U.S. Route 61 (Louisiana)
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U.S. Route 61 or U.S. Highway 61 (U.S. 61) is a major United States highway that extends between New Orleans, Louisiana and the city of Wyoming, Minnesota. The highway generally follows the course of the Mississippi River 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 (I-35). Until 1991, the highway extended north on what is now Minnesota State Highway 61 (MN 61) through Duluth 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. Th ...
system. The highway is often called the Blues Highway because of its long history in blues music; Part of the route lies on the Mississippi Blues Trail and is denoted by markers in
Vicksburg Vicksburg most commonly refers to: * Vicksburg, Mississippi, a city in western Mississippi, United States * The Vicksburg Campaign, an American Civil War campaign * The Siege of Vicksburg, an American Civil War battle Vicksburg is also the name of ...
and Tunica. It is also the subject of numerous musical works, and the route inspired the album '' Highway 61 Revisited'' by Bob Dylan.


Route description


Louisiana

US 61 in Louisiana is four-laned from its southern terminus in New Orleans to the Mississippi 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 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-sma ...
is known as the Airline Highway. Although the road fronts the former terminal of Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport 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, which often paralleled the Mississippi River. Legend has it that former Louisiana Governor Huey Long 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 in 1987, Baton Rouge televangelist
Jimmy Swaggart Jimmy Lee Swaggart (; born March 15, 1935) is an American Pentecostalism, Pentecostal televangelism, televangelist, southern gospel, gospel music recording artist, pianist, and Christian author. His television ministry, which began in 1971, an ...
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 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, non-penet ...
. 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 state line to
U.S. 82 U.S. Route 82 (US 82) is an east–west United States highway in the Southern United States. Created on July 1, 1931 across central Mississippi and southern Arkansas, US 82 eventually became a 1,625-mile (2,615 km) route extending fro ...
in Leland. The highway south of
Vicksburg Vicksburg most commonly refers to: * Vicksburg, Mississippi, a city in western Mississippi, United States * The Vicksburg Campaign, an American Civil War campaign * The Siege of Vicksburg, an American Civil War battle Vicksburg is also the name of ...
to Natchez is mostly divided and four-lane; only short sections through
Port Gibson Port Gibson is a city in Claiborne County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 1,567 at the 2010 census. Port Gibson is the county seat of Claiborne County, which is bordered on the west by the Mississippi River. It is the site of th ...
need to be upgraded. From Natchez to the Louisiana 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 the ...
bridge at
Redwood Sequoioideae, popularly known as redwoods, is a subfamily of coniferous trees within the family Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affini ...
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 Yazoo ...
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 Afr ...
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 U.S. Route 49 (US 49) is a north–south United States Numbered Highways, United States highway. The highway's northern terminus is in Piggott, Arkansas, at an intersection with U.S. Route 62 in Arkansas, US Route 62/Arkansas Highway 1, Highw ...
in Clarksdale (North State Street and Desoto Avenue) is designated as the famous crossroads where, according to legend, Robert Johnson 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 spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts, chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads from the African- ...
. 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 died as a result of a car accident on September 26, 1937. Like
Route 66 U.S. Route 66 or U.S. Highway 66 (US 66 or Route 66) was one of the original highways in the United States Numbered Highway System. It was established on November 11, 1926, with road signs erected the following year. The h ...
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 as they cross the Mississippi River to
West Memphis West Memphis is the largest city in Crittenden County, Arkansas, Crittenden County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 26,245 at the 2010 United States Census, 2010 census, ranking it as the state's 18th largest city, behind Bella Vista, ...
, a distance of approximately .


