Sign Mileage

The mileage I believe is from that point to the Main city Post office. It's one of those things I was driving and someone told me...I think it's right...

I have wondered about this too, so I have the answer. The mileage is from where the sign is to the CENTER of the city. So, this may be downtown or city hall, but probably not. When you are driving through a big city you will see the city limit sign long before you'll get to the miles stated on the mileage sign.

It is the point on the road to the end of the city limit you are approaching.

I say it is to the city limit. I watch that constantly on a road trip and sometimes wonder where the "city" is when my mileage is up, so it is city limits. You win.

It is usually designated to the Civic Center/City Hall building. A lot of cities have all the city offices together and that is used as the disegnator of that city.

I work for a local government agency (a city) and can tell you that not every town has a formal town hall. If the road sign mileage is to city hall or town hall, what happens when the town hall is moved (less likely for a city hall to move). They won't go back to do road signs. Therefore I believe that the road signs indicate the mileage from that point to the city limit.

Good Question! The signs are called "mile markers" and they indicate the number of miles from where the Interstate route entered the State in which you are traveling. The counting always begins at the State line in the south (for north-south routes) and in the west (for east-west routes). So, mile marker numbers always get larger as you travel east or north. These are also great resources to report your location in the event of an accident as these are known locations to highway patrol and other emergency responders.

I have a GPS unit and I always watch as we pass the highway sign if it is right on. My GPS unit is consistent from the sign to the city limits. That's my 2 cents.

i know that your question has been concluded, but i have to say, i got such great entertainment from the answers to your question .. just shows that you have to figure some things out for yourself but you can find enjoyment along the way with figuring that one out!!!

Good question. I once heard that here in San Diego the citys' center is Horton Plaza, and that all reference to San Diego is originated there. It is not city hall, but close. I am going to google it.

My understanding is that both methods are used. It usualy has to do with whether the highway goes through the town or along the outskirts. I hope that helps!

City limit. You are correct.

I've always been told it was to the center point of the city. I juts finished a trip from San Diego to Phoenix and back. We watched the mileage signs, but they do NOT tell you that you hit the city limits. We lived in San Diego. If the destination mileage signs meant "to the city limits" we wouldn't have even made it to San Diego. Same with Reno where we are now. I live in S.Reno, but the mileage signs say you haven't hit Reno until you get downtown.

i would assume its city limits, now mind you, it probably depends on when the milage signs were posted, the city limits may have grown slightly since then. towns and cities grow all the time and to determine where the city limit lines are is almost impossible. the reason i think there is never anything official on this is because it changes and they can afford to update the milage signs all the time. though...if it is not refering to city limits...it could also just mean downtown...not just city hall spacifically. i think this will always be a confusing subject

He's wrong, you're right. Tell him I said so! :)

I don't know officially, but I do know that it's not the city limit. I have calculated with my car the mileage and it's normally the center of town. Downtown...which could definitely mean city hall.

I'm so glad you asked this! I've always wondered too!

Dear D.,
That is the mileage to the steps of the City Courthouse.
And yes, it does start from the point the sign is posted.
There is a record of these signs at the County Courthouse.
Hope it helped.
C. S.