The Great Renumbering: California State Highways Before 1965

California Signed State Routes 

California state routes were first signed in 1934. The signed route numbers were not the same as the numbers used in the legislative definition of the routes (LRNs), and not all LRNs were signed. The general algorithm for assigning numbers was as follows:

• North/South routes had odd numbers.
• East/West routes had even numbers.
• Route numbers would not duplicate U.S. highway numbers in use.
• Lower numbers would be assigned to major metropolitan areas.
• Routes would be assigned numbers in groups of two, alternating between Northern (i.e., N of San Luis Obispo/Bakersfield) and Southern California.

These rules applied to the initial assignment of numbers, and where possible, to other assignment of numbers as the space was filled in. As time went on, numbers were just assigned sequentially, so it is difficult to see the pattern in present-day routes. On July 1, 1964, all state routes were renumbered to account for the assignment of numbers to Interstates, as well as to make their legislative numbers adjusted to agree with their signed numbers.

Note: A specification sheet for the pre-1964 signage was posted to the AAroads forum. See this post by Quillz on 7/16/2016.

When following links in the table below, note that the link will take you the page for the Post-1964 version of the route. Use the page menu, and look for the sections titled "Pre 1964 Signage History" (which have the graphic shown to the left) for information on the route prior to the 1964 renumbering. If the route changed numbers in 1964, this section will be talking first about the pre-1964 signed route number that corresponded to the post-1964 number of that page. Read a bit further down looking for the white bear-shield graphic. That signals the start of the discussion of the route that had the indicated number before the "Great Renumbering".

Signed Route	Signage Usage	LRN	Current Route	Part of State	North or South	Pre-Freeway Routing/Notes
Route 1	1934-	LRN 56	Route 1	Cross-State	N/S	Present route includes former US 101A (nee Route 3)
Route 2	1934-	LRN 162, LRN 161, LRN 61, LRN 59	Route 2, Route 138	Southern CA: LA	E/W	Portions at one time were US 66.
Route 3	1934-193x	LRN 60	Route 1	Southern CA: LA	N/S	Resigned as US101A.
Route 4	1934-	LRN 106, LRN 75, LRN 24	Route 4	Northern CA	E/W
Route 5	1934-1963	LRN 55	Route 35, I-280	Northern CA	N/S	Skyline Blvd.
Route 6	1934-1937	LRN 173	I-10	Southern CA: LA	E/W	Resigned as Route 26 when US 6 was signed circa 1937.
Route 7	1934-1963	LRN 73, LRN 29, LRN 95, LRN 23, LRN 4, LRN 158, LRN 164	I-405, I-5, Route 14, US 395, Route 107	Cross-State, Southern CA	N/S	In LA: Sepulveda Blvd, Sawtelle Blvd. Originally ran to Nevada Border; truncated to US 101A to US 99 when US 395 and US 6 were signed.
Route 8	1934-1963	LRN 5, LRN 34	Route 26, Route 88	Northern CA	E/W
Route 9	1934-	LRN 116, LRN 42, LRN 114, LRN 113, LRN 69, LRN 5	Route 9, Route 17, Route 85, Route 237, Route 238, Route 262, I-680, I-880	Northern CA	N/S	Other past signage for this route includes Route 21 and US 101A. Saratoga-Sunnyvale Road is also part of former Route 9.
Route 10	1934-195?	LRN 174	Route 90, I-105; Route 42, I-5	Southern CA: LA	E/W	Manchester Blvd, Firestone Blvd, Santa Ana Ave. Later renumbered as Route 42. Route 42 routings later reassigned to Route 90 and I-105.
Route 11	1934-1978	LRN 165, LRN 205	Route 159, Route 110, I-110	Southern CA: LA	N/S	At one time cosigned with US 66 and US 6.
Route 12	1934-	LRN 104, LRN 51, LRN 8, LRN 53, LRN 24	Route 116, Route 12	Northern CA	E/W
Route 13	1934-	LRN 5, LRN 239, LRN 69	Route 17, I-880	Northern CA	N/S
Route 14	1934-1963	LRN 175,	Route 91	Southern CA: LA	E/W	Artesia Blvd, Orangethorpe. Some was cosigned as US 91.
Route 15	1934-1963	LRN 167	I-710	Southern CA: LA	N/S
Route 16	1934-	LRN 50, LRN 11, LRN 54	Route 16, Route 84, I-5, US 50	Northern CA	E/W
Route 17	193?-	LRN 5, LRN 239, LRN 69	Route 17, I-880, I-580, Route 251	Northern CA	N/S	Not a route in 1934. Replaced Route 13. Portions later renumbered as I-880, I-580, and Route 251 (unconstructed).
Route 18	1934-196?	LRN 43, LRN 178, LRN 168	Route 18, Route 19, Route 38, Route 91, Route 159, Route 214, I-215	Southern CA: LA	E/W	Portions were cosigned as US 91. Only remaining portion is in San Bernardino.
Route 19	1934-	LRN 168	Route 19	Southern CA: LA	N/S

