U.S. Route 140
Encyclopedia
U.S. Route 140 was a U.S. highway connecting Gettysburg
, Pennsylvania
to Baltimore, Maryland
. The route was deleted from the system in 1980; today the road's route is followed by portions of Pennsylvania Route 97, Maryland Route 97
, and Maryland Route 140
.
Though it had no historical significance in the battles fought at Gettysburg, it became important as the route to take to view the historic battlefields and cemetery there.
before reaching the Maryland border, continuing on what is now Maryland Route 97
, now Littleston Pike. It entered Westminster
on Pennsylvania Avenue, and turned east on Old Westminster Pike, the original route of Maryland Route 140
. The route then entered Reisterstown
on Westminster Road and turned south on Main Street, which then becomes Reisterstown Road. The road passed through Owings Mills
and entered Baltimore City, still carrying the Reisterstown Road moniker all the way south to North Avenue (US 1
/ US 40 Truck) in the city. Here, the road's name changed to Pennsylvania Avenue, a diagonal street cutting a path all the way south to US 40
at the intersection of Greene and Franklin Streets.
(which continues northwestward from Westminster to meet US 15 in Emmitsburg
). From Westminster northwest into Pennsylvania and on to Gettysburg, the road was redesignated Maryland Route 97
and Pennsylvania Route 97 respectively. Until that time, the route received numerous realignments which put those three routes on their current alignments.
The only freeway bypass of the original US 140 is Interstate 795
, which runs from Reisterstown
to the Baltimore Beltway
. Regardless of the bypass, Maryland Route 140 is still the most direct route from Baltimore to the historical sites of Gettysburg.
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
Gettysburg is a borough that is the county seat, part of the Gettysburg Battlefield, and the eponym for the 1863 Battle of Gettysburg. The town hosts visitors to the Gettysburg National Military Park and has 3 institutions of higher learning: Lutheran Theological Seminary, Gettysburg College, and...
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
to Baltimore, Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
. The route was deleted from the system in 1980; today the road's route is followed by portions of Pennsylvania Route 97, Maryland Route 97
Maryland Route 97
Maryland Route 97 is a state highway in the U.S. state of Maryland. The route runs from U.S. Route 29 in Silver Spring, Montgomery County north to the Pennsylvania border in Carroll County, where the road continues into that state as Pennsylvania Route 97...
, and Maryland Route 140
Maryland Route 140
Maryland Route 140 is a local long route in northern Maryland, United States.-Route description:MD 140 is known by various names depending on location; south of Reisterstown it is known as Reisterstown Road. Though Reisterstown itself is named after John Reister, the road is named after Jacob...
.
Though it had no historical significance in the battles fought at Gettysburg, it became important as the route to take to view the historic battlefields and cemetery there.
Route description
The route began at what is now US 15 Business in Gettysburg. It travelled south out of the town on Baltimore Pike, running south on what is now Pennsylvania Route 97. US 140 passed through LittlestownLittlestown, Pennsylvania
Littlestown is a borough in Adams County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 4,434 at the 2010 census.Originally laid out by Peter Klein in 1760, the town was first named "Petersburg". German settlers in the area came to call the town "Kleine Stedtle"...
before reaching the Maryland border, continuing on what is now Maryland Route 97
Maryland Route 97
Maryland Route 97 is a state highway in the U.S. state of Maryland. The route runs from U.S. Route 29 in Silver Spring, Montgomery County north to the Pennsylvania border in Carroll County, where the road continues into that state as Pennsylvania Route 97...
, now Littleston Pike. It entered Westminster
Westminster, Maryland
Westminster is a city in northern Maryland, United States. It is the seat of Carroll County. The city's population was 18,590 at the 2010 census. Westminster is an outlying community within the Baltimore-Towson, MD MSA, which is part of a greater Washington-Baltimore-Northern Virginia, DC-MD-VA-WV...
on Pennsylvania Avenue, and turned east on Old Westminster Pike, the original route of Maryland Route 140
Maryland Route 140
Maryland Route 140 is a local long route in northern Maryland, United States.-Route description:MD 140 is known by various names depending on location; south of Reisterstown it is known as Reisterstown Road. Though Reisterstown itself is named after John Reister, the road is named after Jacob...
