Ok...I lived in Ohio for 5 years (in Columbus though not in some middle of nowhere town)
But for example say I lived on 8th Avenue. And my address was 574 8th Ave. How the hell do I know where on 8th Ave 574 is? I don't I have to just find 8th Ave and then look at the addresses and follow along until the number comes.
Here, if I live on 8th Avenue the address would be something like this. 172-04 8th Avenue. This tells me EXACTLY where it is. It is on 8th avenue on the corner of 172nd street (the first part of the address) So I know the two cross streets and I know the exact block where the house is!
Every house on the block (there are probably 10 or so on each side of the street) is distinguished by the 2nd part of the address. So 172-04 Would be one fo the first houses on the right side (even on right odd on left) 172-03 would be one of the first houses on the left side....then the addresses go up until the next street (say 173rd). Then the addresses would be 173-xx 8th Ave... again you'd know right where they are because it tells you the cross street!
Obviously if you live on a farm, or live in some extremely rural enviornment with 1 block in between houses, a general store and 1 traffic light (
) or something, this is unecessary, as it becomes fairly obvious