User:AnorestesX/MI Road Names

City Names on Segments

Michigan is somewhat unique among Great Lakes Region states in that all land within the state is part of an incorporated city, village, or township. Due to this, we have taken the stance that all segments in the state should have a city on the primary name for display in the city layer.

All segments within an incorporated city or village should use the city or village name as the primary on all segments within city limits.

• The WME Cities Overlay script will place an overlay of city, village, and CDP boundaries on the map. Note that it does not distinguish between the types, so check to see whether a highlighted area is a city or CDP before naming.
• Using the WME Geometries script, you can import the Cities & Townships data from Michigan's GIS Open Data site (download button on right side of page, KML format) and overlay this data on the map.

All segments within a township should use the township name as primary except when meeting the CDP criteria outlined below.

All USPS ZIP cities that differ from the primary name should be added for all names on all applicable segments. When a segment is on the boundary between two ZIP cities, add both. The WME US Government Boundaries script will allow you to see where different ZIP codes are used, and allows you to highlight postal routes to see where ZIP city names are used.

Exceptions: Freeways and numbered State Highways should be named as found in State Numbered Highway Naming.

CDPs (Census Designated Places):

CDPs are populated areas that generally include one officially designated but currently unincorporated community, for which the CDP is named. In some cases, these communities should be used as the primary name, based on the following criteria:

1. If a CDP has a post office and is used for addressing within the area, it should be used as the primary name within the boundaries of the CDP. Any additional USPS/ZIP cities recognized in parts of the CDP should be added as alt city names.
2. If a CDP meets at least 3 of the following 6 points, including Addressing and Local Usage, it should be used as the primary city name.
   1. Addressing: Does the USPS recognize the CDP name for addressing as an alternate usage to the township name? Use the USPS ZIP Code Lookup tool to check several addresses.

      

   2. Local Usage: If possible, determine if the name is used locally to refer to the area. Is it generally used to refer to the area more than the Townships in which it is located? Is the name used in businesses and/or religious centers within the area? Do businesses use it in their listed address (check websites)? Is the name used in real estate listings for the area?
   3. Schools:
      1. Does the CDP have its own school district?
      2. If there is no school district, is the CDP name used on a school within the CDP?
   4. Is the CDP a place of historical significance, with documented usage of the CDP name to refer to the area?
   5. Does the CDP have its name on official signage in the area (i.e. highway or freeway exit signs, roadside signage of "Entering [CDP]" or "Welcome to [CDP]")
   6. Is there an association or organization associated with promoting the CDP as a destination for travel, shopping, or residence? (i.e. https://canadianlakes.org)

Within CDPs used as primary cities, all segments should have the recognized USPS name as an alternate city (where different from the CDP name).