U.S. Route 42
Encyclopedia
U.S. Route 42 is an east–west United States highway that runs northeast-southwest for 355 miles (571 km) from Cleveland, Ohio
to Louisville, Kentucky
. The route has several names including Pearl Road from Cleveland to Medina
in Northeast Ohio, the Cincinnati and Lebanon Pike in southwestern Ohio and Brownsboro Road in Louisville, Kentucky. The highway's eastern terminus is in Downtown Cleveland
, Ohio. Its western terminus is in Louisville, Kentucky
.
I-71 fully supplanted US 42 as an interurban highway in the early 1960s, relegating US 42 to its current role as if an ordinary town-to-town surface road. Unlike I-71, US 42 avoided Columbus
completely. It remains intact as a route; no part of it has ever been diverted to any Interstate highway. It is not the "parent" of any US route with a related number.
on the Clay Wade Bailey Bridge
, joined with U.S. 25
and 127
. Once in Covington, U.S. 42 crosses KY 8 and heads south as Main Street. Main Street dead-ends into Pike Street, sending U.S. 25-42-127 off to the right. The road crosses Interstate 71
/Interstate 75
, and then winds its way out of Covington and into the suburbs, with its name changing from Pike Street to Dixie Highway. Heading in a southwest direction closely parallel to I-71/I-75, U.S. 42 starts off mostly as a commercial road, turning more and more into a residential road as it heads further south. Covington Catholic High School
lies along this portion of U.S. 42.
After crossing I-71/I-75 again, U.S. 42 becomes almost purely a residential road, with a few exceptions here and there. Continuing south, the route is joined with KY 371 for about 500 feet (152.4 m). Two intersections later is the KY 1303
(Turkeyfoot Road) northern terminus. U.S. 42 then crosses under Interstate 275
and proceeds to turn back into a commercial road. The Crestview Hills
Town Center lies just south of I-275 on the east side of the road, in between Dixie Highway and Turkeyfoot Road. Dixie Heights High School
sits less than a mile down the road, on the western side.
After crossing into Erlanger
, U.S. 42 becomes narrower and more congested once it crosses KY 236
. U.S. 42 becomes almost entirely a commercial road for the duration of its length in Erlanger. After crossing briefly into Elsmere
, U.S. 42 crosses into Boone County
and the city of Florence
. A couple of miles into Florence, U.S. 25 splits off from U.S. 42 and heads south, carrying the name "Dixie Highway" with it. U.S. 42 continues southwest with U.S. 127. After a couple of miles, it crosses I-71/I-75 again. While I-71/I-75 has turned back to north/south at this point, U.S. 42 and U.S. 127 continue to point southwest/northeast. Kentucky Routes 842
and 237
intersect with U.S. 42 in the next couple miles, before the road leaves Florence and enters Union
. After entering Union, U.S. 42 also turns south, intersecting with KY 536
(Mount Zion Road). Continuing south, Ryle High School
sits on the road's west side. Just south of Ryle, U.S. 42 turns from a five-lane road to a two-lane country road.
Several miles further south, U.S. 42 meets up with KY 338
(Richwood Pike), creating a wrong-way concurrency between U.S. 127 and KY 338: when going south, you are traveling west on U.S. 42, south on U.S. 127 and north on KY 338. This lasts for less than a mile, until the intersection with Beaver Road. KY 338 follows Beaver Road to the west, as U.S. 42 and U.S. 127 continue south.
About four miles (6 km) south is KY 14's western terminus. U.S. 42 and U.S. 127 continue running southwest, reaching the Boone
/Gallatin County
line about 2.25 miles (3.6 km) southwest of KY 14. The two joined routes continue moving southwest, inching closer and closer to the Ohio River
. Finally, about five miles (8 km) west of Warsaw
and right on the bank of the Ohio River, U.S. 127 separates from U.S. 42. U.S. 127 heads south toward Glencoe
, Owenton
and eventually Frankfort
. U.S. 42 continues to run parallel to the Ohio River, crossing through Carrollton where it crosses the Kentucky River, U.S. 42 continues through Henry County into Oldham County
where it passes through Goshen and North Oldham High School
which sits off to its north side, through Prospect, on the Oldham and Jefferson County line as it heads in a southwest direction toward Louisville
.