Arkansas

US 61 runs through the state for from West Memphis to just north of
Blytheville Blytheville is the county seat and the largest city in Mississippi County, Arkansas, United States. It is approximately north of West Memphis. The population was 13,406 at the 2020 census, down from 15,620 in 2010. History Blytheville was found ...
, near the Missouri border. The route enters Arkansas in a concurrency with I-55 and US 64, US 70, and US 79 near
West Memphis West Memphis is the largest city in Crittenden County, Arkansas, Crittenden County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 26,245 at the 2010 United States Census, 2010 census, ranking it as the state's 18th largest city, behind Bella Vista, ...
. The route skirts the northwest edge of the city, briefly meeting Interstate 40 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. 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 Highway 150 (AR 150, Ark. 150, and Hwy. 150) is a east–west state highway in Mississippi County, Arkansas. The route runs from Highway 181 north of Gosnell east across US Route 61 (US 61) and Interstate 55 (I-55) to Highway 13 ...
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 highway department in 1924. The alignment of the highway is closely followed by I-55 between there and the St. Louis area, with portions of the two highways overlapping. Between Howardville and Sikeston, US 61 overlaps with US 62. At Sikeston, US 61 also meets US 60. Crossing
Route 32 The following highways are numbered 32: International * Asian Highway 32 * European route E32 Australia * Great Western Highway * Barrier Highway * East Derwent Highway * Mitchell Highway Canada * Alberta Highway 32 * Manitoba Highway 32 * No ...
at the "one of the oldest French Colonial 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 Festus may refer to: People Ancient world *Porcius Festus, Roman governor of Judea from approximately 58 to 62 AD *Sextus Pompeius Festus (later 2nd century), Roman grammarian *Festus (died 305), martyr along with Proculus of Pozzuoli *Festus (h ...
. 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. Ge ...
, where US 61 meets I-64 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 Wentzville is an exurb of St. Louis that is located in western St. Charles County, Missouri, United States. As of the 2020 census, the city had a total population of 44,372, making it the 15th largest city in Missouri. Wentzville has been the ...
, the overlap with I-64 and US 40 ends when it meets I-70, with the former ending at I-70. It continues in a general northwesterly route, meeting US 54 at Bowling Green 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 Puni ...
, 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 Taylor, Taylors or Taylor's may refer to: People * Taylor (surname) **List of people with surname Taylor * Taylor (given name), including Tayla and Taylah * Taylor sept, a branch of Scottish clan Cameron * Justice Taylor (disambiguation) Plac ...
. 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. US 61 in Missouri was formerly known as Route 9. US 61 runs along the western side of the Mississippi River between Memphis, Tennessee, and Dubuque, Iowa, and therefore never enters the state of Illinois.


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 e ...
and becomes a four-lane freeway 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 the ...
. US 61 then turns northeast and meets US 34 in
Burlington Burlington may refer to: Places Canada Geography * Burlington, Newfoundland and Labrador * Burlington, Nova Scotia * Burlington, Ontario, the most populous city with the name "Burlington" * Burlington, Prince Edward Island * Burlington Bay, no ...
. The highway goes north and overlaps
Iowa 92 Iowa Highway 92 (Iowa 92) is a state highway that runs from east to west across the state of Iowa. Iowa 92 is long. It begins at the Missouri River in Council Bluffs, where it is a continuation of Nebraska Highway 92. It stretches across ...
from Grandview to Muscatine. At Muscatine, the highway turns east to go towards the Quad Cities. 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 Expressway may refer to: * Controlled-access highway, the highest-grade type of highway with access ramps, lane markings, etc., for high-speed traffic. * Limited-access road, a lower grade of highway or arterial road. *Expressway, the fictional s ...
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 r ...
. 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 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 theaters left in the nation, is located along US 61. The theater is located about south of Maquoketa, near exit 153 (the Delmar/
Lost Nation Lost Nation is a city in Clinton County, Iowa, United States. The population was 434 at the time of the 2020 census. History The area which would later formally become Lost Nation was known by that name as early as 1855, though the origin of the ...
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 the ...
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 Burlington may refer to: Places Canada Geography * Burlington, Newfoundland and Labrador * Burlington, Nova Scotia * Burlington, Ontario, the most populous city with the name "Burlington" * Burlington, Prince Edward Island * Burlington Bay, no ...
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, Wisconsin, La Crosse County. Positioned alongside the Mississippi River, La Crosse is the largest city on Wisconsin's western border. La Crosse's populat ...
. 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 Bridge opened in La Crosse, creating a four-lane highway from downtown La Crosse to the Minnesota 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

