Midcentury Street Names Create a 'Mental GPS' in Twin Cities East Metro

In the fast-growing suburb of Lake Elmo, a new housing development recently faced an unusual but important task: choosing a name for its newest street. This wasn’t just about creativity or aesthetics—it had to follow a decades-old naming system that governs how streets are named across Washington County. The rule? Streets in Lake Elmo must start with the letter K. That’s how Knightsbridge Trail came into existence, joining nearby roads like Kokanee, Kirkwood, Kindred, and Kimbro.

This system isn’t unique to Lake Elmo. Across Washington County, many cities have followed a structured approach to street names since the 1960s. The idea was born from practicality—specifically, making navigation easier by aligning street names with a geographic grid based on proximity to the State Capitol and Interstate 94. The result is a kind of “mental GPS,” as Anthony Svoboda, Assistant Fire Chief of Lake Elmo, describes it.

The system assigns letters based on distance from the Capitol. For example, Avenue A starts at the Capitol itself, and each subsequent mile adds another letter. So, Inwood lies eight miles east (Avenue I), Keats is ten miles out (Avenue K), and Manning sits twelve miles away (Avenue M). These avenues run north-south and are labeled “Avenue North” because they’re all located north of Interstate 94.

East-west roadways, meanwhile, are labeled “Street” and numbered according to their distance from the interstate. Tenth Street South is one mile south of I-94, while 30th Street South is three miles away, and so on. This allows residents and emergency responders alike to quickly estimate where an address might be located.

Lake Elmo recently returned to this system after allowing some developers to choose their own street names in recent years. The city's decision to reinstate the original conventions was driven by public safety concerns. Consistent street naming helps first responders locate addresses more efficiently, especially in fast-developing areas like the North Star Homes neighborhood near Lake Elmo Avenue N. and Stillwater Boulevard N.

The system also extends to other designations. Boulevards typically run northeast to southwest, while roads go northwest to southeast. Meandering streets often end in “Trail.” Some exceptions exist, such as Military Road, which has historical significance and doesn’t conform to the system.

Other cities in the county have adapted the system in different ways. Oakdale follows the GHI pattern for street names, meaning many local streets begin with those letters. To avoid running out of options, neighborhoods sometimes reuse names but vary the suffixes—Gresham Avenue, Gresham Place, Gresham Way, and so on. This can confuse even experienced drivers, especially delivery personnel who may find themselves several blocks off course.

Ryan Stuart, a police captain in Oakdale, calls the system “crucial” for law enforcement. Officers can pinpoint locations within a block radius without needing GPS, which is especially helpful for newer recruits who rely heavily on digital navigation tools.

Despite its usefulness, the system remains largely unknown to many longtime residents. Bill Palmquist, mayor of Afton, was surprised to learn that his town’s “P” streets—like Pike, Perrot, and Pennington—were part of the same naming convention. He also noted a persistent issue with 34th Street and Upper 34th Street, both of which are separated by a steep hill. Delivery drivers frequently arrive at the wrong segment of the street, requiring locals to inform them they’re nowhere near the intended location.

What began as a planning tool nearly six decades ago has become a quiet but essential part of life in Washington County. It’s not just about organization—it’s about clarity, safety, and ensuring that as communities grow, people can still find their way home without confusion.