U.S. Route 76 - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

U.S. Route 76 is an east–west United States highway that runs for 548 miles (881.9 km) from Chattanooga, Tennessee

Chattanooga, Tennessee

Chattanooga is the fourth-largest city in the US state of Tennessee , with a population of 169,887. It is the seat of Hamilton County...

to Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina

Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina

Wrightsville Beach is a town in New Hanover County, North Carolina, United States. Wrightsville Beach is just east of Wilmington and is part of the Wilmington Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 2,593 at the 2000 census...

Tennessee

In the state of Tennessee, U.S. Route 76 is an arterial road that runs east-southeast from downtown Chattanooga

Chattanooga, Tennessee

Chattanooga is the fourth-largest city in the US state of Tennessee , with a population of 169,887. It is the seat of Hamilton County...

to East Ridge

East Ridge, Tennessee

East Ridge is a city in Hamilton County, Tennessee, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 20,979. East Ridge is bordered by Chattanooga to the west, north and east, and the Georgia state line to the south. It is part of the Chattanooga, TN–GA Metropolitan Statistical...

and south to Georgia. U.S. 76 runs concurrent with U.S. 41

U.S. Route 41

U.S. Route 41 is a north–south United States Highway that runs from Miami, Florida to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Until 1949, the part in southern Florida, from Naples to Miami, was U.S...

for its entire length in Tennessee, about 8.8 miles (14.2 km).

Georgia

In Georgia, the highway traverses the northern part of the state and passes through the Chattahoochee National Forest and Georgia's most mountainous region. From east to west, U.S. 76 passes through Rabun

Rabun County, Georgia

Rabun County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2000 census, the population was 15,050. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 16,519...

, Towns

Towns County, Georgia

Towns County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. It was created on March 6, 1856. As of the 2000 census, the population was 9,319. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 10,894. Its county seat is Hiawassee.-History:...

, Union

Union County, Georgia

Union County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of 2000, the population was 17,289. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 20,968. The county seat is Blairsville.Its Sole commissioner is Lamar Paris, who has served since 2001....

, Fannin

Fannin County, Georgia

Fannin County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. It was created on January 21, 1854. As of 2000, the population was 19,798. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 22,580...

, Gilmer

Gilmer County, Georgia

Gilmer County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. It was created on December 3, 1832 and was named for George Rockingham Gilmer. As of 2000, the population was 23,456. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 28,389...

, Murray

Murray County, Georgia

Murray County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of 2000, the population was 36,506. The 2007 Census Estimate showed a population of 40,664. The county seat is Chatsworth.It is part of the Dalton, Georgia, Metropolitan Statistical Area....

, Whitfield

Whitfield County, Georgia

Whitfield County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. It was created on December 30, 1851. The 2010 Census shows a population of 102,599. The county seat is Dalton.It is part of the Dalton, Georgia, Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Civil War:...

, and Catoosa

Catoosa County, Georgia

Catoosa County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. It was created on December 5, 1853. As of 2000, the population was 53,282. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 62,241...

counties.

A significant section of US 76 was relocated in Georgia during the 1980s with the old alignment decommissioned first in 1982 from the Hemptown community in Fannin County westward and eastward into Union County in 1988. Extending from west of Blue Ridge to Blairsville, the 35 miles (56.3 km) stretch of road today is known as Blue Ridge Highway and Old Hwy 76 including the city of Morganton. In Morganton, the stretch is joined briefly by SR 60

Georgia State Route 60

State Route 60 begins at S.R. 124 in Hoschton and travels north through Gainesville and across I-985. The route overlaps U.S. 19 in Lumpkin County in Dahlonega. The route ends after traveling through McCaysville at the Tennessee state line....

, and in Blairsville a small portion of the route is unofficially part of US 19/129. This old alignment from Blairsville to Blue Ridge is approximately 37 miles (59.5 km) long and has some of Georgia's most scenic views along its eastern end. This stretch was formerly part of SR 2

Georgia State Route 2

State Route 2 is a west–east route in the northern part of Georgia. The route serves suburbs of Chattanooga, Tennessee, as well as much of the mountainous area in the northern part of the state.-Route description:...

as well.

U.S. 76 also has other old alignments in Ellijay (by-passed in 1982), Cherry Log, Whitepath (both by-passed in 1989) and south of Blue Ridge (by-passed in 1965). U.S. 76 was also relocated from present-day SR 52 from Ellijay to Chatsworth in 1981 to a less treacherous course along SR 282

Georgia State Route 282

State Route 282 is a west–east state route located in the northern part of the U.S. state of Georgia. From the route's western terminus at U.S. Route 411/State Route 61 south of Chatsworth, the route runs southeast, along the former route of State Route 61, before continuing east...

