Outdoor Activities ...
As we travel, we like to pursue some of our interests (such as astronomy and bird watching).
When in Independence, we use the following websites to find information relevant to Independence and the surrounding area.
- Weather ...
- Before heading outdoors, you should check the weather:
- The National Weather Service forecast for Independence
- Astronomy & Satellites ...
- Whether using binoculars, a small telescope or the naked-eye, the Heavens-Above website can help you to find your way around the night-time sky. In addition to detailed sky charts, their website will help you find planets, asteriods, comets, satellites and their tracks across the sky.
- To give accurate results, Heavens-Above requires the latitude and longitude of your location. As a starting point, when we link to Heavens-Above, we pass this GPS location for Independence:
- 36.625541, -81.151055
- Once you're on the Heavens-Above website, you can improve its accuracy by giving a more precise longitude and latitude as your actual position.
- The Heavens-Above Website, centered on Independence
- Bird Watching ...
- We enjoy finding new spots for bird watching and we use the eBird website for local sighting reports and to help identify hotspots.
- The eBird website is organized on a county-by-county basis. We have selected Grayson County as the starting point when you click on the link below:
- eBird sighting report for Grayson County
- Since Independence is near Alleghany County and also Carroll County, we have provided a link to their eBird sighting reports:
- eBird sighting report for Alleghany County
- eBird sighting report for Carroll County
- Waymarking ...
- Looking for somewhere out of the ordinary? Find a unique place and want to share it with others? Then it's time to visit Waymarking.com:
- Waymark.com
Communities Also Named Independence ...
We found 50 communities that share the name Independence.
Within Virginia, the name Independence is unique.
Beyond Virginia, we know of another 50 communities that are located throughout in the United States.
- Communities Elsewhere In North America ...
- Alabama
- Autauga County
- This Independence is located in Autauga County and lies 423 miles [680.8 km]<1> to the southwest of the Independence that is located in Grayson County.
- For more information, please visit our profile page for the Autauga County community of Independence.
- Arkansas
- Baxter County
- This community is historic<2> and we have very little information. For the information that we do have, please visit our profile page for the Arkansas community of Independence [Baxter County].
- California
- Calaveras County
- This Independence is located in Calaveras County and lies 2,143 miles [3,448.8 km]<1> to the west northwest of the Independence that is located in Grayson County.
- For more information, please visit our profile page for the Calaveras County community of Independence.
- Inyo County
- This Independence is located in Inyo County and lies 2,037 miles [3,278.2 km] to the west northwest of the Independence that is located in Grayson County.
- For more information, please visit our profile page for the Inyo County community of Independence.
- Colorado
- Arapahoe County
- We found mention of this community, but have little information.<3> For the information that we do have, please visit our profile page for the Colorado community of Independence [Arapahoe County].
- Pitkin County
- This community is historic<2> and we have very little information. For the information that we do have, please visit our profile page for the Colorado community of Independence [Pitkin County].
- Teller County
- This community is historic and we have very little information. For the information that we do have, please visit our profile page for the Colorado community of Independence [Teller County].
- Idaho
- Madison County
- This community is historic<2> and we have very little information. For the information that we do have, please visit our profile page for the Idaho community of Independence [Madison County].
- Illinois
- Pike County
- This Independence is located in Pike County and lies 560 miles [901.2 km]<1> to the west northwest of the Independence that is located in Grayson County.
- For more information, please visit our profile page for the Pike County community of Independence.
- Indiana
- Fountain County
- We found mention of this community, but have little information.<3> For the information that we do have, please visit our profile page for the Indiana community of Independence [Fountain County].
- Warren County
- This Independence is located in Warren County and lies 413 miles [664.7 km]<1> to the northwest of the Independence that is located in Grayson County.
- For more information, please visit our profile page for the Warren County community of Independence.
- Iowa
- Buchanan County
- This Independence is located in Buchanan County and lies 699 miles [1,124.9 km]<1> to the northwest of the Independence that is located in Grayson County.
- For more information, please visit our profile page for the Buchanan County community of Independence.
- Kansas
- Montgomery County
- This Independence is located in Montgomery County and lies 804 miles [1,293.9 km]<1> to the west of the Independence that is located in Grayson County.
- For more information, please visit our profile page for the Montgomery County community of Independence.
