U.S. Route 21
Highway in the United States / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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U.S. Route 21 or U.S. Highway 21 (US 21) is a north–south United States Numbered Highway, spanning 394 miles (634 km) from Hunting Island State Park, South Carolina, to Wytheville, Virginia. The route traverses three states, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia. It connects Southeastern cities, including Columbia, South Carolina, and Charlotte, North Carolina. In the northern parts of South Carolina and North Carolina, US 21 runs parallel to Interstate 77 (I-77). Additionally, US 21 intersects with Interstate 26 (I-26) at three points in Lexington and Calhoun counties in South Carolina.
Route information | |||||||||||||
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Length | 394 mi[citation needed] (634 km) | ||||||||||||
Existed | 1926[citation needed]–present | ||||||||||||
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South end | Hunting Island State Park, SC | ||||||||||||
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North end | I-81 / US 52 in Wytheville, VA | ||||||||||||
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Country | United States | ||||||||||||
States | South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia | ||||||||||||
Counties | SC: Beaufort, Hampton, Colleton, Bamberg, Orangeburg, Calhoun, Lexington, Richland, Fairfield, Chester, York NC: Mecklenburg, Iredell, Yadkin, Surry, Wilkes, Alleghany VA: Grayson, Wythe | ||||||||||||
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Despite the "1" indicating that it is a major north–south highway, US 21 only travels through three states and is no longer a cross-country route, as many sections have been replaced by I-77 in Ohio and West Virginia. Historically, US 21 was more longer before the Interstate Highway System was established. Over time, its length was reduced, making it the second-shortest major north–south route after U.S. Route 91 (US 91). Today, US 21 serves as an alternative to the more heavily trafficked interstates in the area, particularly I-77, I-26, and Interstate 95 (I-95).