ELi5 – How are street adresses determined / how do they get numbered?

Question

ELi5 – How are street adresses determined / how do they get numbered?

In: 59

Answer 1

Entirely depends on the local regulation in tradition. In some places the numbers are split with odd numbers on one side and even on another, in some they are not. Some places start counting from one specific direction, or intersection with a key street, some count from a point, real or imaginary, some determine direction with logic that applies only to a certain area. Some places number residential and commercial spaces differently even if they are on the same street/building (Florence comes to mind). Names – the same – some towns/cities have regulatory bodies that are tasked with names, some accept whatever developers name their subdivisions, some seek local input etc.