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State Route 73 (Alabama)
Encyclopedia
State Route 73, also known as SR-73, is a numbered state highway
in Alabama
. The route runs 11.219 miles (18.1 km) from SR-71
in Higdon
north to the Tennessee
border, where it becomes State Route 377 (SR-377). SR-73 passes through rural areas in eastern Jackson County
, serving the community of Bryant, Alabama
.
The SR-73 designation was first used for present-day CR 29 between Piedmont
in Calhoun County
and Forney in Cherokee County
, existing in the 1930s and 1940s. In the 1950s, SR-207
was briefly assigned to the road between Higdon and Bryant before it received the SR-73 designation. SR-73 was extended in the 1980s north to the Tennessee state line to connect to SR-377.
in the community of Higdon, Alabama
, heading north on a two-lane undivided road. The route heads through rural areas of farms and woods with some homes, curving to the northwest. The road heads north again as it crosses under several power lines radiating from the Widows Creek Power Plant
along the Tennessee River
. SR-73 continues northeast past homes and businesses in the Bryant, Alabama
area on top of Sand Mountain
prior to going north through more forested areas with a few rural homes. The route passes through a mix of farm and woodland before it turns east into forests. SR-73 makes a sharp curve north again to traverse Sand Mountain as it comes to the Tennessee
border. At this point, the road continues into Tennessee as SR-377, which ascends Sand Mountain to end at SR-156, east of South Pittsburg, Tennessee
.
and SR-62
in Forney, passing through Spring Garden and Rock Run, Alabama. By 1948, this road was removed from the state highway system, becoming CR 29 in Calhoun
and Cherokee
counties by 1955. What would become the current SR-73 south of Bryant became a part of SR-207
by 1955; at this time, the portion of road was a paved highway. SR-207 was redesignated SR-73 by 1957. By 1987, SR-73 was extended north from Bryant to the Tennessee border.
State highway
State highway, state road or state route can refer to one of three related concepts, two of them related to a state or provincial government in a country that is divided into states or provinces :#A...
in Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
. The route runs 11.219 miles (18.1 km) from SR-71
Alabama State Route 71
State Route 71 is a long route in Jackson County in the northeastern corner of Alabama. The southern terminus of the route is at its junction with State Route 35 near Section...
in Higdon
Higdon, Alabama
Higdon is an unincorporated community in Jackson County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 1,214.-Geography:Higdon is located on top of Sand Mountain.Higdon's coordinates are 34.83 N. Lat. 85.61 W. Long....
north to the Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
border, where it becomes State Route 377 (SR-377). SR-73 passes through rural areas in eastern Jackson County
Jackson County, Alabama
Jackson County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. Its name is in honor of Andrew Jackson, general in the United States Army and President of the United States of America. As of 2010, the population was 53,227. The county seat is Scottsboro. Jackson County is a prohibition or dry county,...
, serving the community of Bryant, Alabama
Bryant, Alabama
Bryant is an unincorporated community in Jackson County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 3,295.-Geography:Bryant's coordinates are 34.92 N. Lat. 85.63 W. Long.Bryant covers a land area of and a water area of .-Demographics:...
.
The SR-73 designation was first used for present-day CR 29 between Piedmont
Piedmont, Alabama
Piedmont is a city in Calhoun and Cherokee counties in the U.S. state of Alabama. The population was 5,120 at the 2000 census. It is included in the Anniston-Oxford, Alabama Metropolitan Statistical Area. Many surrounding communities utilize the 36272 ZIP code, including Spring Garden, Rock Run,...
in Calhoun County
Calhoun County, Alabama
Calhoun County is a county in the U.S. state of Alabama. Its name is in honor of John C. Calhoun, famous member of the United States Senate from South Carolina. As of 2010 the population was 118,572. It is included in the Anniston-Oxford Metropolitan Statistical Area...
and Forney in Cherokee County
Cherokee County, Alabama
Cherokee County, Alabama is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. It is named for the Cherokee tribe. As of 2010 the population was 25,989. Its county seat is Centre and it is a prohibition or dry county.- History :...
, existing in the 1930s and 1940s. In the 1950s, SR-207
Alabama State Route 207
State Route 207 or SR-207 is a long route that serves as a connection between U.S. Highway 72 in Rogersville in Lauderdale County and the Tennessee state line. After crossing the state line, this becomes Tennessee State Route 11.-Route description:...
was briefly assigned to the road between Higdon and Bryant before it received the SR-73 designation. SR-73 was extended in the 1980s north to the Tennessee state line to connect to SR-377.
