My text is too big.

[ajkelsey]

This is my first time adding text to a map. After reading the online help, annotation seems to be how I shouljd go about it. I am drawing a small map of a downtown area and I am trying to label the streets. Setting the font size at 6 points still has it way too big for my map. See attached. I would appreciate any tips.

[DanPatterson_Retired]

Rather than adding text in that fashion, try reading the sections on labelling.  With the standard and Maplex options, you have greater flexibility and control

Labeling basics—ArcGIS Pro | ArcGIS Desktop 

[ajkelsey]

Aren't labels associated with a features based on field names? I want to place names on the streets and those are between features. 

[DanPatterson_Retired]

Don't you have a street file that you could label?

[ajkelsey]

No. What is a street file?

[deleted-user-qpvAI3Fo0MKR]

Dan Patterson was asking you if you have a feature class or a shapefile of your streets (AKA Streets file).

IF you do, then perhaps the file would contain a NAME #attribute, which you could #label off of.

[ajkelsey]

I do not. The streets are the negative space between my block polygons. I suppose I could create polygons between those for the labeling. It seems like that may be the solution that I need to use.

[deleted-user-qpvAI3Fo0MKR]

You're making work for yourself...streets data are fairly common  

Start by looking here, and if these are insufficient I'd also suggest looking for your county or municipal data portal. Let us know, please!

[ajkelsey]

I do have road edges from my county, but I didn't like it. It also included building outlines and some other "errors" I didn't care for. So I decided to create my street network by tracing the parcel data. I'm not doing a large area, so adding those additional polygons won't be too much work. But you could very well be right that this isn't the best way to draw my map.  At least I am learning, though. The jpg attached to my original post shows the extent to which I am drawing.

[deleted-user-qpvAI3Fo0MKR · Accepted solution]

I'd still download the necessary TIGER data, then use the labeling manager to label your roads. Change the symbology to transparent. Voila.

Good luck!