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 Wi ...
, Lake City, and Red Wing. It crosses the river at Hastings using the
Hastings Bridge The Hastings Bridge is a free standing tied-arch bridge that spans the Mississippi River in Hastings, Minnesota, United States. It was designed by Parsons and was built in 2013 by Lunda Construction Company for $119,830,000. 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 is now part of the Minnesota State Highway system, bearing the designation
MN 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 Portag ...
since 1991. Between the city of Wyoming 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 New Orleans through Duluth, Minnesota all the way to the Canada–US border. The road has been shortened to ending now in the city of Wyoming, 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, between the state line and Clarksdale, has received numerous upgrades since 1990, when casinos 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, 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", 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 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 and
Festus Festus may refer to: People Ancient world *Porcius Festus, Roman governor of Judea from approximately 58 to 62 AD *Sextus Pompeius Festus (later 2nd century), Roman grammarian *Festus (died 305), martyr along with Proculus of Pozzuoli *Festus (h ...
, replacing much of
Route 25 The following highways are numbered 25: International * Asian Highway 25 * European route E25 * Arab Mashreq Road 25 Argentina * National Route 25 Australia * Barton Highway (A25) ( - Under Construction) * Palmerston Highway (State Rout ...
; the old alignment is now Route 72 and US 67.


Iowa

Prior to 1958, US 61 followed the route now known as
Iowa 22 Iowa Highway 22 (Iowa 22) is a west–east state highway that traverses primarily rural areas in east-central Iowa. The highway begins near Thornburg at an intersection with Iowa Highway 21 and ends in southwestern Davenport, at U.S. High ...
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 r ...
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 o ...
. 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 Mus ...
, 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 Iowa Highway 92 (Iowa 92) is a state highway that runs from east to west across the state of Iowa. Iowa 92 is long. It begins at the Missouri River in Council Bluffs, where it is a continuation of Nebraska Highway 92. It stretches across ...
and County Highway G48. The final stretch completed a continuous multi-laned link between Dickeyville, Wisconsin 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.


Minnesota

US 61 follows the west bank of the Mississippi River from the Wisconsin border through Hastings 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 and
Carlton Carlton may refer to: People * Carlton (name), a list of those with the given name or surname * Carlton (singer), English soul singer Carlton McCarthy * Carlton, a pen name used by Joseph Caldwell (1773–1835), American educator, Presbyterian ...
counties before ending at
MN 210 Minnesota State Highway 210 (MN 210) is a state highway in west-central, central, and northeast Minnesota, which runs from North Dakota Highway 210 (ND 210) at the North Dakota state line (at Breckenridge), and continues east to its e ...
. The original US 61 had continued east along MN 210 to
Carlton Carlton may refer to: People * Carlton (name), a list of those with the given name or surname * Carlton (singer), English soul singer Carlton McCarthy * Carlton, a pen name used by Joseph Caldwell (1773–1835), American educator, Presbyterian ...
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 ro ...
, from which most of the city of Duluth 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 and Canada was designated as
MN 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 Portag ...
in 1991. MN 61, part of the ''Lake Superior Circle Tour'' route, follows the North Shore of Lake Superior, where it becomes Ontario Highway 61 upon entering Canada. Highway 61 continues to the city of Thunder Bay, where it ends at an intersection with the Trans-Canada Highway. Starting in 2012 Chisago,
Carlton Carlton may refer to: People * Carlton (name), a list of those with the given name or surname * Carlton (singer), English soul singer Carlton McCarthy * Carlton, a pen name used by Joseph Caldwell (1773–1835), American educator, Presbyterian ...
and Pine Counties began placing "OLD US 61" markers along the former routing of US 61 through their respective counties.