Route 20	1934-	LRN 15	Route 20, US 40A, US 99E	Northern CA	E/W
Route 21	193x-1976	LRN 5, LRN 108, LRN 75, LRN 74	I-680	Northern CA	N/S	Not an original 1934 sign route.
Route 22	1934-	LRN 179, LRN 182	Route 22	Southern CA: LA	E/W
Route 23	1934-	LRN 155	Route 23	Southern CA	N/S
Route 24	1934-	LRN 75, LRN 11, LRN 50, LRN 232, LRN 87, LRN 21	Route 4, Route 16, Route 24, Route 70, Route 84, Route 99, Route 113, Route 160, Route 242	Northern CA	E/W	Was once part of Alternate US 40.
Route 25	1934-	LRN 119	Route 25	Northern CA	N/S
Route 26	1934-195?		None	Southern CA	E/W	Ocean Blvd between Route 1 and US 101 (I-5).
	195?-1963	LRN 173	I-10	Southern CA	E/W	Olympic Blvd. Not an original state sign route.
Route 27	1934-	LRN 156	Route 27	Southern CA	N/S	Topanga Canyon Blvd.
Route 28	1934-1953	LRN 48, LRN 103, LRN 49, LRN 8, LRN 7, LRN 90	Route 12, Route 29, Route 121, Route 128, I-80, I-505	Northern CA	E/W	By 1953, the Lake Tahoe Route 28 was in existance.
Route 29	1934-	LRN 74, LRN 8, LRN 49, LRN 89, LRN 243	Route 29, Route 221, Route 175	Northern CA	N/S
Route 30	193?-	LRN 190, LRN 207	Route 30, Route 330, Route 210	Southern CA	E/W	Foothill Blvd, Claremont.
Route 31	19??-198?	LRN 193	I-15	Southern CA	N/S	Millikan Ave.
Route 32	1934-	LRN 47	Route 32	Northern CA	E/W
Route 33	1934-	LRN 138, LRN 57, LRN 10, LRN 238, LRN 41	Route 33, Route 140, Route 166	Northern CA	N/S	Originally started in Maricopa. Portions were US 399. Later started in Ventura.
Route 34	193?-	LRN 153	Route 34	Southern CA: Ventura	E/W	Lewis Road
Route 35	1934-1963	LRN 170	I-605	Southern CA	N/S	Puente Ave, Workman Mill Blvd, Norwalk Blvd.
Route 36	1934-	LRN 35, LRN 29	Route 36	Northern CA	E/W
Route 37	1934-	LRN 8, LRN 6	Route 37, Route 121	Northern CA	N/S	Route is now E/W and includes former Route 48 (not US 48). N/S portion renumbered.
Route 38	193?-	LRN 190	Route 38	Southern CA	E/W
Route 39	1934-	LRN 191, LRN 62	Route 39	Southern CA	N/S	San Gabriel Canyon

