ˌɛsˈeɪtʃ sˈɛvənti wˈʌn wʌz ɚɹˈɪdʒɪnəli dˈɛzɪɡnˌeɪɾᵻd ˌɔn ˈɔːɡəst twˈɛnti wˈʌn, nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd twˈɛnti θɹˈiː fɹʌm ˈɔːstɪn tə kəlˈʌmbəs, ɹᵻplˈeɪsɪŋ ˌɛsˈeɪtʃ θɹˈiː dˈiː ænd ðə wˈɛstɚn hˈæf ʌv ˌɛsˈeɪtʃ θɹˈiː ˈeɪ. ˌɔn dʒˈuːn ˈeɪt, nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd twˈɛnti fˈaɪv, ˌɛsˈeɪtʃ sˈɛvənti wˈʌn wʌz ɛkstˈɛndᵻd tə mˈɪdfiːld, ðˌoʊ ðɪs wʌz nˌɑːt ɪfˈɛktɪv ʌntˈɪl nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd twˈɛnti sˈɪks.
SH 71 was originally designated on August 21, 1923 from Austin to Columbus, replacing SH 3D and the western half of SH 3A. On June 8, 1925, SH 71 was extended to Midfield, though this was not effective until 1926.