At this point on the route the road is very much a business district surrounded by varying business and residents of the Ohio City neighborhood. Along this stretch of the route you can find many historic buildings including the West Side Market
. It essentially stays a business/residential area as it continues south along W. 25th. Also in this stretch the route is designated as part of the Canalway Ohio Scenic Byway. U.S. 42 continues south with nearby entrances to Interstate 90
Westbound and then a junction with Interstate 71
(U.S. 42 junctions I-71 again in Middleburg Heights, Ohio further south and west). It is at this point that the route becomes known locally as Pearl Road and begins a more south-west course. It travels out of Cleveland, Ohio
into Brooklyn, Ohio
; Parma, Ohio
; Parma Heights, Ohio
; Middleburg Heights, Ohio
; and Strongsville, Ohio
in Cuyahoga County, Ohio
. At Mansfield, Ohio
, the road is signed U.S. Route 42 north and south, rare for an even-numbered U.S. highway.
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...
to Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
. The route has several names including Pearl Road from Cleveland to Medina
Medina, Ohio
In the city the population was spread out with 29.9% under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 33.8% from 25 to 44, 18.8% from 45 to 64, and 10.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 92.1 males...
in Northeast Ohio, the Cincinnati and Lebanon Pike in southwestern Ohio and Brownsboro Road in Louisville, Kentucky. The highway's eastern terminus is in Downtown Cleveland
Downtown Cleveland
Downtown Cleveland is the central business district of the City of Cleveland and Northeast Ohio. Reinvestment in the area in the mid-1990s spurred a rebirth that continues to this day, with over $2 billion in residential and commercial developments slated for the area over the next few years...
, Ohio. Its western terminus is in Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
.
I-71 fully supplanted US 42 as an interurban highway in the early 1960s, relegating US 42 to its current role as if an ordinary town-to-town surface road. Unlike I-71, US 42 avoided Columbus
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...
completely. It remains intact as a route; no part of it has ever been diverted to any Interstate highway. It is not the "parent" of any US route with a related number.
Kentucky
U.S. 42 crosses into Covington, KentuckyCovington, Kentucky
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 43,370 people, 18,257 households, and 10,132 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,301.3 people per square mile . There were 20,448 housing units at an average density of 1,556.5 per square mile...
on the Clay Wade Bailey Bridge
Clay Wade Bailey Bridge
The Clay Wade Bailey Bridge is a cantilever bridge carrying U.S. Route 42 and U.S. Route 127 across the Ohio River, connecting Cincinnati, Ohio and Covington, Kentucky. This also marks the termination of U.S. Route 25. The bridge's main span is...
, joined with U.S. 25
U.S. Route 25
U.S. Route 25 is a north–south United States highway that runs for from Brunswick, Georgia to the Ohio state line in Covington, Kentucky.-Georgia:...
and 127
U.S. Route 127
U.S. Route 127 is a long north–south United States highway in the eastern half of the United States. The southern terminus of the route is at U.S. Route 27 in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The northern terminus is at Interstate 75 near Grayling, Michigan...
. Once in Covington, U.S. 42 crosses KY 8 and heads south as Main Street. Main Street dead-ends into Pike Street, sending U.S. 25-42-127 off to the right. The road crosses Interstate 71
Interstate 71
Interstate 71 is an Interstate Highway in the Great Lakes/Midwestern and Southeastern region of the United States. Its southern terminus is at an interchange with Interstate 64 and Interstate 65 in Louisville, Kentucky. Its northern terminus is at an interchange with Interstate 90 in Cleveland,...
/Interstate 75
Interstate 75
Interstate 75 is a major north–south Interstate Highway in the Great Lakes and Southeastern regions of the United States. It travels from State Road 826 and State Road 924 in Hialeah, Florida to Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, at the Ontario, Canada, border...