Major intersections

;Louisiana : in New Orleans : 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 : in
Baton Rouge Baton Rouge ( ; ) is a city in and the capital of the U.S. state of 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-sma ...
: 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. : west-southwest of Washington : in
Vicksburg Vicksburg most commonly refers to: * Vicksburg, Mississippi, a city in western Mississippi, United States * The Vicksburg Campaign, an American Civil War campaign * The Siege of Vicksburg, an American Civil War battle Vicksburg is also the name of ...
. 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. US 61/US 70/US 79 travels concurrently to West Memphis, Arkansas. : 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 Blytheville is the county seat and the largest city in Mississippi County, Arkansas, United States. It is approximately north of West Memphis. The population was 13,406 at the 2020 census, down from 15,620 in 2010. History Blytheville was found ...
;Missouri : east of Steele. The highways travel concurrently to Portageville. : in Hayti : southwest of Howardville. The highways travel concurrently to Sikeston. : 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 : south-southeast of
Festus Festus may refer to: People Ancient world *Porcius Festus, Roman governor of Judea from approximately 58 to 62 AD *Sextus Pompeius Festus (later 2nd century), Roman grammarian *Festus (died 305), martyr along with Proculus of Pozzuoli *Festus (h ...
: 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. Ge ...
city line. : in
Mehlville Mehlville is a census-designated place (CDP) in south St. Louis County, Missouri, United States, an area locally known as "South County". It is an inner-ring suburb of St. Louis, and part of the Greater St. Louis metropolitan area. The populatio ...
: 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 Sta ...
Kirkwood city line. : on the Concord–Mehlville– Green Park line : on the Sunset Hills–Kirkwood city line : on the Frontenac–Ladue city line. The highways travel concurrently to
Wentzville Wentzville is an exurb of St. Louis that is located in western St. Charles County, Missouri, United States. As of the 2020 census, the city had a total population of 44,372, making it the 15th largest city in Missouri. Wentzville has been the ...
. : in Town and Country : in Wentzville : north of Bowling Green : 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 Puni ...
: south of Palmyra. The highways travel concurrently to
Taylor Taylor, Taylors or Taylor's may refer to: People * Taylor (surname) **List of people with surname Taylor * Taylor (given name), including Tayla and Taylah * Taylor sept, a branch of Scottish clan Cameron * Justice Taylor (disambiguation) Plac ...
. : west-northwest of Alexandria. 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 Burlington may refer to: Places Canada Geography * Burlington, Newfoundland and Labrador * Burlington, Nova Scotia * Burlington, Ontario, the most populous city with the name "Burlington" * Burlington, Prince Edward Island * Burlington Bay, no ...
: 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 r ...
. 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 Eur ...
. 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. : 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 w ...
;Minnesota : north of La Crescent. The highways travel concurrently to Dakota. : in Lake City. The highways travel concurrently to Red Wing. : north of Hastings. 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 Newport most commonly refers to: *Newport, Wales *Newport, Rhode Island, US Newport or New Port may also refer to: Places Asia *Newport City, Metro Manila, a Philippine district in Pasay Europe Ireland *Newport, County Mayo, a town on the ...
: in Saint Paul. The highways travel concurrently through the city. : in Saint Paul : in Vadnais Heights : in Forest Lake : in Wyoming


See also

* Avenue of the Saints * '' Highway 61'', a 1991 film


Special routes

*
Special routes of U.S. Route 61 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 Louisia ...
*
U.S. Route 61 Business (Keokuk, 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 Louisian ...
*
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 Louisia ...
*
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 Louisia ...
*
U.S. Route 61 Business (St. Francisville, Louisiana) 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 Louisia ...
*
U.S. Route 61 Business (Vicksburg, Mississippi) 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 Louisia ...
*
U.S. Route 61 Business (Natchez, Mississippi) 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 Louisia ...


Related routes

*
U.S. Route 161 U.S. Highway 161 (US 161) was a U.S. Highway in Iowa that ran from Keokuk to Dubuque by way of Cedar Rapids. It was designated in 1925 and signed in 1926 along two primary highways. The route began at the Missouri River with US 61 s ...


References


Notes


Sources


Endpoints of US highways


MN Highway Endings. Accessed August 27, 2004.

Unofficial Minnesota Highways Page. Accessed August 27, 2004.
The Iowa Highways Page


by 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 Tourism


La Maison de Guibourd Historical House {{Authority control
061 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 ...
061 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 ...
061 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 ...
61 61 61 61 61 61 61 61 61 Mississippi Blues Trail