RoadsideThoughts
A Gazetteer for the United States and Canada
Home >> State of Alabama >> Shelby County >> Woodford >> Tidbits & TriviaIndex...

Outdoor Activities ...

As we travel, we like to pursue some of our interests (such as astronomy and bird watching).

When in Woodford, we use the following websites to find information relevant to Woodford and the surrounding area.

  • Weather ...
  • 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 Woodford:
    • 33.404275, -86.723598
    • 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.
    • Open the Heavens-Above website centered on Woodford
  • 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 Shelby County as the starting point when you click on the link below:
    • Open the eBird sighting report for Shelby County
    • Since Woodford is near Jefferson County and also Blount County, we have provided a link to their eBird sighting reports:
    • Open the eBird sighting report for Jefferson County
    • Open the eBird sighting report for Blount 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:
    • Open the Waymark.com report for Woodford

Communities Also Named Woodford ...

We found sixteen communities that are also named Woodford.

There is one other community in Alabama that is also named Woodford.

Beyond Alabama, we know of fifteen communities that are located in the United States and Canada. Of these fifteen communities, fifteen are located in the United States and one is in Canada.

  • Communities Located In Alabama ...
    • Sumter County
      • This Woodford is located in Sumter County and lies 96 miles [154.5 km]<1> to the southwest of the Woodford that is located in Shelby County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Sumter County community of Woodford.
  • Communities Elsewhere In North America ...
    • California
      • Kern County
      • This Woodford is located in Kern County and lies 1,811 miles [2,914.5 km]<1> to the west northwest of the Woodford that is located in Shelby County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Kern County community of Woodford.
    • Illinois
      • Woodford County
      • This Woodford is located in Woodford County and lies 529 miles [851.3 km]<1> to the north northwest of the Woodford that is located in Shelby County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Woodford County community of Woodford.
    • Maryland
      • Howard County
      • We found mention of this community, but have little information.<2> For the information that we do have, please visit our profile page for the Maryland community of Woodford [Howard County].
    • Missouri
      • Clay County
      • Although located in Clay County, we don't know the location within the county.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Clay County community of Woodford.
    • North Carolina
      • Ashe County
      • This Woodford is located in Ashe County and lies 354 miles [569.7 km]<1> to the northeast of the Woodford that is located in Shelby County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Ashe County community of Woodford.
      • Randolph County
      • We found mention of this community, but have little information.<2> For the information that we do have, please visit our profile page for the North Carolina community of Woodford [Randolph County].
    • Ohio
      • Hamilton County
      • We found mention of this community, but have little information.<2> For the information that we do have, please visit our profile page for the Ohio community of Woodford [Hamilton County].
      • Huron County
      • We found mention of this community, but have little information. For the information that we do have, please visit our profile page for the Ohio community of Woodford [Huron County].
    • Oklahoma
      • Carter County
      • This Woodford is located in Carter County and lies 608 miles [978.5 km]<1> to the west of the Woodford that is located in Shelby County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Carter County community of Woodford.
    • Ontario
      • This Woodford lies 835 miles [1,343.8 km]<1> to the north northeast of the Woodford that is located in Shelby County.
    • South Carolina
      • Orangeburg County
      • This Woodford is located in Orangeburg County and lies 323 miles [519.8 km]<1> to the east of the Woodford that is located in Shelby County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Orangeburg County community of Woodford.
    • Tennessee
      • Montgomery County
      • This community is historic<3> and we have very little information. For the information that we do have, please visit our profile page for the Tennessee community of Woodford [Montgomery County].
    • Vermont
      • Bennington County
      • This Woodford is located in Bennington County and lies 986 miles [1,586.8 km]<1> to the northeast of the Woodford that is located in Shelby County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Bennington County community of Woodford.
    • Virginia
      • Caroline County
      • This Woodford is located in Caroline County and lies 614 miles [988.1 km]<1> to the northeast of the Woodford that is located in Shelby County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Caroline County community of Woodford.
    • Wisconsin
      • Lafayette County
      • This Woodford is located in Lafayette County and lies 660 miles [1,062.2 km]<1> to the north northwest of the Woodford that is located in Shelby County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Lafayette County community of Woodford.

Curious and Interesting Names Near Woodford ...

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.