, and then winds its way out of Covington and into the suburbs, with its name changing from Pike Street to Dixie Highway. Heading in a southwest direction closely parallel to I-71/I-75, U.S. 42 starts off mostly as a commercial road, turning more and more into a residential road as it heads further south. Covington Catholic High School
Covington Catholic High School
Covington Catholic High School is a private, all-male high school in Park Hills, Kentucky. It was founded in 1925 by Bishop Francis William Howard and Brother George Sauer. It is part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Covington.-History:CovCath traces its roots to St...
lies along this portion of U.S. 42.
After crossing I-71/I-75 again, U.S. 42 becomes almost purely a residential road, with a few exceptions here and there. Continuing south, the route is joined with KY 371 for about 500 feet (152.4 m). Two intersections later is the KY 1303
Kentucky Route 1303
Kentucky Route 1303 is a long state highway in Kenton County, Kentucky. The southern terminus of the route is at KY 536 in Independence. The northern terminus is at U.S. Route 25, U.S. Route 42 and U.S. Route 127 in Lakeside Park. On its way to KY 536 it goes through many towns...
(Turkeyfoot Road) northern terminus. U.S. 42 then crosses under Interstate 275
Interstate 275 (Ohio)
Interstate 275 is an loop in Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky that forms a complete beltway around the Cincinnati, Ohio area. It is the only auxiliary interstate that enters three states, including one state that the parent route does not enter . It is the longest loop interstate highway in the United...
and proceeds to turn back into a commercial road. The Crestview Hills
Crestview Hills, Kentucky
Crestview Hills is a city in Kenton County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 2,889 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Crestview Hills is located at ....
Town Center lies just south of I-275 on the east side of the road, in between Dixie Highway and Turkeyfoot Road. Dixie Heights High School
Dixie Heights High School
Dixie Heights High School is a 5-A high school located at 3010 Dixie Highway in Edgewood, Kentucky.-History:The school was built by the Works Progress Administration. It opened for classes in 1936 and was dedicated by Eleanor Roosevelt. The main building is nearly identical in construction and...
sits less than a mile down the road, on the western side.
After crossing into Erlanger
Erlanger, Kentucky
Erlanger is a city in Kenton County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 16,676 at the 2000 census.- Geography :Erlanger is located at ....
, U.S. 42 becomes narrower and more congested once it crosses KY 236
Kentucky Route 236
Kentucky Route 236 is a state highway in Boone and Kenton Counties in Northern Kentucky. The southern terminus is at KY 1303 in Edgewood. The northern terminus is at the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport near Hebron, where it meets KY 212....
. U.S. 42 becomes almost entirely a commercial road for the duration of its length in Erlanger. After crossing briefly into Elsmere
Elsmere, Kentucky
Elsmere is a city in Kenton County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 8,451 at the 2010 census. The city was named after Elsmere Avenue in Norwood, Ohio.-Mayor Bradford:...
, U.S. 42 crosses into Boone County
Boone County, Kentucky
Boone County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. It was formed in 1798. The population was 118,811 in the 2010 Census. Its county seat is Burlington. The county is named for frontiersman Daniel Boone...
and the city of Florence
Florence, Kentucky
Florence is a city in Boone County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 29,951 at the 2010 census.-History:The Florence area was originally known as Crossroads, because of the convergence of several roads from Burlington and Union at Ridge Road...
. A couple of miles into Florence, U.S. 25 splits off from U.S. 42 and heads south, carrying the name "Dixie Highway" with it. U.S. 42 continues southwest with U.S. 127. After a couple of miles, it crosses I-71/I-75 again. While I-71/I-75 has turned back to north/south at this point, U.S. 42 and U.S. 127 continue to point southwest/northeast. Kentucky Routes 842
Kentucky Route 842
Kentucky Route 842 is a state highway in Kentucky. Although listed as an east–west route in Kentucky Transportation Cabinet route logs, KY 842 follows a north–south arc between its termini. The southern terminus of the route is at U.S. Route 25 in Florence...
and 237
Kentucky Route 237
Kentucky Route 237 is a long state highway in Boone County, Kentucky, connecting the Florence/Burlington area with Hebron. The southern terminus of the route is at KY 536 in Florence. The northern terminus is at KY 8 near Hebron...
intersect with U.S. 42 in the next couple miles, before the road leaves Florence and enters Union
Union, Kentucky
Union is a city in Boone County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 5,379 in the 2010 Census. Previously a small rural community, the city began to experience rapid residential development in the 1990s and 2000s and has now become one of Cincinnati's more affluent suburbs.- History :The...
