Sandra discusses how you can often find the street address, neighbours, occupation and other tidbits about householders and employed or retired adults, organizations, and background information.
Directories are a wonderful source to pinpoint an ancestor between census years.
Directories are becoming popular postings on line. Besides listings by streets in cities, they are often cross-referenced by alphabetized listings. Some have editorial thumbnail sketches of industries and businesses. The paid advertisements are delightful glimpses to the products, wares and services, sometimes with prices of the time or photoengravings of products like cast iron stoves. The districts are earlier defined naming directions north, south, east and west by bordering streets.