Curved Roads

If you’re a visitor to the Salt Lake area one thing that’s likely to surprise you is our street numbering system. Maybe the best way to explain it is to compare it to longitude and latitude. Two numbers describe how far any given point is from zero. On a global scale, zero is where the equator crosses the Greenwich Meridian. In the Salt Lake Valley, zero is Temple Square. So if someone tells you to meet them at 77 West 1300 South, you should head thirteen blocks south of Temple Square and a bit less than one block west. And you should probably bring along your baseball cap, because you’ll be at the ballpark. Here are two more facts that may come in handy: A “block” is roughly 1/7 of a mile. And if you’re facing towards Temple Square, all the addresses on your right should be odd numbers. The addresses on your left should be even.