- Osborne County
- We found mention of this community, but have little information.<3> For the information that we do have, please visit our profile page for the Kansas community of Independence [Osborne County].
- Kentucky
- Kenton County
- This Independence is located in Kenton County and lies 245 miles [394.3 km]<1> to the northwest of the Independence that is located in Grayson County.
- For more information, please visit our profile page for the Kenton County community of Independence.
- Louisiana
- Tangipahoa Parish
- This Independence is located in Tangipahoa Parish and lies 677 miles [1,089.5 km]<1> to the southwest of the Independence that is located in Grayson County.
- For more information, please visit our profile page for the Tangipahoa Parish community of Independence.
- Michigan
- Oakland County
- We found mention of this community, but have little information.<3> For the information that we do have, please visit our profile page for the Michigan community of Independence [Oakland County].
- Minnesota
- Hennepin County
- This Independence is located in Hennepin County and lies 873 miles [1,405 km]<1> to the northwest of the Independence that is located in Grayson County.
- For more information, please visit our profile page for the Hennepin County community of Independence.
- Saint Louis County
- This Independence is located in Saint Louis County and lies 918 miles [1,477.4 km] to the northwest of the Independence that is located in Grayson County.
- For more information, please visit our profile page for the Saint Louis County community of Independence.
- Mississippi
- Scott County
- This Independence is located in Scott County and lies 569 miles [915.7 km]<1> to the west southwest of the Independence that is located in Grayson County.
- For more information, please visit our profile page for the Scott County community of Independence.
- Tate County
- This Independence is located in Tate County and lies 503 miles [809.5 km] to the west southwest of the Independence that is located in Grayson County.
- For more information, please visit our profile page for the Tate County community of Independence.
- Missouri
- Jackson County
- This Independence is located in Jackson County and lies 742 miles [1,194.1 km]<1> to the west northwest of the Independence that is located in Grayson County.
- For more information, please visit our profile page for the Jackson County community of Independence.
- Montana
- Park County
- This community is historic<2> and we have very little information. For the information that we do have, please visit our profile page for the Montana community of Independence [Park County].
- Nevada
- Elko County
- This community is historic<2> and although located in Elko County, we don't know where within the county.
- For more information, please visit our profile page for the Elko County community of Independence.
- New Jersey
- Warren County
- We found mention of this community, but have little information.<3> For the information that we do have, please visit our profile page for the New Jersey community of Independence [Warren County].
- New York
- Allegany County
- This Independence is located in Allegany County and lies 417 miles [671.1 km]<1> to the north northeast of the Independence that is located in Grayson County.
- For more information, please visit our profile page for the Allegany County community of Independence.
- North Dakota
- Dunn County
- This community is historic<2> and we have very little information. For the information that we do have, please visit our profile page for the North Dakota community of Independence [Dunn County].
- LaMoure County
- This Independence is located in LaMoure County and lies 1,103 miles [1,775.1 km]<1> to the northwest of the Independence that is located in Grayson County.
- For more information, please visit our profile page for the LaMoure County community of Independence.
- Ohio
- Cuyahoga County
- This Independence is located in Cuyahoga County and lies 329 miles [529.5 km]<1> to the north of the Independence that is located in Grayson County.
- For more information, please visit our profile page for the Cuyahoga County community of Independence.
- Defiance County
- This Independence is located in Defiance County and lies 364 miles [585.8 km] to the north northwest of the Independence that is located in Grayson County.
- For more information, please visit our profile page for the Defiance County community of Independence.
- Oklahoma
- Custer County
- This Independence is located in Custer County and lies 991 miles [1,594.9 km]<1> to the west of the Independence that is located in Grayson County.
- For more information, please visit our profile page for the Custer County community of Independence.
- Le Flore County
- This Independence is located in Le Flore County and lies 767 miles [1,234.4 km] to the west of the Independence that is located in Grayson County.
- For more information, please visit our profile page for the Le Flore County community of Independence.
- Oregon
- Polk County
- This Independence is located in Polk County and lies 2,244 miles [3,611.4 km]<1> to the west northwest of the Independence that is located in Grayson County.
- For more information, please visit our profile page for the Polk County community of Independence.
- Pennsylvania
- Beaver County
- This Independence is located in Beaver County and lies 276 miles [444.2 km]<1> to the north of the Independence that is located in Grayson County.
