Where is that address located?
Here's the answer.
Those addresses weren't just picked out of the sky like it may seem. There is a pattern and if you learn it and have a county map handy, you can find just about any address without much trouble.
Once you find the county road or lane on the map using the grid or you already know the road location----
Here are the key things to remember about addresses.
There is a address every 25 feet even if there isn't a house there.
Every road starts with an address of 100 instead of 0. The road sign is address 100.
There are 211 addresses in a mile.
If you are traveling from smaller addresses to larger addresses (from the beginning of the road) the evens will be on the right and the odds on the left.
If you are going from larger to smaller addresses (or backwards on a road) the odds will be on the right and the evens on the left.
The roads usually start with the smaller addresses (beginning) nearest a highway.
NOW THAT WE HAVE THE BASICS HERE WE GO.
To find out how far someone lives down a road. We will call it the
"target address".
From the beginning of a road. Subtract 100 from the target address (because all roads start with 100 so just pretend the road sign at the beginning of a road is address number 100) and then divide the answer by 211 to get the miles to the target address.
EXAMPLE 1
488 Polk 32 from the beginning of a road (road sign address 100)
488 minus 100 =388 divided by 211=1.8 miles and because 488 is an even number and you are traveling from smaller to larger it will be on the right side.
WHAT IF I AM ON THE OTHER END OF THE ROAD?
Go down the road and take the first address you come to (we'll call it 763) and because the target address is smaller subtract the target from your current location, then divide the answer by 211 and the answer will be the miles from your location to the target.
EXAMPLE 2
488 Polk 32 from the end of a road.
763 minus 488 = 275 divided by 211 = 1.3 miles from your current location to the target and it will be on the left. Yes I know 488 is an even number but you are traveling backwards on the road so that puts the odds on the right and the evens on the left. Larger to smaller-remember evens on the left, smaller to larger evens on the right.
OK, BUT I CAME IN ON THE MIDDLE OF A ROAD AND I DON'T KNOW WHICH WAY TO TURN!
Well, actually you already know if you will think about it. You may have to drive a little way to find a house number but as soon as you do you will know if you are going the right way or not. If the first address you come to is smaller than your target address the evens should be on the right and the odds on the left because you should be going from smaller to larger. If they aren't turn around and go the other way so that they will be.
Subtract the current address (first one you come to) from the target and divide by 211 for the miles to the target.
If the first address you come to is larger than your target address the evens should be on the left and the odds on the right because you should be going backwards on the road or from larger to smaller. If they aren't then turn around and go the other way so that they will be. Subtract the target from the current address (first one you come to) and divide by 211 for the miles to the target.
IN SHORT
The key is to remember, that no matter where you are on a road you can subtract whichever address is smaller (whether it's your current location or the target) from the larger one and divide by 211 for the miles to the target. If you want to go to an address that is larger than the one you are currently at, keep the even addresses on the right. If you want to go to an address that is smaller than your current address keep the evens on the left. If you are at the beginning of a road you are at address 100 so remember to subtract it from the target.
DO NOT SUBTRACT 100 AT ANY OTHER TIME. DO THIS ONLY WHEN YOU ARE AT BEGINNING OF A ROAD BECAUSE THE ROAD SIGN IS ADDRESS NUMBER 100.
If you do not have a caculator you can just use the 100 addresses to a half mile rule of thumb and get pretty close. An address of 203 from the beginning of a road will put you about 1/2 mile down the road on the left.
If you enter the middle of a road at 421 and you are going to 200, it will be a little over 1 mile to the target--evens on the left, odds on the right because you are going larger to smaller.
REMEMBER
To notice if you are going the right way by paying attention to which side of the road the even and odd addresses are on.
I suggest you practice on every road you drive until you can do this. Being able to find an address quickly will cut response time and help save lives and property.
If you have any questions e-mail the Cove Fire Dept. at the e-mail link on the home page.
SMALLER ADDRESS FROM LARGER ADDRESS DIVIDED BY 211 = MILES TO TARGET. ALL ROADS START AT ADDRESS 100.