State Highway 55 (Texas)
Encyclopedia
State Highway 55 is a state highway
in the U.S. state
of Texas
. It runs from Uvalde
northwestward through the western Hill Country
onto the Edwards Plateau
, ending south of Sonora
.
and then east to Artesia Wells
. By 1933, SH 55 was rerouted through Batesville
to Dilley
, as the route from Uvalde to Catarina was transferred to SH 4 and the portion from Catarina to Artesia Wells was renumbered as SH 189. The portion from Uvalde to just south of Batesville was constructed through the mid 1940's, but was cancelled in 1945 and transferred to FM 117.
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 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 Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
. It runs from Uvalde
Uvalde, Texas
Uvalde is a city in and the county seat of Uvalde County, Texas, United States. The population was 14,929 at the 2000 census.Uvalde was founded by Reading Wood Black in 1853 as the town of Encina. In 1856, when the county was organized, the town was renamed Uvalde for Spanish governor Juan de...
northwestward through the western Hill Country
Texas Hill Country
The Texas Hill Country is a vernacular term applied to a region of Central Texas featuring tall rugged hills consisting of thin layers of soil atop limestone or granite. It also includes the Llano Uplift and the second largest granite monadnock in the United States, Enchanted Rock, which is located...
onto the Edwards Plateau
Edwards Plateau
The Edwards Plateau is a region of west-central Texas which is bounded by the Balcones Fault to the south and east, the Llano Uplift and the Llano Estacado to the north, and the Pecos River and Chihuahuan Desert to the west. San Angelo, Austin, San Antonio and Del Rio roughly outline the area...
, ending south of Sonora
Sonora, Texas
Sonora is the county seat of Sutton County, Texas, United States. The population was 2,924 at the 2000 census.Former State Senator and Lieutenant Governor Bill Ratliff of Mount Pleasant was reared in Sonora and graduated from high school there.-Geography and climate:Sonora is located at ...
.
History
The original plan extended SH 55 farther south from Uvalde south through CatarinaCatarina, Texas
Catarina is a census-designated place in Dimmit County, Texas, United States. The population was 135 at the 2000 census. The community has a U.S...
and then east to Artesia Wells
Artesia Wells, Texas
Artesia Wells is an unincorporated community in La Salle County, Texas, United States. According to the Handbook of Texas, the community had an estimated population of 35 in 2000....
. By 1933, SH 55 was rerouted through Batesville
Batesville, Texas
Batesville is a census-designated place in Zavala County, Texas, United States. The population was 1,298 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Batesville is located at ....
to Dilley
Dilley, Texas
Dilley is a city in Frio County, Texas, United States. The population was 3,674 at the 2000 census. It is located off Interstate 35 south of the county seat in Pearsall.-Geography:Dilley is located at ....
, as the route from Uvalde to Catarina was transferred to SH 4 and the portion from Catarina to Artesia Wells was renumbered as SH 189. The portion from Uvalde to just south of Batesville was constructed through the mid 1940's, but was cancelled in 1945 and transferred to FM 117.