. The route then entered Reisterstown
Reisterstown, Maryland
Reisterstown is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in Baltimore County, Maryland. Founded by German immigrant John Reister in 1758, it is located to the northwest of Baltimore. Though it is older than the areas surrounding it, it now serves primarily as a residential suburb of...
on Westminster Road and turned south on Main Street, which then becomes Reisterstown Road. The road passed through Owings Mills
Owings Mills, Maryland
Owings Mills is an unincorporated community and a census-designated place in Baltimore County, Maryland, United States. It is a suburb of Baltimore. The population was 20,193 at the 2000 census. Owings Mills is home to the northern terminus for the Baltimore Metro Subway and to Owings Mills Mall....
and entered Baltimore City, still carrying the Reisterstown Road moniker all the way south to North Avenue (US 1
U.S. Route 1 in Maryland
U.S. Route 1 is the easternmost and longest of the major north–south routes of the United States Numbered Highway System, running from Key West, Florida to Fort Kent, Maine. In the U.S...
/ US 40 Truck) in the city. Here, the road's name changed to Pennsylvania Avenue, a diagonal street cutting a path all the way south to US 40
U.S. Route 40 in Maryland
U.S. Route 40 in the U.S. state of Maryland runs from western Maryland to Cecil County in the state's northeastern corner. With a total length of over , it is the longest numbered highway in Maryland. Almost half of the road overlaps with Interstate 68 or Interstate 70, while the old alignment...
at the intersection of Greene and Franklin Streets.
History
US 140 was first signed with the inception of the U.S. Highway numbering system in 1926 and deleted in 1980. From Baltimore to Westminster, the road was then redesignated Maryland Route 140Maryland Route 140
Maryland Route 140 is a local long route in northern Maryland, United States.-Route description:MD 140 is known by various names depending on location; south of Reisterstown it is known as Reisterstown Road. Though Reisterstown itself is named after John Reister, the road is named after Jacob...
(which continues northwestward from Westminster to meet US 15 in Emmitsburg
Emmitsburg, Maryland
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 2,290 people, 811 households, and 553 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,992.9 people per square mile . There were 862 housing units at an average density of 750.2 per square mile...
). From Westminster northwest into Pennsylvania and on to Gettysburg, the road was redesignated Maryland Route 97
Maryland Route 97
Maryland Route 97 is a state highway in the U.S. state of Maryland. The route runs from U.S. Route 29 in Silver Spring, Montgomery County north to the Pennsylvania border in Carroll County, where the road continues into that state as Pennsylvania Route 97...
and Pennsylvania Route 97 respectively. Until that time, the route received numerous realignments which put those three routes on their current alignments.
The only freeway bypass of the original US 140 is Interstate 795
Interstate 795 (Maryland)
Interstate 795 , also known as the Northwest Expressway, is a nine-mile freeway linking Baltimore's northwestern suburbs of Pikesville, Owings Mills and Reisterstown, Maryland to the Baltimore Beltway...
, which runs from Reisterstown
Reisterstown, Maryland
Reisterstown is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in Baltimore County, Maryland. Founded by German immigrant John Reister in 1758, it is located to the northwest of Baltimore. Though it is older than the areas surrounding it, it now serves primarily as a residential suburb of...
to the Baltimore Beltway
Interstate 695 (Maryland)
Interstate 695 is a -long full beltway Interstate Highway extending around Baltimore, Maryland, USA. I-695 is officially designated the McKeldin Beltway, but is colloquially referred to as either the Baltimore Beltway or 695...
. Regardless of the bypass, Maryland Route 140 is still the most direct route from Baltimore to the historical sites of Gettysburg.