Minnesota State Highway 74
Encyclopedia
Minnesota State Highway 74 is a highway
in southeast Minnesota
, which runs from its intersection
with U.S. Highway 52
and State Highway 30
in Chatfield
and continues north to its northern terminus at its intersection with U.S. Highway 61
at Weaver
along the Mississippi River
.
It is the only remaining road in the state highway system which is still partially unpaved.
Highway 74 is 35 miles (56.3 km) in length.
, St. Charles
, Elba
, and Weaver
.
Highway 74 begins at its intersection
with U.S. 52
and State Highway 30
in Chatfield
and continues north through the small unincorporated communities of Troy and Saratoga. Highway 74 has a junction
with Interstate 90
just south of St. Charles
. In St. Charles, Highway 74 becomes Main Street, also known as Whitewater Avenue, until it joins U.S. Highway 14
briefly. Highway 74 runs concurrent
west with Highway 14 for less than a mile. The route continues north again, passing through Whitewater State Park
and the small town of Elba
.
7 miles (11.3 km) of the route near the northern end, in what is known as the Weaver Bottoms, are unpaved gravel. Highway 74 ends at its junction
with U.S. Highway 61
in Weaver
.
The route is legally defined as Legislative Route 74 in the Minnesota Statutes.
to old U.S. Highway 16
at Spring Valley
until 1974. As a result of this, the present day mile markers begin at mile 20. Highway 74 follows, in part, an old route which was one of the first public roads in the Minnesota Territory
.
In 1953, the route was still gravel south of U.S. Highway 14
. Highway 74 was paved by 1960, except for the northernmost 7 miles, which is still gravel in the present day.
caused much damage to Highway 74. On August 18th and 19th, 2007, the flooded Whitewater River
destroyed bridges and washed out the roadway in several places. By 2008, repairs were complete.
Highway
A highway is any public road. In American English, the term is common and almost always designates major roads. In British English, the term designates any road open to the public. Any interconnected set of highways can be variously referred to as a "highway system", a "highway network", or a...
in southeast Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
, which runs from its intersection
Intersection (road)
An intersection is a road junction where two or more roads either meet or cross at grade . An intersection may be 3-way - a T junction or fork, 4-way - a crossroads, or 5-way or more...
with U.S. Highway 52
U.S. Route 52 in Minnesota
U.S. Highway 52 enters the state of Minnesota at the unincorporated community of Prosper, north of the town of Burr Oak, Iowa. The route is marked north–south in Minnesota along its independent segment from the Iowa state line to downtown St. Paul...
and State Highway 30
Minnesota State Highway 30
Minnesota State Highway 30 is a highway in southwest and southeast Minnesota, which runs from South Dakota Highway 34 at the South Dakota state line near Airlie and Pipestone, and continues east to its eastern terminus at its intersection with Minnesota Highway 43 in Rushford.Highway 30 is in...
in Chatfield
Chatfield, Minnesota
Chatfield is a city in Fillmore and Olmsted counties in the U.S. state of Minnesota. The population was 2,779 at the 2010 census. The city's area is split almost equally between the two counties...
and continues north to its northern terminus at its intersection with U.S. Highway 61
U.S. Route 61 in Minnesota
U.S. Highway 61 is a highway in southeast and east-central Minnesota, which runs from the River Bridge over the Mississippi River at La Crescent and continues north to its northern terminus at its junction with Interstate 35 at the city of Wyoming....
at Weaver
Weaver, Minnesota
Weaver is an unincorporated community in Minneiska Township, Wabasha County, Minnesota, United States. Centered at the intersection of U.S. Route 61 and Minnesota State Highway 74, the community lies along the Mississippi River. The Weaver Mercantile Building, built in 1875, is on the National...
along the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
.
It is the only remaining road in the state highway system which is still partially unpaved.
Highway 74 is 35 miles (56.3 km) in length.
Route description
State Highway 74 serves as a north–south route in southeast Minnesota between ChatfieldChatfield, Minnesota
Chatfield is a city in Fillmore and Olmsted counties in the U.S. state of Minnesota. The population was 2,779 at the 2010 census. The city's area is split almost equally between the two counties...
, St. Charles
St. Charles, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 3,295 people, 1,238 households, and 870 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,005.3 people per square mile . There were 1,276 housing units at an average density of 389.3 per square mile...
, Elba
Elba, Minnesota
Elba is a city in Winona County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 152 at the 2010 census. It is on Minnesota State Highway 74 just north of Whitewater State Park.-Geography:...
, and Weaver
Weaver, Minnesota
Weaver is an unincorporated community in Minneiska Township, Wabasha County, Minnesota, United States. Centered at the intersection of U.S. Route 61 and Minnesota State Highway 74, the community lies along the Mississippi River. The Weaver Mercantile Building, built in 1875, is on the National...
.