. After entering Union, U.S. 42 also turns south, intersecting with KY 536
Kentucky Route 536
Kentucky Route 536 is a state highway that connects Rabbit Hash to Alexandria via Florence and Independence in Northern Kentucky, USA. The western terminus of the route is at Kentucky Route 338 in Rabbit Hash. The eastern terminus is at U.S...
(Mount Zion Road). Continuing south, Ryle High School
Ryle High School
Larry A Ryle High School is located in Union, Kentucky, USA. The school's mascot is a Raider.The current principal is Matt Turner. He was previously the vice-principal at Ryle High School until, founding principal Randall Cooper died from a heart attack on May 28, 2006.Founded in 1992, it is one...
sits on the road's west side. Just south of Ryle, U.S. 42 turns from a five-lane road to a two-lane country road.
Several miles further south, U.S. 42 meets up with KY 338
Kentucky Route 338
Kentucky Route 338 begins at Kentucky Route 20 in Northern Boone County goes though Burlington, Kentucky where it intersects with Kentucky Route 18 which it will intersect again in Rabbit Hash it then goes to a small town called Rabbit Hash, Kentucky where it intersects with Kentucky Route 536...
(Richwood Pike), creating a wrong-way concurrency between U.S. 127 and KY 338: when going south, you are traveling west on U.S. 42, south on U.S. 127 and north on KY 338. This lasts for less than a mile, until the intersection with Beaver Road. KY 338 follows Beaver Road to the west, as U.S. 42 and U.S. 127 continue south.
About four miles (6 km) south is KY 14's western terminus. U.S. 42 and U.S. 127 continue running southwest, reaching the Boone
Boone County, Kentucky
Boone County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. It was formed in 1798. The population was 118,811 in the 2010 Census. Its county seat is Burlington. The county is named for frontiersman Daniel Boone...
/Gallatin County
Gallatin County, Kentucky
Gallatin County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky along the Ohio River, which at its formation was the main transportation route. It was formed in 1799. As of 2000, the population was 7,870. Its county seat is Warsaw...
line about 2.25 miles (3.6 km) southwest of KY 14. The two joined routes continue moving southwest, inching closer and closer to the Ohio River
Ohio River
The Ohio River is the largest tributary, by volume, of the Mississippi River. At the confluence, the Ohio is even bigger than the Mississippi and, thus, is hydrologically the main stream of the whole river system, including the Allegheny River further upstream...
. Finally, about five miles (8 km) west of Warsaw
Warsaw, Kentucky
Warsaw is a city in Gallatin County, Kentucky, United States, along the Ohio River. The population was 1,811 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Gallatin County It was named after Warsaw, Poland .-Geography:...
and right on the bank of the Ohio River, U.S. 127 separates from U.S. 42. U.S. 127 heads south toward Glencoe
Glencoe, Kentucky
Glencoe is a city in Gallatin County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 251 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Glencoe is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land....
, Owenton
Owenton, Kentucky
Owenton is a city in Owen County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 1,387 at the 2000 census and was estimated at 1,461 in 2009. It is the county seat of Owen County...
and eventually Frankfort
Frankfort, Kentucky
Frankfort is a city in Kentucky that serves as the state capital and the county seat of Franklin County. The population was 27,741 at the 2000 census; by population it is the 5th smallest state capital in the United States...