Route 40	Skipped to prevent conflict with US 40
Route 41	1934-	LRN 125, LRN 33	Route 41, Route 46	Northern CA	N/S	Portions were later US 466.
Route 42	195?-19??	LRN 174	Route 90, I-105	Southern CA: LA	E/W	Manchester Blvd, Firestone Blvd, Santa Ana Ave. Renumbered from Route 10. Route 42 routings later reassigned to Route 90 and I-105.
Route 43	193?-	LRN 139, LRN 135	Route 43	Northern CA	N/S	Not an original 1934 sign route.
Route 44	1934-193?	LRN 20, LRN 28	Route 299	Northern CA	E/W	Later renumbered as US 299.
	193?-	LRN 83, LRN 20	Route 44	Northern CA	E/W	Lassen Natl Park to US 395
Route 440	1934-195?	LRN 20		Northern CA	E/W	Later renumbered as a segment of Route 44
Route 45	1934-	LRN 88	Route 45, Route 20	Northern CA	N/S
Route 46	193?-	LRN 33	Route 46	Northern CA	E/W	Not an original 1934 sign Route. Current Route 46 was Route 41 and US 466.
Route 47	19??-	LRN 167, LRN 270	Route 47	Southern CA	N/S	Not an original 1934 sign route. Only "Terminal Island Freeway" is constructed
Route 48	1928-1935	Not assigned to prevent conflict with US 48				US 48 later renumbered as part of US 50
	193?-1963	LRN 208	Route 37	Northern CA	E/W
Route 49	1934-	LRN 65, LRN 17, LRN 25, LRN 233	Route 49, Route 20, Route 89	Northern CA	N/S
Route 50	Skipped to prevent conflict with US 50
Route 51	Unknown	Unknown	Business Route 80	Northern CA	E/W	Not an original 1934 sign route
Route 52	19??-	LRN 279	Route 52	Southern CA: San Diego	E/W	Not an original 1934 sign route
Route 53	19??-	LRN 49	Route 53	Northern CA	E/W	Not an original 1934 sign route
Route 54	19??-	LRN 280	Route 54	Southern CA: San Diego	E/W	Not an original 1934 sign route
Route 55	1934-	LRN 43	Route 55	Southern CA	N/S
Route 56	19??-	LRN 278	Route 56	Southern CA: San Diego	E/W	Not an original 1934 sign route
Route 57	19??-	LRN 273, LRN 19, LRN 272	Route 57	Southern CA: Orange County	N/S	Not an original 1934 sign route
Route 58	193x-	LRN 58	Route 178, Route 58	Northern CA: Bakersfield	E/W	Not an original 1934 sign route Portions were US 466.
Route 59	19??-	LRN 123	Route 59	Northern CA	N/S	Not an original 1934 sign route

Route 60	Skipped to prevent conflict with US 60
Route 61	19??-	LRN 226; LRN 258	Route 61	Northern CA	N/S	Not an original 1934 sign route
Route 62	19??-	LRN 187; LRN 218	Route 62	Southern CA (Twentynine Palms)	E/W	Not an original 1934 sign route
Route 63	19??-	LRN 132	Route 63	Northern CA (Tulare)	N/S	Not an original 1934 sign route
Route 64	19??-	LRN 265	Route 64 (unsigned)	N/S	Southern CA	Not an original 1934 sign route
Route 65	1934-	LRN 129; LRN 249	Route 65, Route 69	Northern CA	N/S
Route 66	Skipped to prevent conflict with US 66
Route 67	19??-	LRN 198	Route 67	Southern CA: San Diego	N/S	Not an original 1934 sign route
Route 68	19??-	LRN 262, LRN 171	Route 68	Northern CA: Salinas	E/W	Not an original 1934 sign route
Route 69	No signed route before 1964. Current route was LRN 129, and part of Route 65. Now Route 245.
Route 70	Skipped to prevent conflict with US 70
Route 71	1934-	LRN 77; LRN 78; LRN 19	Route 57, Route 60, Route 71, Route 83, Route 142, I-15, I-215	Southern CA	N/S	Originally started at US 80 (I-8) in San Diego. The portion betwen US 80 and Temecula was renumbered as part of US 395 in 1939, and a new Route 71 extension was created using present-day Route 79 and Route 371, along LRN 78 and LRN 277.
Route 72	19??-	LRN 2	Route 72	Southern CA	E/W	Not an original 1934 sign route. Whittier Blvd. Surface route for US 101 once freeway constructed.
Route 73	19??-	LRN 184	Route 73	Southern CA: Orange County	N/S	Not an original 1934 sign route
Route 74	1934-	LRN 64	Route 74	Southern CA	E/W	Later combined with Route 740
Route 740	1934-	LRN 64		Southern CA	E/W	Later combined with Route 74
Route 75	19??-	LRN 199	Route 75	Southern CA: San Diego	N/S	Not an original 1934 sign route
Route 76	19??-	LRN 195	Route 76	Southern CA: San Diego	E/W	Not an original 1934 sign route
Route 77	19??-	LRN 235	Route 77	Northern CA	N/S	Not an original 1934 sign route
Route 78	1934-	LRN 196; LRN 197; LRN 198	Route 78	Southern CA: San Diego	E/W
Route 79	1934-	LRN 78	Route 79, Route 71	Southern CA: San Diego	N/S	Between 1939 and 1973, the portion between Aguanga and Temecula was Route 71. The original definition of the route ran only to Temecula. In 1939, it was extended N to Beaumont using present-day Riverside County Sign Route R3 to Hemet, and present-day Route 79 to Beaumont.