Highway 74 begins at its intersection
Intersection (road)
An intersection is a road junction where two or more roads either meet or cross at grade . An intersection may be 3-way - a T junction or fork, 4-way - a crossroads, or 5-way or more...
with U.S. 52
U.S. Route 52 in Minnesota
U.S. Highway 52 enters the state of Minnesota at the unincorporated community of Prosper, north of the town of Burr Oak, Iowa. The route is marked north–south in Minnesota along its independent segment from the Iowa state line to downtown St. Paul...
and State Highway 30
Minnesota State Highway 30
Minnesota State Highway 30 is a highway in southwest and southeast Minnesota, which runs from South Dakota Highway 34 at the South Dakota state line near Airlie and Pipestone, and continues east to its eastern terminus at its intersection with Minnesota Highway 43 in Rushford.Highway 30 is in...
in Chatfield
Chatfield, Minnesota
Chatfield is a city in Fillmore and Olmsted counties in the U.S. state of Minnesota. The population was 2,779 at the 2010 census. The city's area is split almost equally between the two counties...
and continues north through the small unincorporated communities of Troy and Saratoga. Highway 74 has a junction
Junction (traffic)
A junction, when discussed in the context of transport, is a location where traffic can change between different routes, directions, or sometimes modes, of travel.-Historical significance:...
with Interstate 90
Interstate 90 in Minnesota
In the U.S. state of Minnesota, Interstate 90 traverses the southern side of the state, parallel to the Minnesota-Iowa state line. The route connects the cities of Worthington, Albert Lea, and Austin. The cities of Rochester and Winona are also in close proximity to I-90, with Winona about 10...
just south of St. Charles
St. Charles, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 3,295 people, 1,238 households, and 870 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,005.3 people per square mile . There were 1,276 housing units at an average density of 389.3 per square mile...
. In St. Charles, Highway 74 becomes Main Street, also known as Whitewater Avenue, until it joins U.S. Highway 14
U.S. Route 14
U.S. Route 14 , an east–west route, is one of the original United States highways of 1926. It currently has a length of 1,398 miles , but it had a peak length of 1,429 miles . For much of its length, it runs roughly parallel to Interstate 90.As of 2004, the highway's eastern terminus is in...
briefly. Highway 74 runs concurrent
Concurrency (road)
A concurrency, overlap, or coincidence in a road network is an instance of one physical road bearing two or more different highway, motorway, or other route numbers...
west with Highway 14 for less than a mile. The route continues north again, passing through Whitewater State Park
Whitewater State Park
Whitewater State Park is a Minnesota state park in Winona County in the southeastern blufflands area of the state. The park features scenic overlooks and excellent trout fishing in the spring fed Whitewater River and Trout Run Creek. It has about 300,000 visitors annually, and is located 7 miles ...
and the small town of Elba
Elba, Minnesota
Elba is a city in Winona County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 152 at the 2010 census. It is on Minnesota State Highway 74 just north of Whitewater State Park.-Geography:...
.
7 miles (11.3 km) of the route near the northern end, in what is known as the Weaver Bottoms, are unpaved gravel. Highway 74 ends at its junction
Junction (traffic)
A junction, when discussed in the context of transport, is a location where traffic can change between different routes, directions, or sometimes modes, of travel.-Historical significance:...
with U.S. Highway 61
U.S. Route 61 in Minnesota
U.S. Highway 61 is a highway in southeast and east-central Minnesota, which runs from the River Bridge over the Mississippi River at La Crescent and continues north to its northern terminus at its junction with Interstate 35 at the city of Wyoming....
in Weaver
Weaver, Minnesota
Weaver is an unincorporated community in Minneiska Township, Wabasha County, Minnesota, United States. Centered at the intersection of U.S. Route 61 and Minnesota State Highway 74, the community lies along the Mississippi River. The Weaver Mercantile Building, built in 1875, is on the National...
.
The route is legally defined as Legislative Route 74 in the Minnesota Statutes.
History
Highway 74 was authorized in 1933. The south end of Highway 74 previously extended south of ChatfieldChatfield, Minnesota
Chatfield is a city in Fillmore and Olmsted counties in the U.S. state of Minnesota. The population was 2,779 at the 2010 census. The city's area is split almost equally between the two counties...
to old U.S. Highway 16
Minnesota State Highway 16
Minnesota State Highway 16 is a two-lane highway in southeast Minnesota, which runs from its interchange with Interstate Highway 90 in Dexter and continues east to its eastern terminus at its intersection with U.S. Highways 14 and 61 in La Crescent....
at Spring Valley
Spring Valley, Minnesota
Spring Valley is a city in Fillmore County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 2,479 at the 2010 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land.U.S...
until 1974. As a result of this, the present day mile markers begin at mile 20. Highway 74 follows, in part, an old route which was one of the first public roads in the Minnesota Territory
Minnesota Territory
The Territory of Minnesota was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from March 3, 1849, until May 11, 1858, when the eastern portion of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Minnesota.-History:...
.
In 1953, the route was still gravel south of U.S. Highway 14
U.S. Route 14
U.S. Route 14 , an east–west route, is one of the original United States highways of 1926. It currently has a length of 1,398 miles , but it had a peak length of 1,429 miles . For much of its length, it runs roughly parallel to Interstate 90.As of 2004, the highway's eastern terminus is in...
. Highway 74 was paved by 1960, except for the northernmost 7 miles, which is still gravel in the present day.
Flood
The 2007 Midwest flooding2007 Midwest flooding
The 2007 Midwest flooding was a major flooding event that occurred in the Midwestern United States in the third week of August 2007. While Hurricane Dean was affecting the Yucatán Peninsula and the Gulf of Mexico, and Tropical Storm Erin was affecting Oklahoma and Texas, a persistent storm system...
caused much damage to Highway 74. On August 18th and 19th, 2007, the flooded Whitewater River
Whitewater River (Minnesota)
The Whitewater River is a tributary of the Upper Mississippi River which flows through the Driftless Area of Minnesota, reaching its mouth in Winona County opposite Buffalo, Wisconsin. The nearest towns are Altura, Saint Charles, and Elba...
destroyed bridges and washed out the roadway in several places. By 2008, repairs were complete.