- For more information, please visit our profile page for the Beaver County community of Independence.
- Snyder County
- This Independence is located in Snyder County and lies 361 miles [581 km] to the northeast of the Independence that is located in Grayson County.
- For more information, please visit our profile page for the Snyder County community of Independence.
- Washington County
- This Independence is located in Washington County and lies 252 miles [405.6 km] to the north of the Independence that is located in Grayson County.
- For more information, please visit our profile page for the Washington County community of Independence.
- Tennessee
- Hancock County
- This Independence is located in Hancock County and lies 99 miles [159.3 km]<1> to the west of the Independence that is located in Grayson County.
- For more information, please visit our profile page for the Hancock County community of Independence.
- Henderson County
- This Independence is located in Henderson County and lies 418 miles [672.7 km] to the west of the Independence that is located in Grayson County.
- For more information, please visit our profile page for the Henderson County community of Independence.
- Overton County
- This Independence is located in Overton County and lies 230 miles [370.1 km] to the west of the Independence that is located in Grayson County.
- For more information, please visit our profile page for the Overton County community of Independence.
- Texas
- Cherokee County
- This community is historic<2> and although located in Cherokee County, we don't know where within the county.
- For more information, please visit our profile page for the Cherokee County community of Independence.
- Washington County
- This Independence is located in Washington County and lies 975 miles [1,569.1 km]<1> to the west southwest of the Independence that is located in Grayson County.
- For more information, please visit our profile page for the Washington County community of Independence.
- Utah
- Uintah County
- This Independence is located in Uintah County and lies 1,569 miles [2,525.1 km]<1> to the west northwest of the Independence that is located in Grayson County.
- For more information, please visit our profile page for the Uintah County community of Independence.
- Wasatch County
- This Independence is located in Wasatch County and lies 1,639 miles [2,637.7 km] to the west northwest of the Independence that is located in Grayson County.
- For more information, please visit our profile page for the Wasatch County community of Independence.
- Washington
- Lewis County
- We found mention of this community, but have little information.<3> For the information that we do have, please visit our profile page for the Washington community of Independence [Lewis County].
- Thurston County
- This Independence is located in Thurston County and lies 2,245 miles [3,613 km]<1> to the west northwest of the Independence that is located in Grayson County.
- For more information, please visit our profile page for the Thurston County community of Independence.
- West Virginia
- Barbour County
- This Independence is located in Barbour County and lies 182 miles [292.9 km]<1> to the north northeast of the Independence that is located in Grayson County.
- For more information, please visit our profile page for the Barbour County community of Independence.
- Clay County
- This Independence is located in Clay County and lies 116 miles [186.7 km] to the north of the Independence that is located in Grayson County.
- For more information, please visit our profile page for the Clay County community of Independence.
- Jackson County
- This Independence is located in Jackson County and lies 160 miles [257.5 km] to the north of the Independence that is located in Grayson County.
- For more information, please visit our profile page for the Jackson County community of Independence.
- Preston County
- This Independence is located in Preston County and lies 203 miles [326.7 km] to the north northeast of the Independence that is located in Grayson County.
- For more information, please visit our profile page for the Preston County community of Independence.
- Wisconsin
- Trempealeau County
- This Independence is located in Trempealeau County and lies 757 miles [1,218.3 km]<1> to the northwest of the Independence that is located in Grayson County.
- For more information, please visit our profile page for the Trempealeau County community of Independence.
- Alabama
Curious and Interesting Names Near Independence ...
As we travel, we always see a community with a name that gives pause. While there are names which are interesting or familiar, some catch our attention or strike our fancy. We always wonder about such a name. If time permits and the community is not too far, we'll usually try to make a side-trip.
- Carsonville
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Carsonville have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carsonville
- Carsonville is located in Grayson County
- Edwards Crossroads
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Edwards Crossroads have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edwards Crossroads
- Edwards Crossroads is located in Alleghany County (NC)
- Elk Creek
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elk Creek
- Elk Creek is located in Grayson County
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Elk Creek <5>
- Fallville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north) - Fox
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west) - Lower Elk Creek
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Lower Elk Creek have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lower Elk Creek
- Lower Elk Creek is located in Grayson County
- Moore Ferry
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Moore Ferry have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moore Ferry
- Moore Ferry is located in Grayson County
- Peach Bottom
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Peach Bottom have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peach Bottom
- Peach Bottom is located in Grayson County
- Rose Ferry
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Rose Ferry have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rose Ferry
- Rose Ferry is located in Grayson County
- Turkey Fork
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Turkey Fork have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Turkey Fork
- Turkey Fork is located in Grayson County
- Twin Oaks
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
How Far From Independence to ...