Route 80	Skipped to prevent conflict with US 80
Route 81	19??-	LRN 276	Route 81	Southern CA: Riverside	N/S	Not an original 1934 sign route. Unconstructed.
Route 82	19??-	LRN 2	Route 82	Northern CA	N/S	Not an original 1934 sign route. Route used to replace surface US 101.
Route 83	19??-	LRN 192	Route 83	Southern CA	N/S	Not an original 1934 sign route
Route 84	19??-	LRN 214; LRN 107	Route 84	Northern CA	E/W	Not an original 1934 sign route
Route 85	19??-	LRN 114	Route 85	Northern CA	N/S	Not an original 1934 sign route. Stevens Creek.
Route 86	19??-	LRN 26	Route 86	Southern CA	N/S	Not an original 1934 sign route. Route used to replace surface US 99.
Route 87	19??-	LRN 292	Route 87	Northern CA	N/S	Not an original 1934 sign route. Gonzales
Route 88	19??-	LRN 97	Route 88	Northern CA	E/W	Not an original 1934 sign route
Route 89	1934-	LRN 23, LRN 38; LRN 83;	Route 89; Route 88	Northern CA	N/S
Route 90	19??-	LRN 60; LRN 221; LRN 176	Route 90	Southern CA	E/W	Not an original 1934 sign route. Slauson Blvd.
Route 91	Skipped to prevent conflict with US 91
Route 92	19??-	LRN 105; LRN 259	Route 92	Northern CA	E/W	Not an original 1934 sign route
Route 93	19??-	LRN 254	Route 93	Northern CA	N/S	Not an original 1934 sign route
Route 94	1934-	LRN 200	Route 94	Southern CA	E/W
Route 95	1934-193x	LRN 145	US 395	Southern CA	N/S
Route 96	1934-??	LRN 46; LRN 84	Route 96	Northern CA	N/S
Route 97	Skipped to prevent conflict with US 97
Route 98	1934-??	LRN 202	Route 98	Southern CA	E/W
Route 99	Skipped to prevent conflict with US 99

Route 104	1934-??	LRN 34	Route 104; Route 26	Northern CA	E/W
Route 107	1942-Current	LRN 164	Route 107	Southern CA	N/S	Southern end of Former Route 7.
Route 108	1934-??	LRN 13	Route 108, Route 219	Northern CA	E/W
Route 111	1934-??	LRN 187	Route 111	Southern CA	N/S
Route 118	1934-??	LRN 9	Route 118, I-210	Southern CA	E/W
Route 120	1934-??	LRN 66, LRN 109, LRN 40, LRN 140	Route 120	Northern CA	E/W
Route 126	1934-??	LRN 79	Route 126	Southern CA	E/W
Route 127	1934-??	LRN 127, LRN 128	Route 127	Southern CA	N/S
Route 132	1934-??	LRN 110, LRN 65	Route 132	Northern CA	E/W
Route 134	1934-??	LRN 161	Route 134	Southern CA	E/W
Route 138	1934-??	LRN 59	Route 138	Southern CA	E/W
Route 140	1934-??	LRN 18	Route 140	Northern CA	E/W
Route 150	1934-??	LRN 149, LRN 180, LRN 80, LRN 151	Route 246, Route 154, Route 150, Route 192	Northern CA	E/W
Route 152	1934-??	LRN 32	Route 152	Northern CA	E/W
Route 166	1934-??	LRN 57	Route 166	Northern CA	E/W
Route 178	1934-??	LRN 58, LRN 57	Route 58, Route 178	Southern CA	E/W
Route 180	1934-??	LRN 263, LRN 41	Route 180	Northern CA	E/W
Route 190	1934-??	LRN 127	Route 190	Southern CA	E/W
Route 195	1934-??	LRN 149	US 95	Southern CA	N/S
Route 198	1934-??	LRN 10	Route 198	Northern CA	E/W

