natural Resources
Ste. Genevieve TourismLa Maison de Guibourd Historical House
{{Authority control
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Mississippi Blues Trail