Probably one of the most random things I've found on the internet...

[BigToque]

In my city, streets run North/South and Avenues run East/West. I was curious to find out why and came across this:

How Far from True North are the Avenues of Manhattan

 

[hiromizu]

I think everyone knows this?

 

[sdifox]

err, city's "North" is rarely the same as magnetic north...

 

[BigToque]

Originally posted by: sdifox
err, city's "North" is rarely the same as magnetic north...

Duh...

I just thought it was an interesting and completely random website.

 

[olds]

Declination. Learn it, use it.

 

[Anubis]

that was interesting yet 100% useles information i will most likely forget in 20 min

 

[AmpedSilence]

Originally posted by: Anubis
that was interesting yet 100% useles information i will most likely forget in 20 min

That's why the interest is always there for you! You don't have remember actual facts, just have the ability to find the facts, often referred to as 'Google-fu'. Sadly, lacking in many people.

 

[Ramma2]

Isn't using google maps a huge flaw? I've seen several instances where the streets on the map view don't match up with the actual streets in satellite view.

 

[JTsyo]

If you look at the way the island faces, it makes perfect sense to lay the grid out that way.

 

[theprodigalrebel]

trivia++

 

[PHiuR]

did you expect them to design the grid system in an inefficient manner just to have the streets and avenues point in exact compass directions?

 

[sdifox]

Originally posted by: Anubis
that was interesting yet 100% useles information i will most likely forget in 20 min

that would require remembering it in the first place.

 

[thirtythree]

My city:

Downtown
"The Avenues"

 

[Epic Fail]

Back in the days, buggy horses couldn't travel in true north/south direction, they would act up if they do.

There were also complaints about lack of sunlight with true compass direction, by slanting the layout of the city, every house would get a chance to enjoy the sun.

 

[IceBergSLiM]

you've never been to cape cod have you?

 

[nanette1985]

I lived in manhattan for many years, I remember hearing that Broadway is close to true north-south. Urban myth or true? Or just useless trivia.

 

[sdifox]

Originally posted by: BigToque

Originally posted by: sdifox
err, city's "North" is rarely the same as magnetic north...

Duh...

I just thought it was an interesting and completely random website.

Just to mess with you, look at Boston.

 

[HN]

here's a formula for determining cross streets from an address:

http://nycxplorer.blogspot.com...n-devised-to-help.html