U.S. Route 13 - History

History

The original 1925 U.S. highway plan, which never came to fruition, had provision for a U.S. Route 13 in North Carolina. It would have started in Wilmington and run at least as far north as Elizabeth City, following what would become US 17. Although US 13 was signed in most northern states by the late 1920s, it would not reach North Carolina until the early 1950s.

The route was proposed as one of the first four-laned highways in the United States of America to Pierre S. du Pont by John J. Raskob so as to run from Wilmington, Delaware to the State Capital, Dover. Du Pont wanted a two-laned highway—which were standard at the time, but Raskob suggested, with the growth and development of Northern Delaware, there will be a future need for a four-laned one. Du Pont agreed and, to honor Raskob for his insight, sought to name the route after him. However, Raskob declined. Du Pont checked with the U.S. registry of highways to see if any routes were named "13" and so named "Route 13" after the number of children John Raskob had. What was considered an "unlucky" number by most, instead honors the man whose idea for this route being four-laned from its very beginning.