by Wisconsin is one of the few states that designates county-maintained roads with letters instead of numbers. Literally, the only other state we can think of it Missouri. This can lead to combinations of letters at intersections and other locales that result in what we like to call “Fun with Wisconsin County Road Signs” as we travel around. In some ways, these resemble a Rorschach test when multiple letters and combos are involved… you’ll see what we mean. We know you’ve seen some cool or weird combos too, we’d love you to share them with us! Meanwhile, we’ll share these with you:
Wisconsin has one-letter, two-letter, and even three-letter county roadways across the state. Some routes overlap for a spell. And that can create some words – or expressions – however short they may be.
Take County A and H when they combine in Fredonia, west of Highway 57 in Ozaukee County. One look at this sign and you might feel refreshed (“aaaahhhh…”) like a cold drink on a hot day.
Then again, it might be unpleasant surprise – like “AHHHHHH!”. Up to you.
Meanwhile, heading the other way, the “H” is above the “A”. So while on one side you have “AH” on this side you have “HA”! So if you travel both ways on this road connecting Fredonia and Wabeka (birthplace of Flag Day), any time you see something new you could say “AH-HA!”
So we have County I crossing County T… do you see “it”, “I.T.” as in “information technology,” or just a plan ol’ “STOP IT!!”
A snake’s favorite county road
Along Highway 28 between Batavia and Cascade, we spotted County SSS, a connector road to County S nearby. It’s hard to sound out this road and not make that hissing sound that we equate with snakes.
But OOO, here’s another one…
Another triple-letter county road in Fond du Lac County makes you wanna say “ooo!” Or maybe “Oh! Oh! Oh!” All depends on your interpretation and what you’re thinking.
Ewww… here’s another…
Through the cranberry capital town of Warrens in Monroe County, County EW serves as a main drag and the connector to I-94 just a few miles to the west. Although cranberries are delicious, healthy, and popular – the Cranberry Discovery Center is in town, after all – the road in kind of makes you say “Ewwww”
Workin’ Overtime
“OT” means “overtime” in sports, work, what have you. In Holmen, just off U.S. 53, County OT reminds is that overtime can go one way or the other. But you don’t get time-and-a-half for driving on this road in La Crosse County.
Is this a negatory, or are we just getting salty?
At this intersection of County Roads N and A, you end up with a “nahhh”, so maybe it’s just a negative response to something. Then again, if you remember chemistry class Na is the periodic table symbol for salt, so maybe it refers to the spice – one that gets dumped on roads a lot to clear snow!
Awwwww….
A county road connecting Highway 73 at Randolph with Highway 49 near Waupun, AW just makes you want to say “awwwww…” Maybe at something that didn’t go your way, or cooing at a cute puppy or something.
Quite the county road, eh?
This could be viewed as the word many Wisconsinites put at the end of sentences, a legacy of French and Scandinavian languages that, when adapted to English, left a tail-end word that encourages validation. “Cold out there, eh?” Or, it could just be nothing special… like “ehhh”… We report, you decide.
Personal Computer? Political Correctness?
Either way, at this intersection they want it stopped. You’ll find this where Counties P & C meet south of West Bend in Washington County.
The city, or the guy with the Sunshine Band?
So in Stone Bank – an unincorporated community in Waukesha County – Highways K and C meet, creating this K-C sign combo. Thinking of Kansas City? Or maybe K.C. of KC and the Sunshine Band? And yes, we know that just put a disco song in your head. We’re not sorry.
Show your I.D… or id??
What was once the Military Ridge Trail built by the military in the 1830s, then later the U.S. 18/151 mainline highway between Madison and Dodgeville, has since – at least near Mount Horeb – become County Highway ID. Now, are they talking identification where you have to show your driver’s license (you would if you got pulled over), or do we dive into psychoanalytic theory and presume this is a nod to one’s id?
Ouch! Nothing like a little jab…
Tiny Stengelville, Wisconsin is a crossroads in Kewaunee County near the Parallel 44 Winery. This is where Highway J, an east-west road, meets County AB, which years ago was Wisconsin Highway 163 and one of the main roads connecting the Two Rivers area north to the towns approaching the waters of Green Bay. Today, with this designation, you get a little “jab” as you pull up to the intersection.
Are we up early, or just hearing some static on the radio?
“AM” can mean the morning – or late night at the bar. It can also mean AM radio of the amplitude modulation variety, which today hosts mainly news, talk, and religious stations but once cut through the airwaves with some of the most legendary radio stations ever known. Confused about which to decide on with this one. I am. (By the way, “I am” is the shortest complete sentence in the English language.)
It’s a county road, okay??
A few spots in Wisconsin have a County Road OK, including in Sheboygan County where it follows the once major U.S. 141 highway south of Sheboygan itself. Whether it makes you think of Oklahoma (their state abbreviation is OK, of course) or just saying something is sufficient, we’re okay with this road.
Harley riders, this is your corner…
In the tiny crossroads of Globe, Wisconsin is HOG Corners, named so for the junction of three county roads and the resulting sign as you approach from the north. County O heads south to end at this intersection; County G takes over to the south and west, while County H, coming in from Marshfield to the east, also terminates here. The result at the NW corner is the increasingly-famous “HOG” county road sign assembly – so much so that’s it’s now a spot noted as such on Google Maps. Yes, a lot of riders take pictures with their Harley underneath it.
And, B.S. is everywhere…
In Langlade County along Highway 52, you’ll find a spot where County B and County S meet up. The sign result? Some real B.S. The stop sign next to it may include a desire to stop the B.S. You can decide for yourself… sometimes to have to B.S. a little in this world.
Could be a popular intersection…
The snickering teenage boy in all of us is making Beavis and Butt-head laugh noises right now. The construction workers probably giggled a bit when they… erected that sign. Meanwhile, do we really want to know what’s happening in that parked car by this intersection?
Yeah, okay, this one too…
Sure, it’s the Pensacola, Florida airport code (PNS), but we’re guessing construction workers probably giggled a bit when they… erected… that sign. This right along former U.S. 10 in Milladore in Wood County. The new expressway is just a short distance north. So… would you like to buy a vowel?
OOPs… are we diving to deep into these?
The word “oop” can mean a mistake. It can also remind one of Alley Oop, an old cartoon character dating back to the 1930s that even became a novelty pop song in 1960. Of course, once you add the “alley” you may think of the alley oop move in basketball, making for some exciting offense. “Oop” can be funny at an intersection, but let’s get even more lowbrow and see what sign lurks at a different corner of that same intersection…
Yes, Google recognizes this corner, too.
If you Google “POO Corners,” this intersection comes up. Located just east of U.S. 53/Highway 124 and south of Highway 29 in Lake Hallie, these Chippewa County roads come together to form one of the more Insta-worthy county road signs in the state.
“TBA” is one of the most popular festival listings – because it means “To Be Announced.” In fact, if a band called itself TBA, they’d be listed all over the place, creating mass confusion! No confusion about which road goes where here, though. This is near Highway 161 in Waupaca County.
Scroll through these signs and more below! And let us know about some of your favorite county sign combos we’ve missed on here. Use the comment section at the bottom and we’ll work to add more to this as we go on more State (and county) Trunk Tour road trips!
