RoadsideThoughts
A Gazetteer for the United States and Canada
Home >> State of California >> Los Angeles County >> Sun Valley >> Tidbits & TriviaIndex...

Outdoor Activities ...

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

When in Sun Valley, we use the following websites to find information relevant to Sun Valley 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 Sun Valley:
    • 34.215712, -118.387825
    • 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 Sun Valley
  • 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 Sun Valley ...

We found 28 communities that share the name Sun Valley.

Within California, the name Sun Valley is unique.

Beyond California, we know of another 28 communities that are located throughout in the United States and Canada. Of these 28 communities, 26 are located in the United States and two are in Canada.

  • Communities Elsewhere In North America ...
    • Alabama
      • Jefferson County
      • This Sun Valley is located in Jefferson County and lies 1,808 miles [2,909.7 km]<1> to the east of the Sun Valley that is located in Los Angeles County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Jefferson County community of Sun Valley.
    • Arizona
      • Gila County
      • This Sun Valley is located in Gila County and lies 406 miles [653.4 km]<1> to the east of the Sun Valley that is located in Los Angeles County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Gila County community of Sun Valley.
      • Navajo County
      • This Sun Valley is located in Navajo County and lies 476 miles [766 km] to the east of the Sun Valley that is located in Los Angeles County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Navajo County community of Sun Valley.
    • British Columbia
      • This Sun Valley lies 1,063 miles [1,710.7 km]<1> to the north of the Sun Valley that is located in Los Angeles County.
    • Florida
      • Palm Beach County
      • This Sun Valley is located in Palm Beach County and lies 2,325 miles [3,741.7 km]<1> to the east of the Sun Valley that is located in Los Angeles County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Palm Beach County community of Sun Valley.
    • Georgia
      • Clayton County
      • This Sun Valley is located in Clayton County and lies 1,944 miles [3,128.6 km]<1> to the east of the Sun Valley that is located in Los Angeles County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Clayton County community of Sun Valley.
      • Cobb County
      • This Sun Valley is located in Cobb County and lies 1,929 miles [3,104.4 km] to the east of the Sun Valley that is located in Los Angeles County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Cobb County community of Sun Valley.
      • Fulton County
      • This Sun Valley is located in Fulton County and lies 1,933 miles [3,110.9 km] to the east of the Sun Valley that is located in Los Angeles County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Fulton County community of Sun Valley.
    • Idaho
      • Blaine County
      • This Sun Valley is located in Blaine County and lies 688 miles [1,107.2 km]<1> to the north northeast of the Sun Valley that is located in Los Angeles County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Blaine County community of Sun Valley.
    • Maryland
      • Anne Arundel County
      • This Sun Valley is located in Anne Arundel County and lies 2,319 miles [3,732.1 km]<1> to the east northeast of the Sun Valley that is located in Los Angeles County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Anne Arundel County community of Sun Valley.
      • Carroll County
      • This Sun Valley is located in Carroll County and lies 2,291 miles [3,687 km] to the east northeast of the Sun Valley that is located in Los Angeles County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Carroll County community of Sun Valley.
    • Nevada
      • Washoe County
      • This Sun Valley is located in Washoe County and lies 379 miles [609.9 km]<1> to the north of the Sun Valley that is located in Los Angeles County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Washoe County community of Sun Valley.
    • New Mexico
      • Lincoln County
      • This Sun Valley is located in Lincoln County and lies 730 miles [1,174.8 km]<1> to the east of the Sun Valley that is located in Los Angeles County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Lincoln County community of Sun Valley.
    • North Carolina
      • Nash County
      • This Sun Valley is located in Nash County and lies 2,271 miles [3,654.8 km]<1> to the east northeast of the Sun Valley that is located in Los Angeles County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Nash County community of Sun Valley.
    • Ohio
      • Clark County
      • This Sun Valley is located in Clark County and lies 1,935 miles [3,114.1 km]<1> to the east northeast of the Sun Valley that is located in Los Angeles County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Clark County community of Sun Valley.
      • Franklin 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 Sun Valley [Franklin County].
    • Pennsylvania
      • Monroe County
      • This Sun Valley is located in Monroe County and lies 2,369 miles [3,812.5 km]<1> to the east northeast of the Sun Valley that is located in Los Angeles County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Monroe County community of Sun Valley.
    • Saskatchewan
      • This Sun Valley lies 1,306 miles [2,101.8 km]<1> to the north northeast of the Sun Valley that is located in Los Angeles County.
    • Tennessee
      • Putnam County
      • This Sun Valley is located in Putnam County and lies 1,849 miles [2,975.7 km]<1> to the east northeast of the Sun Valley that is located in Los Angeles County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Putnam County community of Sun Valley.
    • Texas
      • El Paso 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 Texas community of Sun Valley [El Paso County].
      • Harris County
      • This Sun Valley is located in Harris County and lies 1,389 miles [2,235.4 km]<1> to the east of the Sun Valley that is located in Los Angeles County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Harris County community of Sun Valley.
      • Hidalgo County
      • This Sun Valley is located in Hidalgo County and lies 1,318 miles [2,121.1 km] to the east southeast of the Sun Valley that is located in Los Angeles County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Hidalgo County community of Sun Valley.
      • Lamar County
      • This Sun Valley is located in Lamar County and lies 1,312 miles [2,111.5 km] to the east of the Sun Valley that is located in Los Angeles County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Lamar County community of Sun Valley.
    • Virginia
      • Fairfax County
      • This Sun Valley is located in Fairfax County and lies 2,282 miles [3,672.5 km]<1> to the east northeast of the Sun Valley that is located in Los Angeles County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Fairfax County community of Sun Valley.
      • Roanoke County
      • This Sun Valley is located in Roanoke County and lies 2,149 miles [3,458.5 km] to the east northeast of the Sun Valley that is located in Los Angeles County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Roanoke County community of Sun Valley.
    • West Virginia
      • Hancock County
      • This Sun Valley is located in Hancock County and lies 2,103 miles [3,384.5 km]<1> to the east northeast of the Sun Valley that is located in Los Angeles County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Hancock County community of Sun Valley.
      • Harrison County
      • This Sun Valley is located in Harrison County and lies 2,112 miles [3,398.9 km] to the east northeast of the Sun Valley that is located in Los Angeles County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Harrison County community of Sun Valley.
      • Kanawha County
      • This Sun Valley is located in Kanawha County and lies 2,041 miles [3,284.7 km] to the east northeast of the Sun Valley that is located in Los Angeles County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Kanawha County community of Sun Valley.