. Significant curve realignments also occurred along the previously serpentine section from Hiawassee to Clayton from 1988 to 2005. Today US 76 shares mileage with State Routes 5, 515, 282, 61, 52, 17, 75, 15 and 3 in addition to SR 2. U.S. highways with common mileage include U.S. 411, 41, 441 and 23.

South Carolina

U.S. 76 enters South Carolina across the Chattooga River

Chattooga River

The Chattooga River is the main tributary of the Tugaloo River. Its headwaters are located southwest of Cashiers, North Carolina, and it stretches to where it has its confluence with the Tallulah River within Lake Tugalo, held back by the Tugalo Dam...

, then continues southeast toward Westminster. This segment is a moderately windy two-lane road. In Westminster, it heads east toward Seneca and Clemson. From Clemson, the road heads southeast toward Anderson, intersecting Interstate 85, then east toward the small towns of Belton and Honea Path. U.S. 76 is a four-lane highway from Westminster to Anderson. In Anderson the road widens to six lanes with a reversible turn lane. After a concurrency with U.S. 178, the road goes to five lanes, and as it goes south towards downtown Anderson, it goes back to four. However, the sections around Seneca, Clemson, and Anderson are well developed with many traffic lights. It is cosigned with U.S. 123

U.S. Route 123

U.S. Route 123 is a spur of U.S. Route 23. It currently runs for from Greenville, South Carolina to Dicks Hill, Georgia at U.S. Route 23. It passes through the states of South Carolina and Georgia and before the construction of I-85, it was the main route between Greenville, South Carolina and...

from Westminster to Clemson, S.C. 28 from Seneca to Anderson, and U.S. 178 from Anderson to Honea Path.

Formerly, U.S. 76 followed a longer route from Westminster

Westminster

Westminster is an area of central London, within the City of Westminster, England. It lies on the north bank of the River Thames, southwest of the City of London and southwest of Charing Cross...

to Pendleton. From Westminster, the old route followed S-37-13 through the Richland community, then its current alignment to S.C. 59 into downtown Seneca, then S.C. 130 out of Seneca to S-37-1, then its current alignment to S.C. 93 toward Clemson University

Clemson University

Clemson University is an American public, coeducational, land-grant, sea-grant, research university located in Clemson, South Carolina, United States....

, then Business S.C. 28 through Pendleton.

From Honea Path, the road heads east to Laurens. This section is a rural two lane road that is not frequently traveled. From Laurens, U.S. 76 roughly parallels I-385 and I-26 as it heads to Columbia. U.S. 76 provides local access to the communities of Laurens, Clinton, Newberry, Prosperity, Chapin and the other smaller towns in the area. In Irmo, U.S. 76 merges with U.S. 176, then continues on to I-26. After the interchange with I-20, U.S. 76 splits off from I-26 and continues into downtown Columbia cosigned with I-126.

In Columbia, U.S. 76 follows Elmwood Ave, Bull St, Gervais St., Millwood Ave., and Devine St., before heading east toward Sumter. The segment from Columbia to Sumter is a four lane highway and 76 is cosigned with U.S. 378 from the intersection of Bull and Gervais near the University of South Carolina

University of South Carolina

The University of South Carolina is a public, co-educational research university located in Columbia, South Carolina, United States, with 7 surrounding satellite campuses. Its historic campus covers over in downtown Columbia not far from the South Carolina State House...

in Columbia all the way to Sumter. From Sumter, U.S. 76 heads northeast to Florence. U.S. 76 is the major road through Florence. U.S. 76 then continues east out of Florence to the small towns of Marion and Mullins, then into North Carolina. It is cosigned with U.S. 301 from Florence to across the Pee Dee River.

North Carolina

The highway passes through Fair Bluff

Fair Bluff, North Carolina

Fair Bluff is a town in Columbus County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 1,181 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Fair Bluff is located at , along the banks of the Lumber River...

and becomes concurrent with US 74

U.S. Route 74

U.S. Route 74 is an east–west United States highway that runs for from Cleveland, Tennessee to Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina.-Tennessee:Established in 1987, US-74 western terminus is exit 20 on I-75 in Cleveland...

from Chadbourn

Chadbourn, North Carolina

Chadbourn is a town in Columbus County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 2,129 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Chadbourn is located at ....

to Wilmington

Wilmington, North Carolina

Wilmington is a port city in and is the county seat of New Hanover County, North Carolina, United States. The population is 106,476 according to the 2010 Census, making it the eighth most populous city in the state of North Carolina...

