That was a great topic. I always wondered how names of streets came about. I wasn't sure but now I am and I'm going to check out a few of those books to get mmore knowledge on it.

Cool

Just a "thanks". I needed a street-naming primer. Your site helped gain a national perspective. I'm working on Seattle streets in the early 1880s. It is interesting to understand the importance of the Post Office's Rural Free Delivery service (inaugerated 1891)on pioneer town streets. Hey: is there a source for learning about the advent of street signage? (particularly in Seattle?)

I wonder if anyone has any comments about Michael Harrison's book "The London That Was Rome," which was published 3 decades ago. Harrison's thesis was that the names of streets and other places in modern London are derived from the Latin names of landmarks that were there, in Roman times.

Thanks for the great list... Since I'm a librarian in NYC, I checked the NYC books and found out that "A Landmark History of New York" is by Albert Ulmann (not Ullman). It's available in its entirety on Google Books at
http://books.google.com/books?hl=en&id=mhA...pt7_EVszs#PPA281,M1

Maybe some of the other old books are on Google Books, too.

I've often thought it would be neat to have a job as someone who names streets. Being part of a Naming Streets Committee, does such a job exsist is it in high demand?

I am interested in the origins of the name of Pearl Street in the historic heart of Grand Rapids, Michigan, which was settled largely by Yankees from Vermont, New Hampshir and New York States. The street name was in place by the 1830s. I've noticed that many New England towns have Paerl Streets and wondered if there is a common origin for this convention.

Currently, our street is under going a name change, I needed information concerning street naming.

Edited by author 03-22-2007 07:56 PM
dear mr. tenenbaum, first off id like to let you know how deeply i appreciate your website and limited knowledge of streets. but the reason i am writing is to get your advice on a local issue.. recently i have been petitioning for a street name change; from "old glory st." to "erection road". suprisingly we have a few people who think the new suggestion is somewhat offensive. might you have any ideas on how to persuade these renegades to conform?

i hate streets

Spanish street names in Los Angeles

A friend of mine (Tony McQuilkin) observed that if a street here had a Spanish name, there were probably no Spanish-speaking people living on it. And if a street was populated mostly by Spanish-speakers, it probably did not have a Spanish name. This is because the Spanish street names are mostly in newer areas that Anglos moved to in the 60's and later. Ironically they moved partly because so many Spanish speakers were moving into their old areas.

I'm happy to add another resource on street naming to the list.

Dear Lawrence Kestenbaum: Your website is wonderful and performs an extraordinary public service. Thank you for it. I write here because my wife and I have a book to be published later this month called Brooklyn by Name: How the Neighborhoods, Streets, Parks, Bridges, And More Got Their Names. It is the first of its kind for NYC's most populous borough. It is being published by New York University Press and we would be honored if it can be added to your rollcall for NY street name books (though ours is probably 75% street, 25% other place-names). Many thanks, Leonard Benardo

I can't imagine that the U.S. would have any objection, or even any jurisdiction to object.

Is there any federal prohibition on the use of names of former US presidents in naming streets in foreign countries? There is a city in the country in which I work that would like to rename a street after Woodrow Wilson. The city officials involved want to know first whether there would be any US objection to using the name. I suspect the name is in the public domain and could be used, but would be interested in your view on the matter.