Why do people in KC call highway names weirdly? (St. Louis: apartment, condos)

[Central Illinois 1]

You run into this kind of thing all over. For instance in CA interstates are referred to as "the" as in "the 5", "the 10", or "the 405". The same thing applies in South FLA. Here in Illinois, state roads and U.S. higways are referred to simply as routes (e.g., Route 4) - simple enough. However, for some reason, when people refer to the old U.S. Route 66, they call it "Root 66". Can anybody tell me why this is the case?

[Versatile]

Originally Posted by Central Illinois 1

You run into this kind of thing all over. For instance in CA interstates are referred to as "the" as in "the 5", "the 10", or "the 405". The same thing applies in South FLA. Here in Illinois, state roads and U.S. higways are referred to simply as routes (e.g., Route 4) - simple enough. However, for some reason, when people refer to the old U.S. Route 66, they call it "Root 66". Can anybody tell me why this is the case?

Because they want too!

[Central Illinois 1]

Originally Posted by Versatile

Because they want too!

Why didn't I think of that?? Very insightful and thoughtful answer.

[Fontucky]

Originally Posted by Central Illinois 1

You run into this kind of thing all over. For instance in CA interstates are referred to as "the" as in "the 5", "the 10", or "the 405". However, for some reason, when people refer to the old U.S. Route 66, they call it "Root 66". Can anybody tell me why this is the case?

First off, using "the" in front of road numbers is mainly a Southern Cal thing... people from Northern Cal tend to not use it, and will remind you of that fact should you assume they do.

As to why we do it... supposedly it's a holdover from the days when all our freeways were referred to with names... the Pasadena, the Hollywood, the Ventura. Somewhere along the line, everyone switched to using numbers.


To further confuse you with our weirdness, we call Route 66 "Root 66", but whenever we refer to the section of old Hwy 99 known as the Ridge Route, we pronounce route as in out.

[Central Illinois 1]

Originally Posted by Fontucky

First off, using "the" in front of road numbers is mainly a Southern Cal thing... people from Northern Cal tend to not use it, and will remind you of that fact should you assume they do.

As to why we do it... supposedly it's a holdover from the days when all our freeways were referred to with names... the Pasadena, the Hollywood, the Ventura. Somewhere along the line, everyone switched to using numbers.


To further confuse you with our weirdness, we call Route 66 "Root 66", but whenever we refer to the section of old Hwy 99 known as the Ridge Route, we pronounce route as in out.

Thanks for your insight. The "the" thing makes sense and I do remember when pretty much all of the LA area freeways were called by a name instead of a number. The "Root 66" thing must be widespread though and the only thing that i can think of is that there was an old song that I believe was called "Get Your Kicks on Route 66" and I think that that called it "root" in the song. There was also an old TV show called "Route 66" that they may have pronounced "root" too. I was just a small kid then so I don't remember for sure. That was back in the "77 Sunset Strip" days. In other words, a long time ago (early 60s??).

[TabulaRasa]

Originally Posted by Central Illinois 1

However, for some reason, when people refer to the old U.S. Route 66, they call it "Root 66". Can anybody tell me why this is the case?

Because of the Nat King Cole song, which was immensely popular in its day (that originally being the late 40s, although loads of people and groups have covered the song), where that was the pronunciation used. It's also the pronunciation used in various regions throughout the country, just not in most of IL. I'm also from Illinois, originally, and my people say "route" in a way that rhymes with doubt. Interestingly, when we say "root" as in "don't trip on that tree root," we pronounce it in a way that rhymes with "foot," rather than in a way that rhymes with "boot."

[Central Illinois 1]

Originally Posted by TabulaRasa

Because of the Nat King Cole song, which was immensely popular in its day (that originally being the late 40s, although loads of people and groups have covered the song), where that was the pronunciation used. It's also the pronunciation used in various regions throughout the country, just not in most of IL. I'm also from Illinois, originally, and my people say "route" in a way that rhymes with doubt. Interestingly, when we say "root" as in "don't trip on that tree root," we pronounce it in a way that rhymes with "foot," rather than in a way that rhymes with "boot."

That's right. So there are at least three different ways that the word is pronounced.

[luzianne]

I say 71 Highway sometimes but mostly just 71 North or 71 South. Never thought about it, but 40 Highway just seems normal to me. Never heard it called Highway 40, ever. The name is 40 Highway.

[Central Illinois 1]

Originally Posted by luzianne

I say 71 Highway sometimes but mostly just 71 North or 71 South. Never thought about it, but 40 Highway just seems normal to me. Never heard it called Highway 40, ever. The name is 40 Highway.

What state do you live in? 40 runs directly through St. Louis and it is always called "Highway 40". It is kind of strange how ther things vary by region. The hard part would be to try and figure out why.

[TabulaRasa]

KCMO area, I believe.