. The highway is mostly four lanes, divided with at-grade and controlled intersections. The speed limit is from 45 mi/h to 70 mi/h. It crosses the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge

Cape Fear Memorial Bridge

The Cape Fear Memorial Bridge is a steel vertical-lift bridge in North Carolina. It carries U.S. Route 17 Business, U.S. Route 76, and U.S. Route 421 across the Cape Fear River between Brunswick County and New Hanover County. It also carried U.S. Route 74 until that designation was shifted to the...

into Wilmington and continues to Wrightsville Beach

Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina

via Oleander Drive to the route's eastern terminus. US 76 traverses 80.3 miles (129.2 km) in North Carolina

North Carolina

North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...

; approximately 54 miles (86.9 km) concurrent with US 74

U.S. Route 74

, between Chadbourn

Chadbourn, North Carolina

Chadbourn is a town in Columbus County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 2,129 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Chadbourn is located at ....

and Wilmington

Wilmington, North Carolina

South Carolina

{|class="wikitable"
!County
!Location
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Exit number

An exit number is a number assigned to a road junction, usually an exit from a freeway. It is usually marked on the same sign as the destinations of the exit, as well as a sign in the gore....

!Destinations
!Notes
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|rowspan=1|Horry

Horry County, South Carolina

Horry County is a county located in the U.S. state of South Carolina. This name honored Revolutionary War Hero, Peter Horry. Brigadier General Horry was born in South Carolina sometime around 1743 and started his distinguished military career in 1775 as one of 20 captains the Provincial Congress...

Nichols, South Carolina

Nichols is a town in Marion County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 408 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Nichols is located at ....

Mullins, South Carolina

Mullins is a city in Marion County, South Carolina, in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 5,029.Incorporated on March 4, 1872, Mullins was named after Col. William S...

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|rowspan=3|Marion

Marion, South Carolina

Marion is a city in Marion County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 7,042 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Marion County...

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|rowspan=8|Florence

Florence County, South Carolina

Florence is a county located in the U.S. state of South Carolina. In 2000, its population was recorded to be 125,761; in 2005, the U.S. Census Bureau estimated that its population had reached 131,097. Its county seat is Florence. The county's population is about 60% urban and it comprises part of...

|rowspan=2|Mars Bluff

Mars Bluff, South Carolina

Mars Bluff is an unincorporated community in Florence County, South Carolina, United States that bears the distinction of having been inadvertently bombed with a nuclear weapon by the United States Air Force....

Florence, South Carolina

-Municipal government and politics:The City of Florence has a council-manager form of government. The mayor and city council are elected every four years, with no term limits...

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|rowspan=2|Timmonsville

Timmonsville, South Carolina

Timmonsville is a town in Florence County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 2,315 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Florence Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Timmonsville is located at ....

Lynchburg, South Carolina

Lynchburg is a town in Lee County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 588 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Lynchburg is located at ....

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|rowspan=7|Sumter
|rowspan=1|Mayesville

Mayesville, South Carolina

Mayesville is a town in Sumter County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 1,001 at the 2000 census. It is included in the Sumter, South Carolina Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Mayesville is located at ....

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|rowspan=5|Sumter

Sumter, South Carolina

-Demographics:, there were 59,180 people, 34,717 households, and 4,049 families living in the city. The population density was 4,469.5 people per square mile . There were 416,032 housing units at an average density of 603.0 per square mile...

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|rowspan=1|Stateburg

Stateburg, South Carolina

Stateburg is a census-designated place in the High Hills of Santee in Sumter County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 1,264 at the 2000 census. It is included in the Sumter, South Carolina Metropolitan Statistical Area...

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|rowspan=17|Richland

Richland County, South Carolina

Richland County is a county located in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The 2000 U.S. census recorded its population to be 320,677. In 2010, the U.S. Census Bureau recorded that its population had reached 384,504. It is the second most populous county in South Carolina, behind only Greenville...

|rowspan=3|Eastover

Eastover, South Carolina

Eastover is a town in Richland County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 830 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Columbia, South Carolina Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Eastover is located at ....

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|rowspan=2|Horrell Hill

Horrell Hill, South Carolina

Horrel Hill is an unincorporated community in Lower Richland County, South Carolina, South Carolina. Situated south of Fort Jackson and northwest of McEntire Joint National Guard Base, it is centered at about the intersection of Garner's Ferry Road and Harmon Road/Horrel Hill Road...

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|rowspan=10|Columbia

Columbia, South Carolina

Columbia is the state capital and largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The population was 129,272 according to the 2010 census. Columbia is the county seat of Richland County, but a portion of the city extends into neighboring Lexington County. The city is the center of a metropolitan...

