Population signs really intrigue me, so much so that I have often heard the musical sound of my tires hitting the rumble strips as I gaze at one. These signs can be old or new. They sometimes have bullet holes in them. They are often blue or green. The most interesting thing to me, however, is that they list the name of the town and the population.
The city with the largest population (according to their sign) in America is New York. According to their population sign, exactly 8,175,133 people live there. This is one of the things that intrigues me. I always have to wonder how often they update those signs. Is there someone who rushes out with a stencil when a baby is born? Or if someone moves do they have to stop by the sign and correct it on the way out of town?
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| Lots of pops...but only 33 illiterate elves |
One town that has eliminated that concern is Wannaska. As you can see from the photo, they don't bother to put the population on their sign. Many a bewildered traveler has passed through Wannaska wondering if it is a sprawling metropolis or a humble village. The truth might never be known.
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| We don't need no stinkin' population badges |
Another popular town in Northern Minnesota is Strathcona. They have removed the mystery about the number of residents by proudly displaying it on their sign. Their sign updating budget has been decimated, however, and if you have stayed there for more than 29 hours they will politely ask you to pop into your car and leave the city limits.
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| Looking to live in a town with more than 25 but less than 30? |
The two rival hockey towns in Northern Minnesota proudly display their populations. Roseau and Warroad have duked it out in hockey 178 times. The Roseau Rams hold a 105-68 edge in this rivalry. The teams have tied 5 times. Roseau also leads in overall population, but Warroad does lead in most signs attached to their population sign.
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| Warroad is up 3-1 in population sign add-ons |
Tired of the hustle and bustle of the big city? Perhaps you should consider moving to Lost Springs, Wyoming. You can see and hear the only resident skipping down the street singing his favorite song.
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| A bachelor's paradise |
Do you have any words of wisdom about population signs? Comment below. These things are popping up everywhere!
How about the town of Joe, Montana. In 1993, the citizens voted to change their name from Ismay to Joe. They made enough money selling souvenirs that they were able to build a new fire station. After Joe Montana retired, the citizens slowly reverted to calling themselves Ismayans.
ReplyDeleteThe 19 inhabitants are crowded in 0.42 square miles for a population density of 45.24 per square mile. New York City's density for comparison is 27,578 per square mile.
Wannaska's density is a mystery.