. U.S. 42 continues to run parallel to the Ohio River, crossing through Carrollton where it crosses the Kentucky River, U.S. 42 continues through Henry County into Oldham County
Oldham County, Kentucky
As of the census of 2000, there were 46,178 people, 14,856 households, and 12,196 families residing in the county. The population density was . There were 15,541 housing units at an average density of...
where it passes through Goshen and North Oldham High School
North Oldham High School
North Oldham High School opened in Fall of 2003 to alleviate the overcrowding at Oldham County High School and South Oldham High School. The school is located on the North Oldham Campus in Goshen, Kentucky, alongside North Oldham Middle School and Harmony Elementary School. The North Oldham campus...
which sits off to its north side, through Prospect, on the Oldham and Jefferson County line as it heads in a southwest direction toward Louisville
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
.
Ohio
The eastern/northern end of U.S. 42 finds its terminus at the intersection of Superior Ave. and Ontario St. in the middle of Public Square in Downtown Cleveland. This intersection also serves as the western terminus of US 322 coming from the east on Superior as well as the western termini of US 422, OH 14, and OH 87 and the northern terminus of OH 8 coming from the south on Ontario.At this point on the route the road is very much a business district surrounded by varying business and residents of the Ohio City neighborhood. Along this stretch of the route you can find many historic buildings including the West Side Market
West Side Market
The West Side Market is the oldest operating indoor/outdoor market space in Cleveland, Ohio. It is located at the corner of West 25th Street and Lorain Avenue in the Ohio City district. On December 18, 1973, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places.-History:The market began...
. It essentially stays a business/residential area as it continues south along W. 25th. Also in this stretch the route is designated as part of the Canalway Ohio Scenic Byway. U.S. 42 continues south with nearby entrances to Interstate 90
Interstate 90
Interstate 90 is the longest Interstate Highway in the United States at . It is the northernmost coast-to-coast interstate, and parallels US 20 for the most part. Its western terminus is in Seattle, at Edgar Martinez Drive S. near Safeco Field and CenturyLink Field, and its eastern terminus is in...
Westbound and then a junction with Interstate 71
Interstate 71
Interstate 71 is an Interstate Highway in the Great Lakes/Midwestern and Southeastern region of the United States. Its southern terminus is at an interchange with Interstate 64 and Interstate 65 in Louisville, Kentucky. Its northern terminus is at an interchange with Interstate 90 in Cleveland,...
(U.S. 42 junctions I-71 again in Middleburg Heights, Ohio further south and west). It is at this point that the route becomes known locally as Pearl Road and begins a more south-west course. It travels out of Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
into Brooklyn, Ohio
Brooklyn, Ohio
Brooklyn is a city in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, United States. The population was 11,169 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Brooklyn is located at ....
; Parma, Ohio
Parma, Ohio
Parma is a city in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, United States. It is the largest suburb of Cleveland and the seventh largest city in the state of Ohio...
; Parma Heights, Ohio
Parma Heights, Ohio
There are seven council members serving at large. Every two years there is an election. Four positions are open. The top three candidates are each elected for a four-year term. The fourth candidate is awarded a two-year term.[Effective January 2008]...
; Middleburg Heights, Ohio
Middleburg Heights, Ohio
-History:The first European settlers to the area that became Middleburg Township, Ohio were originally from Waterbury, Connecticut.-External links:* * and from The Encyclopedia of Cleveland History...
; and Strongsville, Ohio
Strongsville, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 43,858 people, 16,209 households, and 12,383 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,779.6 people per square mile . There were 16,863 housing units at an average density of 684.2 per square mile...
in Cuyahoga County, Ohio
Cuyahoga County, Ohio
Cuyahoga County is a county located in the state of Ohio, United States. It is the most populous county in Ohio; as of the 2010 census, the population was 1,280,122. Its county seat is Cleveland. Cuyahoga County is part of Greater Cleveland, a metropolitan area, and Northeast Ohio, a...
. At Mansfield, Ohio
Mansfield, Ohio
Mansfield is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Richland County. The municipality is located in north-central Ohio in the western foothills of the Allegheny Plateau, approximately southwest of Cleveland and northeast of Columbus....
, the road is signed U.S. Route 42 north and south, rare for an even-numbered U.S. highway.