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West end of US 378 overlap
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!colspan=4|US 76 overlaps with Interstate 126
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!colspan=4|US 76 overlaps with Interstate 26 (exits 101 to 108)
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|rowspan=2|Ballentine

Ballentine, South Carolina

Ballentine is an unincorporated community in Richland County, South Carolina, United States. It is part of the Columbia, South Carolina Metropolitan Statistical Area....

North Carolina

{| class="wikitable"
!County
!Location
!Mile
!Exit

Exit number

An exit number is a number assigned to a road junction, usually an exit from a freeway. It is usually marked on the same sign as the destinations of the exit, as well as a sign in the gore....

!Destinations
!Notes
|-
|rowspan=11|Columbus

Columbus County, North Carolina

-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 54,749 people, 21,308 households, and 15,043 families residing in the county. The population density was 58/sq mi . As of 2004, there were 24,668 housing units at an average density of 26/sq mi...

|Fair Bluff

Fair Bluff, North Carolina

Fair Bluff is a town in Columbus County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 1,181 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Fair Bluff is located at , along the banks of the Lumber River...

Cerro Gordo, North Carolina

Cerro Gordo is a town in Columbus County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 244 at the 2000 census. According to local legend, the town received its name from a local dignitary, who, upon seeing a fight break out at the dedication of the first railroad depot, exclaimed, "This...

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|rowspan=2|Chadbourn

Chadbourn, North Carolina

Chadbourn is a town in Columbus County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 2,129 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Chadbourn is located at ....

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|Union Valley Road – Union Valley

Union Valley

Union Valley may refer to the following places:*Union Valley, North Carolina a town in Columbus County*Union Valley, Texas, a city in Hunt County*Union Valley Elementary School, a public school in Erial, New Jersey...

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|rowspan=2|Whiteville

Whiteville, North Carolina

Whiteville is a city in Columbus County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 5,148 at the 2000 census. It is the only city of Columbus County and is the county seat....

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|Also to NC 214

North Carolina Highway 214

NC 214 is an east–west state highway in eastern North Carolina; it is entirely in Columbus County.-Route description:NC 214 goes from about 1 mile east of Bolton and through the town of Lake Waccamaw. It parallels U.S. 74 and 76 along its route. It ends about 1.5 miles east of...

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|rowspan=2|Bolton

Bolton, North Carolina

Bolton is a town in Columbus County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 494 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Bolton is located at ....

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|rowspan=1|Freeman
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|rowspan=1|Delco

Delco, North Carolina

Delco is an unincorporated community in Columbus County, North Carolina, United States. It lies at an elevation of 49 feet . Delco is also the home of Acme Delco Middle School, Home of the Trojans....

Brunswick County, North Carolina

-External links:*******....

Leland, North Carolina

Leland is a town in Brunswick County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 1,938 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Wilmington Metropolitan Statistical Area...

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|Lanvale Road – Leland

Leland, North Carolina

Leland is a town in Brunswick County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 1,938 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Wilmington Metropolitan Statistical Area...

New Hanover County, North Carolina

-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 160,307 people, 68,183 households, and 41,591 families residing in the county. The population density was 806 people per square mile . There were 79,616 housing units at an average density of 400 per square mile...

|rowspan=3|Wilmington

Wilmington, North Carolina

Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina

South Carolina business loops

There are two U.S. Route 76 business loops in South Carolina:

Laurens
Laurens, South Carolina
Laurens is a city in Laurens County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 9,916 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Laurens County.-History:...

Sumter
Sumter, South Carolina
-Demographics:, there were 59,180 people, 34,717 households, and 4,049 families living in the city. The population density was 4,469.5 people per square mile . There were 416,032 housing units at an average density of 603.0 per square mile...

North Carolina business loop

There is one U.S. Route 76 business loop in North Carolina:

Whiteville
Whiteville, North Carolina
Whiteville is a city in Columbus County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 5,148 at the 2000 census. It is the only city of Columbus County and is the county seat....

– A 10.5 miles (16.9 km) route through the cities of Chadbourn
Chadbourn, North Carolina
Chadbourn is a town in Columbus County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 2,129 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Chadbourn is located at ....

and Whiteville
Whiteville, North Carolina
Whiteville is a city in Columbus County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 5,148 at the 2000 census. It is the only city of Columbus County and is the county seat....

.

Tennessee

Georgia

South Carolina

North Carolina

South Carolina

North Carolina

South Carolina business loops

North Carolina business loop

See also