Federal (US) Signed Routes 

Pre-1964 Signage	Post-1964 Approximate Signage	Pre-1964 Legislative Route	Notes
US 6	US 6, US 395, Route 14, I-5, I-110, US 91/Route 1	LRN 60; LRN 165; LRN 161; LRN 4; LRN 23; LRN 76	Sierra Highway, San Fernando Road, Figueroa, Pacific Coast Highway
US 40	I-80; Route 51 (Business Route 80); US 50; Route 160	LRN 68; LRN 69; LRN 14; LRN 257; LRN 7; LRN 6; LRN 3; LRN 17; LRN 37; LRN 38
Alternate US 40	Route 113, Route 70, US 395	LRN 7; LRN 87; LRN 21
US 48	I-580, I-205	LRN 5
US 50	I-580, I-205, I-5, Route 120, Route 99, US 50	LRN 68; LRN 5; LRN 4; LRN 11; LRN 66; LRN 238
US 60	Former Route 212, I-10, Route 60	LRN 77; LRN 19; LRN 26; LRN 172; LRN 64	Portions were Ontario Blvd.
US 66	I-40, I-15, Route 66, Route 30, I-210, Route 110, US 101; Route 2; Route 248 (since deleted); Route 159 (since deleted)	LRN 31; LRN 9; LRN 240; LRN 161; LRN 165; LRN 2; LRN 205	Foothill Blvd, Huntington Ave, Colorado Blvd, Fair Oaks, Figueroa, Santa Monica Blvd, National Trails Highway
US 70	Former Route 212, I-10	LRN 26; LRN 64	Valley Blvd
US 80	I-8, Route 115	LRN 12
US 91	Route 1, Route 91, I-215, I-15	LRN 60; LRN 168; LRN 178; LRN 174; LRN 175; LRN 43; LRN 31	Lincoln Ave (Santa Ana), Lakewood Blvd, Pacific Coast Highway

US 99	Route 99, I-5, I-10, Route 86, Route 163, Former Route 212, Route 273, Route 265, Route 263; Route 111; Route 204	LRN 4; LRN 161; LRN 165; LRN 2; LRN 26; LRN 3; LRN 6; LRN 7; LRN 50; LRN 232; LRN 245; LRN 87	Los Angeles: San Fernando Road.
US 99W	I-5	LRN 50; LRN 6; LRN 7
US 99E	Route 51, Route 65, Route 99, US 50	LRN 3
Business US 99	I-5	LRN 4	Los Angeles: San Fernando Road.
US 101	Route 72, US 101, Route 82, I-5, Route 51 (former routing), Route 227, Route 245 (former routing), Route 254, Route 271; Route 283; I-280	LRN 2; LRN 174; LRN 166; LRN 68; LRN 1; LRN 71	Route 82 and Route 72 are the old surface US 101. El Camino Real; Monterey Road; Ventura Blvd.
Alternate US 101	Route 1, I-880	LRN 60; LRN 69; LRN 68	Pacific Coast Highway
Bypass US 101	US 101 (Freeway)	LRN 68
US 199	US 199	LRN 1
US 299	Route 299	LRN 20; LRN 28
US 395	Route 163, Route 15, I-15, I-215, US 395	LRN 77; LRN 78; LRN 19; LRN 43; LRN 31; LRN 145; LRN 23; LRN 95; LRN 29; LRN 73; LRN 28	Signed in 1939. Originally, the portion between US 80 (now I-8) and Temecula was Route 71.
US 399	Route 33; Route 119	LRN 138; LRN 57; LRN 140
US 466	Route 41, Route 46, Route 58, Route 202; I-15	LRN 125; LRN 33; LRN 58; LRN 31

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