  • Camp Horne
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
    • Camp Horne is located in Jefferson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Camp Horne
  • Cedar Crest
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
    • Cedar Crest is located in Jefferson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Crest
  • Chestnut Ridge
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
    • Chestnut Ridge is located in Jefferson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chestnut Ridge
  • Coventry
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Coventry is located in Jefferson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coventry
  • Havenview
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
    • Havenview is located in Jefferson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Havenview
  • Heritage Oaks
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
    • Heritage Oaks is located in Shelby County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Heritage Oaks
  • Hickory Ridge
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
    • Hickory Ridge is located in Shelby County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hickory Ridge
  • Hidden Ridge
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Hidden Ridge is located in Jefferson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hidden Ridge
  • Indian Springs Village
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Indian Springs Village is located in Shelby County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indian Springs Village
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,628 people
  • Indian Valley
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Indian Valley is located in Shelby County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indian Valley
  • Ivy Glenn
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Ivy Glenn is located in Jefferson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ivy Glenn
  • Lake Purdy
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Lake Purdy is located in Shelby County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Purdy
  • Continue List   (13 more) ...
    • Longleaf
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Longleaf is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Longleaf
    • Meadow Ridge
      (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
      • Meadow Ridge is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meadow Ridge
    • Meadowbrook
      (Less than 2 miles to the east)
      • Meadowbrook is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meadowbrook
    • Riverwood
      (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
      • Riverwood is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riverwood
    • Rocky Ridge
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
      • Rocky Ridge is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rocky Ridge
    • Shoal Run
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
      • Shoal Run is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shoal Run
    • Sky Ranch
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
      • Sky Ranch is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sky Ranch
    • Sunnymeadows
      (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
      • Sunnymeadows is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunnymeadows
    • Tangle Creek
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Tangle Creek is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tangle Creek
    • Tanglewood
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Tanglewood is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tanglewood
    • Thornhill
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Thornhill is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thornhill
    • Timber Ridge
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Timber Ridge is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Timber Ridge
    • Wine Ridge
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Wine Ridge is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wine Ridge

How Far From Woodford to ...

We spend a lot of time looking through Gazetteers that were published in the late 1800's and early 1900's. Many of the Gazetteers include the distance from a community such as Woodford to various places of note, such as the White House.

With a nod to our favorite Gazetteers, the straight-line distance beginning in Woodford and extending to:

  • Columbiana, which is the Seat of Shelby County, lies 16 miles [25.7 km]<1> to the south southeast. If you could walk a straight line from Woodford to Columbiana, with an average speed<4> of 2.2 miles [3.5 km] per hour, it would take most of a day to make the trip. A horse and buggy averaging 3.2 miles [5.1 km] per hour would take five to six hours.
  • Montgomery, which is the State Capital of Alabama, lies 75 miles [120.7 km] to the south southeast (SSE). Driving, with an average speed of 63 miles [101.4 km] per hour, would take less than two hours, a buggy would take most of three days and walking would take 5 days.
  • The White House (Washington, DC) is 659 miles [1,060.6 km] to the northeast (NE). Driving would take just about two full days, a buggy would take 26 days and walking would take 38 days.
  • The shortest distance<5> to Jerusalem (specifically the Temple Mount and the Dome of the Rock) is 6,553 miles [10,546 km] and it lies to the northeast (NE).<6>
  • The distance to the Great Mosque of Mecca (specifically the Ka'bah - or Kaaba ) is 7,262 miles [11,687.1 km] and it lies to the northeast (NE).<7>
  • The distance to Saint Peter's Basilica (The Vatican) is 5,138 miles [8,268.8 km] and it lies to the northeast (NE).<8>'

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 from Point A (ie- Woodford) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.
<2>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 Mile's to see Pete ... Mile's 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 Woodford 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.
<3>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 Woodford, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<4>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.
<5>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 Woodford to the Middle East to be East and South, the Great Circle Route actually lies to the North and East.Our distance measurements begin at a specific point in Woodford. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 33.4043, Longitude: -86.7236       In this case, the coordinates for Woodford have been provided by the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS).
<6>The calculated bearing (or angle) to Jerusalem is 313.622 degrees.
<7>The calculated bearing (or angle) to Mecca is 309.209 degrees.
<8>The calculated bearing (or angle) to the Vatican is 310.289 degrees.