Curious Iowa: How are streets named?

One topic dominates the Curious Iowa inbox: roads. Most commonly, readers want to know how roads were named and why. This installment of Curious Iowa — a Gazette series that answers readers’ questions about the state, its people and our culture — is dedicated to these road related curiosities.

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How are streets named?

Barb McMickle of Cedar Rapids wrote to The Gazette, intrigued by street names like Cakebread Court in Marion. McMickle asked how streets get named and who is involved in the process.

A city’s code of ordinances outlines requirements for street naming and requesting name changes. The process may vary from city to city, but generally it is the responsibility of the property developer to propose names of new streets. Those proposals are then reviewed by city staff. For example, in Cedar Rapids, the City Staff Review Committee reviews proposals. In Marion, it’s up to the Planning and Zoning Commission.

Changes to street names undergo a lengthier process. In Cedar Rapids, the owners of an adjoining property or the city council, city planning commission or city departments may file a street name application with the Engineering Department.

If a property owner initiates the name change, they must also submit a petition supporting the change that is signed by at least two-thirds of the property owners with property fronting on the street. Additionally, a list with the names and mailing addresses of all property owners with property fronting the street must be submitted. A public hearing is held by the city council, and information is forwarded to the City Staff Review Committee.

Names of existing streets may be changed by ordinance. If property owners oppose the name change, they must file a written protest signed by owners of 20 percent or more of the owners of property fronting the street. The renaming will not go into effect unless three-fourths of the City Council is in favor.

When a street name change is approved, notice is sent to owners of property fronting the street, governmental agencies, local utility companies and area ambulance service providers. The council may assess the applicant costs for changing maps and replacing or installing signs.

Once a name is changed, additional name change proposals for that street will not be accepted for three years from the date of acceptance or denial by the City Council.

Dingleberry Road comes from moonshiners

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Northeast of Iowa City, Dingleberry Road may elicit a chuckle but the name is not meant to be crude. Dingleberry Road is named for the Dingleberry family, a well known farm family that came into the state spotlight during Prohibition. Brothers George and Peter were moonshiners. Their product was called “Dingleberry Dew” or “white lightning.”

On June 17, 1927, Sheriff Frank Smith and five other members of law enforcement raided the brothers’ home. It was the largest still raided in Johnson County. On June 18, 1927, the Iowa City Press-Citizen reported, “More than 400 gallons of mash, 30 gallons of wine and a 40-gallon still in full operation in a sealed room was the haul the officers made.” In 1928, 53-year-old George was convicted of illegally manufacturing liquor. Peter died before George’s jury trial.

The road was originally registered as Thompson Road in 1858, but in 1990 the Johnson County Board of Supervisors officially renamed it Dingleberry Road. Although, newspaper records show references to Dingleberry Road as early as 1974.

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In 1991, Robert “Chug” Wilson, the founder of Wilson’s Orchard and Dingleberry Road resident, tried to get the name changed. Wilson asked the Board of Supervisors, “How would you like to have that permanently attached to your name?”

Twice, Wilson’s proposal was struck down. The Gazette reported in 1991 supervisor Betty Ockenfels told Wilson, “I want to tell you that this is history, whether you like it or not.”

Iowa City’s No Name Street

One Curious Iowan wondered how No Name Street in Iowa got named — or, rather, didn’t get named. Iowa City Public Works Director Ron Knoche told The Gazette in an email that the street’s story starts in 1960 when the Iowa City Elks dedicated a street right of way to Johnson County.

The right of way was the subject of development filings and No Name Street was also referred to as Calibria Court. Knoche said through some development filings, the Calibria Court right of way was to be vacated and a new street, Sage Street, would be platted to the east. Ultimately, the development was not built and the right of way was not vacated.

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In the early 1990s, the unnamed street was identified again on a plat with the Idyllwild Development. Knoche said in the development review documents, this unnamed street was identified as “No Name Street.” Although, in 1993, proposed Iowa City capital improvement projects identified it as Calibria Court.

In his 25 years with the city, Knoche has always known it as “No Name Street.”

Answering your road-related questions

Did Old Marion Road used to connect to Marion? Yes, Old Marion Road used to connect to Marion via Sixth Avenue. According to the Marion Historic Preservation Commissions’s publication “Roads, Railroads and Trolley Cars of Marion,” the main road to Cedar Rapids was Sixth Avenue to Marion Boulevard. A trolley line ran on the edge of Sixth Avenue and alongside Marion Boulevard between Cedar Rapids and Marion. The former Marion city limits used to extend to what is now Collins Road.

When did Bowman Road get renamed Boyson Road, and why? Cedar Rapids City Traffic Engineer Cari Pauli said on Nov. 3, 1976, Ordinance 94-76 passed. This renamed Bowman Road NE to Boyson Road NE, and Ely Avenue SW to Wilson Avenue Drive SW. The reasoning for the renaming was not included in the ordinance.

What does “Avenue Dr.” or “Street Dr.” mean? We asked the City of Cedar Rapids why the “Drive” designation is tacked on to some street addresses. Pauli said that while the city didn’t locate official documentation, it’s reasonable to assume that “Dr.” was added to distinguish between the NE and SE quadrants.

Cedar Rapids is laid out in a quadrant system. The Cedar River separates East from the West while First Avenue separates North from South.

In the case of Wilson Avenue Drive SW, Pauli said it can be assumed “the addition of Drive is due to house numbers and street extensions/renaming that followed the original platting. Wilson Avenue started at 11 Wilson Ave. SW at Bowling Street and continued numbering up from there to the west. When it was renamed from Ely Road to Wilson Avenue Drive, it is assumed they needed to add the ‘Drive’ onto Wilson Avenue in order to continue addressing to the east.”

Why do some Marion road signs have the Marion logo on them? If the logo changes, will the signs be replaced and how much does that cost? Years ago, as technology was introduced, the Marion city flag was added to mast arm signs at signalized intersections. City of Marion Communications Manager Amber Bisinger told The Gazette in an email that those signs are in the process of being replaced. This is due to signs fading and becoming illegible and the gradual roll out of updated graphics.

Marion purchases street signs through Iowa Prison Industries. The cost of each sign depends on its dimensions, but the order of 75 mast arm signs for signalized intersection cost the City just over $16,000. Bisinger said that’s roughly $213 per sign.

“A new street marker design for signalized intersections was introduced a few years back and has been installed as intersections were completed with the cost included as part of the project,” Bisinger said.

Last year, Marion City Council authorized the use of local-option sales tax funds dedicated to wayfinding to make a bulk purchase and complete the replacement of street markers at the remaining signalized intersections. The City also has a sign replacement/maintenance program which helps fund ongoing maintenance.

“Crews are in the process of installing the updated signage now,” Bisinger said. “the current signs come in two pieces, so if necessary, the graphic can be removed and the portion with the street name can remain intact.”

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