One small detail that most of us tend to overlook when observing a new town map for the first time is roadway names. Though we dont give them much thought as to why they are chosen, they offer valuable clues as to the original roadway layout and why these names were chosen. Here is some very basic reasearch I would like to share:
Streets: Paved roads lined with houses and other buildings.
Avenue: Is traditionally a straight road with a line of trees or shrubs running along each side, which emphasized arrival at a landscape or architectural feature.
Boulevard: Is usually a widened, multi-lane arterial street with a median and landscaping between the curbs and sidewalks on either side.
Drive: Can be short for driveway, a private road for local access to one, or a small group of structures.
These are just a few basic examples but the point I'm trying to make is that some very detailed geographical information can be derived from some very basic road names when viewing maps to an old area or town for the first time. JJ
Streets: Paved roads lined with houses and other buildings.
Avenue: Is traditionally a straight road with a line of trees or shrubs running along each side, which emphasized arrival at a landscape or architectural feature.
Boulevard: Is usually a widened, multi-lane arterial street with a median and landscaping between the curbs and sidewalks on either side.
Drive: Can be short for driveway, a private road for local access to one, or a small group of structures.
These are just a few basic examples but the point I'm trying to make is that some very detailed geographical information can be derived from some very basic road names when viewing maps to an old area or town for the first time. JJ