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U.S. 321-A
U.S. 321 (NCRoads.com)
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U.S. 321-A  17 miles
The Road: Begins at US 321 south of Granite Falls, in Caldwell County. Ends at US 321 Valmead in Caldwell County
Towns and Attractions:

Caldwell Co.:Granite Falls (Main St); Hudson (Main St); Lenoir (Norwood St, Mulberry St, Main St) 

History: Current US 321-A was created between 1943-46, running through the city of Lenoir.
Lenoir had actually been bypassed by US 321 by 1941, but the 1941-42 Official Map clearly shows the route throgh Lenoir as NOT a U.S. route (but was still largely part of NC 90). The 1946-47 Official Map, however, does show the old route through Lenoir as a U.S. route. US 321-A began at the intersection of Norwood St SW and McLean Dr, which was initially the US 321 Bypass and ended I think where US 321-A north ends now.
US 321-A was extended south through Hudson and Granite Falls, replacing mainline US 321 about 1954. The two scans below show the versions of US 321-A:
1953 official map
US 321-A in its original form
1958 official map
US 321-A expanded form

US 321-A may have been routed originally without a multiplex on Morganton Ave or using Mulberry Ave, but when the change came is anybody's guess.
US 321-A was once original NC 17.
US 321-A in the late 90s seemed to be mostly posted with narrow shields with all 4-characters and sometimes even a dash.
U.S. 321-A  renumbered
The route: The 2nd US 321-A was for Blowing Rock and was created between 1954-58 as a renumbering of mainline US 321, which was routed to the east of town.
US 321-A used Main St. and was once original NC 17.
This US 321-A was renumbered as US 321 Business in 1960.
1958 Official

Last Update: 24 September 2005
 
U.S. 321 (NCRoads.com)
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