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Tidbits & Trivia
Introduction ...
Below is our collection of tidbits and odds 'n ends for Blakes.
Outdoor Activities ...
As we travel, we like to pursue some of our interests (such as astronomy and bird watching).
When in Blakes, we use the following websites to find information relevant to Blakes and the surrounding area.
- 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 Blakes:
- 27.969800, -82.456100<1>
- 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 Blakes
- 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 Hillsborough County as the starting point when you click on the link below:
- Open the eBird sighting report for Hillsborough County
- Since Blakes is near Pinellas County and also Pasco County, we have provided a link to their eBird sighting reports:
- Open the eBird sighting report for Pinellas County
- Open the eBird sighting report for Pasco 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 Blakes
Communities Also Named Blakes ...
We found six communities that are also named Blakes.
Within Florida, the name Blakes is unique.
Beyond Florida, we know of six communities that are located in the United States.
- Communities Elsewhere In North America ...
- Illinois
- Blakes, La Salle County
- This Blakes is located in La Salle County and lies 996 miles [1,602.9 km]<2> to the north northwest of the Blakes that is located in Hillsborough County.
- For more information, please visit our profile page for the La Salle County community of Blakes.
- Maine
- Blakes, Cumberland 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 Maine community of Blakes [Cumberland County].
- Michigan
- Blakes, Berrien 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 Blakes [Berrien County].
- Pennsylvania
- Blakes, Luzerne 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 Pennsylvania community of Blakes [Luzerne County].
- Blakes, Tioga County
- This Blakes is located in Tioga County and lies 995 miles [1,601.3 km]<2> to the north northeast of the Blakes that is located in Hillsborough County.
- For more information, please visit our profile page for the Tioga County community of Blakes.
- Virginia
- Blakes, Mathews County
- This Blakes is located in Mathews County and lies 746 miles [1,200.6 km]<2> to the north northeast of the Blakes that is located in Hillsborough County.
- For more information, please visit our profile page for the Mathews County community of Blakes.
Curious and Interesting Names Near Blakes ...
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.
- Archer
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Archer is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Archer
- Aurora
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Aurora is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aurora
- Ben Hur
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Ben Hur is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ben Hur
- Big Oaks
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Big Oaks is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Oaks
- Blue Moon Court
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Blue Moon Court is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blue Moon Court
- Bonita
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Bonita is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bonita
- Bonniehaven
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Bonniehaven is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bonniehaven
- Bryans
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Bryans is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bryans
- Buffalo
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Buffalo is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buffalo
- Buffalo Gardens
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Buffalo Gardens is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buffalo Gardens
- Cairo
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Cairo is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cairo
- Canning
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Canning is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canning
- Continue List (58 more) ...
- Central Court
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Central Court is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Central Court
- Citrus Park
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Citrus Park is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Citrus Park
- Cones
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Cones is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cones
- Crabcake
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Crabcake is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crabcake
- Dills
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Dills is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dills
- Dorothy Park
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Dorothy Park is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dorothy Park
- Eldorado
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Eldorado is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eldorado
- Elizabeth
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Elizabeth is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elizabeth
- Emma Heights
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Emma Heights is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emma Heights
- Erin Place
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Erin Place is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Erin Place
- Estuary
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Estuary is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Estuary
- Eureka
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Eureka is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eureka
- Francis
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Francis is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Francis
- Gary
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Gary is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gary
- Garytown
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Garytown is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garytown
- Geneva
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Geneva is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Geneva
- Georgia Park
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Georgia Park is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Georgia Park
- Goodwater
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Goodwater is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goodwater
- Grand View
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Grand View is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grand View
- Grove Heights
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Grove Heights is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grove Heights
- Hazard
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Hazard is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hazard
- Headford
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Headford is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Headford
- High Ridge
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- High Ridge is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for High Ridge
- High School Heights
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- High School Heights is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for High School Heights
- Homestead
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Homestead is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Homestead
- Ida
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Ida is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ida
- Jensen Place
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Jensen Place is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jensen Place
- Lewis Heights
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Lewis Heights is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lewis Heights
- Little Cuba
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Little Cuba is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little Cuba
- Lucky Strike
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Lucky Strike is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lucky Strike
- Lyons
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Lyons is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lyons
- Maine Park
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Maine Park is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maine Park
- Marie Heights
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Marie Heights is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marie Heights
- Mattie
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Mattie is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mattie
- Meadowbrook
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Meadowbrook is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meadowbrook
- Michigan Park
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Michigan Park is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Michigan Park
- Mooreland
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Mooreland is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mooreland
- Mossy Oaks
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Mossy Oaks is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mossy Oaks
- Nebraska Park
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Nebraska Park is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nebraska Park
- Orange Heights
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Orange Heights is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orange Heights
- Panama
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Panama is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Panama
- Peeler Heights
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Peeler Heights is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peeler Heights
- Pierce
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Pierce is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pierce
- Pine Level
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Pine Level is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Level
- Piney Woods
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Piney Woods is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Piney Woods
- Princess Park
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Princess Park is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Princess Park
- Record Grove
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Record Grove is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Record Grove
- River Haven
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- River Haven is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for River Haven
- Riverwoods
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Riverwoods is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riverwoods
- Rose
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Rose is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rose
- Shadowlawn
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Shadowlawn is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shadowlawn
- Silver Moon
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Silver Moon is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Silver Moon
- Sparkman Place
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Sparkman Place is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sparkman Place
- Suburb Royal
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Suburb Royal is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Suburb Royal
- Tanner Place
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Tanner Place is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tanner Place
- Thrashers
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Thrashers is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thrashers
- Watch Hill
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Watch Hill is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Watch Hill
- Woodlawn Park
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Woodlawn Park is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodlawn Park
How Far From Blakes 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 included the distance from a community such as Blakes to various places of note, such as the White House.
With a nod to our favorite Gazetteers, the straight-line distance beginning in Blakes and extending to:
- Tampa, which is the Seat of Hillsborough County, lies just to the South Southeast.
- Tallahassee, which is the State Capital of Florida, lies 202 miles [325.1 km]<2> to the north northwest (NNW). If you could drive a straight line from Blakes to Tallahassee, with an average speed<4>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 12 days. A horse and buggy averaging 3.2 miles [5.1 km] per hour would take 8 days.
- The White House (Washington, DC) is 816 miles [1,313.2 km] to the north northeast (NNE). Driving would take just about two full days, a buggy would take 32 days and walking would take 47 days.
- The shortest distance<5> to Jerusalem (specifically the Temple Mount and the Dome of the Rock) is 6,618 miles [10,650.6 km] and it lies to the northeast (NE).<6>
- The distance to the Great Mosque of Mecca (specifically the Ka'bah - or Kaaba ) is 7,287 miles [11,727.3 km] and it lies to the northeast (NE).<7>
- The distance to Saint Peter's Basilica (The Vatican) is 5,186 miles [8,346.1 km] and it lies to the northeast (NE).<8>
Footnotes ...
| <1> | GPS Coordinates for Blakes:
Decimal: 27.96980, -82.456100
DDMMSS: 27° 58' 11", -82° 27' 21" |
| <2> | 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 drawn from Point A (ie- Blakes) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |
| <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 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 Blakes 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> | 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 Blakes 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 Blakes. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 27.9698, Longitude: -82.4561 In this case, the coordinates for Blakes have been provided by the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS). |
| <6> | The calculated bearing (or angle) to Jerusalem is 310.829 degrees. |
| <7> | The calculated bearing (or angle) to Mecca is 305.228 degrees. |
| <8> | The calculated bearing (or angle) to the Vatican is 309.886 degrees. |
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