We spend a lot of time looking through Gazetteers, Almanacs & Directories that were published in the late 1800's and early 1900's. Many of the Gazetteers include the distance from a town such as Independence to various places of note, such as the White House.
With a nod to our favorite Gazetteers, the straight-line distance beginning in Independence and extending to:
- Richmond, which is the State Capital of Virginia, lies 214 miles [344.4 km]<1> to the east northeast (ENE). If you could drive a straight line from Independence to Richmond, with an average speed<6>of 63 miles [101.4 km] per hour, it would take a little over three hours to make the trip. A comfortable walk of 2.2 miles [3.5 km] per hour would take 13 days. A horse and buggy averaging 3.2 miles [5.1 km] per hour would take 9 days.
- The White House (Washington, DC) is 273 miles [439.4 km] to the northeast (NE). Driving would take four to five hours, a buggy would take 11 days and walking would take 16 days.
- The shortest distance<7> to Jerusalem (specifically the Temple Mount and the Dome of the Rock) is 6,171 miles [9,931.3 km] and it lies to the northeast (NE).<8>
- The distance to the Great Mosque of Mecca (specifically the Ka'bah - or Kaaba ) is 6,876 miles [11,065.8 km] and it lies to the northeast (NE).<9>
- The distance to Saint Peter's Basilica (The Vatican) is 4,753 miles [7,649.2 km] and it lies to the northeast (NE).<10>
Off-the-Road Links ...
The official website for Independence: www.independenceva.com/
The official website for State of Virginia: https://www.virginia.gov/
Footnotes ...
| <1> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' (or point-to-point) distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Independence) to Point B.Our distance measurements begin at a specific point in Independence. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 36.6255, Longitude: -81.1511 In this case, the coordinates for Independence have been provided by the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS). |
| <2> | We use the term 'Historic' broadly and it generally means that the community no longer exists. However, it can also mean that the community might still exist, but was significantly larger or had a more 'official' existence in the past than it does now. Unfortunately our sources of data have proven to be unreliable. If you can provide us with more specific information about Independence, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <3> | If we encounter the name of what might be a community, our methodology is to add that name to our Gazetteer as a placeholder. As we find more information about that community, it will be added to our Gazetteer. Just as a reminder: Our definition of a community is rather broad and includes those places (or areas) where several families lived and had a name which identified that place. For example, you might hear somebody say that they are going over to Rock Creek to see Pete ... Rock Creek is just a gas station and a couple of homes at the crossroads. While it might not be on the map, everybody in the area knows it by that name. Places of interest include buildings at a crossroad, several families clustered in a hollow or maybe the location of a way station. It also includes places like mines, lumber camps, ferry crossings, etc. The community might still exist, is now gone or only existed for just a short period of time. Also keep in mind that Independence could have been on the original document by mistake, misspelled, the original/alternate name of a community that we've listed elsewhere or was placed in the wrong county. Sometimes a post office or train station would have a different name than the community where it's located, so two names might be referring to the same community - we're working to straighten it all out. |
| <4> | The location has been supplied by the Geographic Names Information System - which is maintained by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). While these values should be definitive, we found that accuracy can vary and you should double-check the location if accuracy is required. |
| <5> | While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program. |
| <6> | While we have tried to pick reasonable speeds, the rate of travel is very theoretical - obstacles like fences, hills, lakes, river crossings and rest stops have been ignored. When we say 'Days' of travel, we're assuming 8 hours of travel per day. |
| <7> | The shortest line can be visualized by stretching a string on a Globe from Point A to Point B - this is known as a Great Circle Route. Where you might expect the shortest route from Independence to the Middle East to be East and South, the Great Circle Route actually lies to the North and East. |
| <8> | The calculated bearing (or angle) to Jerusalem is 310.397 degrees. |
| <9> | The calculated bearing (or angle) to Mecca is 305.957 degrees. |
| <10> | The calculated bearing (or angle) to the Vatican is 307.204 degrees. |