Curious and Interesting Names Near Sun Valley ...

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.

  • Kagel Canyon
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Kagel Canyon have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kagel Canyon
    • Kagel Canyon is located in Los Angeles County
  • Magnolia Park
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Magnolia Park have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Magnolia Park
    • Magnolia Park is located in Los Angeles County
  • Mission Hills
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
  • Shadow Hills
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Shadow Hills have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shadow Hills
    • Shadow Hills is located in Los Angeles County
  • Studio City
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Universal City
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Valley Village
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
  • Wahoo ‑ Historic
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Wahoo have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wahoo
    • Wahoo is located in Los Angeles County

How Far From Sun Valley 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 community such as Sun Valley to various places of note, such as the White House.

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

  • Los Angeles, which is the Seat of Los Angeles County, lies 14 miles [22.5 km]<1> to the south southeast. If you could walk a straight line from Sun Valley to Los Angeles, 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 four to five hours.
  • Sacramento, which is the State Capital of California, lies 347 miles [558.4 km] to the north northwest (NNW). Driving, with an average speed of 63 miles [101.4 km] per hour, would take five to six hours, a buggy would take 14 days and walking would take 20 days.
  • The White House (Washington, DC) is 2,296 miles [3,695.1 km] to the east northeast (ENE). Driving would take 5 days, a buggy would take 90 days and walking would take 131 days.
  • The shortest distance<5> to Jerusalem (specifically the Temple Mount and the Dome of the Rock) is 7,560 miles [12,166.6 km] and it lies to the north northeast (NNE).<6>
  • The distance to the Great Mosque of Mecca (specifically the Ka'bah - or Kaaba ) is 8,329 miles [13,404.2 km] and it lies to the north northeast (NNE).<7>
  • The distance to Saint Peter's Basilica (The Vatican) is 6,321 miles [10,172.7 km] and it lies to the north northeast (NNE).<8>

Footnotes ...

<1>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a '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- Sun Valley) to Point B.Our distance measurements begin at a specific point in Sun Valley. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 34.2157, Longitude: -118.3878    
<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 Sun Valley 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>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.
<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 Sun Valley to the Middle East to be East and South, the Great Circle Route actually lies to the North and East.
<6>The calculated bearing (or angle) to Jerusalem is 336.382 degrees.
<7>The calculated bearing (or angle) to Mecca is 336.328 degrees.
<8>The calculated bearing (or angle) to the Vatican is 325.718 degrees.