If highway sign says it is X miles to Y city, what part of the city is used? --city limit, or where?

Question

Since many cities encompass several square miles, how are distances between cities calculated--city limit to city limit as the crow flies or some other common reference point?

Answer 1

the central point of the city...generally this is marked with a landmark, a square or a local government building such as a court house, city hall etc.

Answer 2

I am a traffic engineer with the State of NC and we use the city limits as long as the road does not go in and out of the city limits prior to reaching the main part of the city. I know this is confusing but you would not want a sign on an interstate to say it was 50 miles to the next big city and then you find that it is 70 miles to the main part (downtown area) of the city. Some cities are quite large and can extend for numerous miles down an interstate.

Answer 3

It seems to me it's the center of the city. I drive from Arizona to L.A. a lot, and the mileage seems to be to downtown, rather than just the city limits east of there. Similarly, heading back into Tucson, the mileage is to the downtown exit (about ten miles inside the city limits).

As for the distance (I assume you mean on road signs or a road map), it's the length of the road, not a geographic straight line. "As the Crow Flies" distances are only useful to things which fly.

Answer 4

If you use Mapquest at all, they use the same point the highway people do to determine distances. As others said, it is usually a landmark of some sort. I believe it is Columbus Circle for New York City, but don't quote me on that.

Answer 5

It is generally the distance to the city limits. Most distance signs on highways in the U.S. are general distances, not exact.

Answer 6

Court house>