Ohio State Route 661
Encyclopedia
State Route 661 is a 22.22 miles (35.8 km) long north–south state highway
in the central portion of the U.S. state
of Ohio
. The southern terminus of SR 661 is at a diamond interchange
with SR 16 and SR 37 just 0.25 mile (0.402335 km) south of Granville
. SR 661 has its northern terminus at a signalized T-intersection with SR 13 in the southern end of Mount Vernon
.
and southern Knox County
. No portion of this state route is included within the National Highway System
(NHS). The NHS is a network of highways identified as being most important for the economy, mobility and defense of the nation.
By 1964, a new freeway opened to the south of Granville. SR 16 was re-routed off of Broadway Avenue onto the by-pass. Consequently, SR 661 was extended a short distance to the south by following Broadway Avenue west to Main Street, and then heading south along the former routing of SR 37 to the interchange with the SR 16/SRnbsp;37 freeway that currently marks the southern terminus of SR 661. On the northern end, SR 661 was re-routed off of Granville Road onto Blackjack Road heading east to a new terminus at SR 13 in the southern end of Mount Vernon in 1983.
State highway
State highway, state road or state route can refer to one of three related concepts, two of them related to a state or provincial government in a country that is divided into states or provinces :#A...
in the central portion of the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
. The southern terminus of SR 661 is at a diamond interchange
Diamond interchange
A diamond interchange is a common type of road junction, used where a freeway crosses a minor road. The freeway itself is grade-separated from the minor road, one crossing the other over a bridge...
with SR 16 and SR 37 just 0.25 mile (0.402335 km) south of Granville
Granville, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 3,167 people, 1,309 households, and 888 families residing in the village. The population density was 790.4 people per square mile . There were 1,384 housing units at an average density of 345.4 per square mile...
. SR 661 has its northern terminus at a signalized T-intersection with SR 13 in the southern end of Mount Vernon
Mount Vernon, Ohio
Mount Vernon is a city in Knox County, Ohio, United States. The population was 16,990 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Knox County. The city is named after Mount Vernon, the plantation owned by George Washington.-History:...
.
Route description
SR 661 travels through northern Licking CountyLicking County, Ohio
Licking County is a county located in the state of Ohio, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 166,492. Its county seat is Newark and is named for the salt licks that were in the area....
and southern Knox County
Knox County, Ohio
Knox County is a county located in the state of Ohio, United States. As of 2010, the population was 60,921. Its county seat is Mount Vernon and is named for Henry Knox, an officer in the American Revolutionary War who was later the first Secretary of War....
. No portion of this state route is included within the National Highway System
National Highway System (United States)
The National Highway System is a network of strategic highways within the United States, including the Interstate Highway System and other roads serving major airports, ports, rail or truck terminals, railway stations, pipeline terminals and other strategic transport facilities.Individual states...
(NHS). The NHS is a network of highways identified as being most important for the economy, mobility and defense of the nation.
History
The SR 661 designation was created in 1937. It was originally routed along its current path between Granville, at the eastern intersection with Broadway Avenue, the former routing of SR 16, and the southern end of Mount Vernon. However, instead of turning east onto Blackjack Road, as it does now, it continued north along Granville Road up to where it meets SR 13 just south of downtown Mount Vernon. That point marked the original northern terminus of SR 661.By 1964, a new freeway opened to the south of Granville. SR 16 was re-routed off of Broadway Avenue onto the by-pass. Consequently, SR 661 was extended a short distance to the south by following Broadway Avenue west to Main Street, and then heading south along the former routing of SR 37 to the interchange with the SR 16/SRnbsp;37 freeway that currently marks the southern terminus of SR 661. On the northern end, SR 661 was re-routed off of Granville Road onto Blackjack Road heading east to a new terminus at SR 13 in the southern end of Mount Vernon in 1983.