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A town sign or city limit sign is a road sign placed at the side of the road or street at the boundary of the territory of a city, town, or village. Town signs may be placed for reading both by drivers entering the town and, in a different format, by those exiting it. Signs give the name of the town in the local official languages, and sometimes in other languages. In some countries, town signs are also an essential part of the traffic law, for example by defining (explicitly or implicitly) the speed limit within the town's territory. In some countries, such as Germany and Austria, signs aren't placed at the exact boundary of a city or town, but rather at the location where the settlement's built-up area (continuous string of buildings/development) begins and ends.
In the United Kingdom, town sign may refer to a prominent, decorative, often carved sign, commemorating the values and history of the town. Synonymous with Village sign; Commonly in the centre of the town.
In much of the United States, there is a similar county sign at the boundary between each county (or independent city not part of one), indicating the county being entered and often the one being left. Even if not done within a given U.S. state, there is also nearly always a welcome sign at the state line on every major highway, and most any other road. The welcome signs on Interstate highways are usually very large and have graphics, and may have an attached text-only sign directing motorists to the welcome center at a rest area. On smaller roads, they are usually more similar to town signs, showing the state and county, often with other signs indicating speed limit, a state law (such as "burn headlights during rain"), and/or a change in time zone.
Gallery
editThe examples and perspective in this article deal primarily with Europe, specifically Central Europe, and do not represent a worldwide view of the subject. (December 2020) |
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Cast aluminium welcome sign for Congleton, UK by Leander Architectural
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Sign in Japan
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Entry sign, Chłopków, Poland
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Sign in the Canadian province of Québec
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Vlotho in the district of Herford, Germany
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Bilingual entry signs in German and Upper Sorbian in Upper Lusatia, Germany
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Bilingual English-Welsh sign with speed limit, Llechryd
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One of Catskill Park's brown and yellow town signs, showing the hamlet of Pine Hill, New York, United States
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Entry sign for Stafford, Texas on FM 1092
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Sign in Turkey
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Sign in South Africa
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Sign in Kazakhstan
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Bilingual entry signs in Beregszász / Berehove / Берегово (Ukraine) - with Cyrillic letters (for Ukrainian), Hungarian letters (for Hungarians) and rovas letters (for 12th-century Magyars)
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Bilingual entry sign in Polish and German in Upper Silesia, Poland
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Bilingual exit sign in Czech and Polish in Trans-Olza, Czech Republic
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Entry sign in Hradiště Military Training Area, Karlovy Vary Region, Czech Republic
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The speed limit of 50 km/h in Bambrugge
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A town area sign (with the speed limit of 40 km/h) in Vimpeli, Finland
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Entry sign in Damwâld, Netherlands
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Entry sign in Zaitseve, Ukraine