Route description
SR-73 begins at an intersection with SR-71Alabama State Route 71
State Route 71 is a long route in Jackson County in the northeastern corner of Alabama. The southern terminus of the route is at its junction with State Route 35 near Section...
in the community of Higdon, Alabama
Higdon, Alabama
Higdon is an unincorporated community in Jackson County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 1,214.-Geography:Higdon is located on top of Sand Mountain.Higdon's coordinates are 34.83 N. Lat. 85.61 W. Long....
, heading north on a two-lane undivided road. The route heads through rural areas of farms and woods with some homes, curving to the northwest. The road heads north again as it crosses under several power lines radiating from the Widows Creek Power Plant
Widows Creek Power Plant
Widows Creek Power Plant is a major 1600-MWe coal-fired power station, east of Stevenson, Alabama USA. The plant, operated by the Tennessee Valley Authority, generates about nine billion kilowatt-hours of electricity a year...
along the Tennessee River
Tennessee River
The Tennessee River is the largest tributary of the Ohio River. It is approximately 652 miles long and is located in the southeastern United States in the Tennessee Valley. The river was once popularly known as the Cherokee River, among other names...
. SR-73 continues northeast past homes and businesses in the Bryant, Alabama
Bryant, Alabama
Bryant is an unincorporated community in Jackson County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 3,295.-Geography:Bryant's coordinates are 34.92 N. Lat. 85.63 W. Long.Bryant covers a land area of and a water area of .-Demographics:...
area on top of Sand Mountain
Sand Mountain (Alabama)
Sand Mountain is a sandstone plateau in northeastern Alabama and northwestern Georgia. It is part of the southern tip of the Appalachian mountain chain. Geologically a continuation of Walden Ridge, Sand Mountain is part of the Cumberland Plateau, separated from the main portion of the plateau by...
prior to going north through more forested areas with a few rural homes. The route passes through a mix of farm and woodland before it turns east into forests. SR-73 makes a sharp curve north again to traverse Sand Mountain as it comes to the Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
border. At this point, the road continues into Tennessee as SR-377, which ascends Sand Mountain to end at SR-156, east of South Pittsburg, Tennessee
South Pittsburg, Tennessee
South Pittsburg is a city in Marion County, Tennessee, United States. It is part of the Chattanooga, TN–GA Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 3,295 at the 2000 census. South Pittsburg is home to the National Cornbread Festival.-History:...
.
History
The SR-73 designation was first assigned in 1934 to an unimproved road connecting SR-74 in PiedmontPiedmont, Alabama
Piedmont is a city in Calhoun and Cherokee counties in the U.S. state of Alabama. The population was 5,120 at the 2000 census. It is included in the Anniston-Oxford, Alabama Metropolitan Statistical Area. Many surrounding communities utilize the 36272 ZIP code, including Spring Garden, Rock Run,...
and SR-62
Alabama State Route 62
State Route 62 is a route near Guntersville in Marshall County. The route leads westward from State Route 227 to Lake Guntersville State Park.-History:...
in Forney, passing through Spring Garden and Rock Run, Alabama. By 1948, this road was removed from the state highway system, becoming CR 29 in Calhoun
Calhoun County, Alabama
Calhoun County is a county in the U.S. state of Alabama. Its name is in honor of John C. Calhoun, famous member of the United States Senate from South Carolina. As of 2010 the population was 118,572. It is included in the Anniston-Oxford Metropolitan Statistical Area...
and Cherokee
Cherokee County, Alabama
Cherokee County, Alabama is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. It is named for the Cherokee tribe. As of 2010 the population was 25,989. Its county seat is Centre and it is a prohibition or dry county.- History :...
counties by 1955. What would become the current SR-73 south of Bryant became a part of SR-207
Alabama State Route 207
State Route 207 or SR-207 is a long route that serves as a connection between U.S. Highway 72 in Rogersville in Lauderdale County and the Tennessee state line. After crossing the state line, this becomes Tennessee State Route 11.-Route description:...
by 1955; at this time, the portion of road was a paved highway. SR-207 was redesignated SR-73 by 1957. By 1987, SR-73 was extended north from Bryant to the Tennessee border.