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Tidbits & Trivia
Introduction ...
Below is our collection of tidbits and odds 'n ends for Downing.
Outdoor Activities ...
As we travel, we like to pursue some of our interests (such as astronomy and bird watching).
When in Downing, we use the following websites to find information relevant to Downing 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 Downing:
- 27.984400, -82.445700<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 Downing
- 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 Downing 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 Downing
Communities Also Named Downing ...
We found sixteen communities that are also named Downing.
Within Florida, the name Downing is unique.
Beyond Florida, we know of sixteen communities that are located in the United States.
- Communities Elsewhere In North America ...
- Alabama
- Downing, Escambia 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 Alabama community of Downing [Escambia County].
- Downing, Montgomery County
- This Downing is located in Montgomery County and lies 357 miles [574.5 km]<3> to the northwest of the Downing that is located in Hillsborough County.
- For more information, please visit our profile page for the Montgomery County community of Downing.
- Colorado
- Downing, Las Animas 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 Colorado community of Downing [Las Animas County].
- Kansas
- Downing, Coffey 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 Kansas community of Downing [Coffey County].
- Downing, Morris County
- This community is historic<4> and we have very little information. For the information that we do have, please visit our profile page for the Kansas community of Downing [Morris County].
- Michigan
- Downing, Sanilac 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 Michigan community of Downing [Sanilac County].
- Downing, Tuscola 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 Michigan community of Downing [Tuscola County].
- Missouri
- Downing, Schuyler County
- This Downing is located in Schuyler County and lies 1,030 miles [1,657.6 km]<3> to the north northwest of the Downing that is located in Hillsborough County.
- For more information, please visit our profile page for the Schuyler County community of Downing.
- New York
- Downing, Montgomery 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 New York community of Downing [Montgomery County].
- North Dakota
- Downing, Richland 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 Dakota community of Downing [Richland County].
- Oregon
- Downing, Columbia County
- This Downing is located in Columbia County and lies 2,527 miles [4,066.8 km]<3> to the northwest of the Downing that is located in Hillsborough County.
- For more information, please visit our profile page for the Columbia County community of Downing.
- Downing, Umatilla County
- This Downing is located in Umatilla County and lies 2,308 miles [3,714.4 km] to the northwest of the Downing that is located in Hillsborough County.
- For more information, please visit our profile page for the Umatilla County community of Downing.
- Texas
- Downing, Comanche County
- This Downing is located in Comanche County and lies 1,001 miles [1,611 km]<3> to the west northwest of the Downing that is located in Hillsborough County.
- For more information, please visit our profile page for the Comanche County community of Downing.
- Virginia
- Downing, Warren County
- This community is historic<4> and we have very little information. For the information that we do have, please visit our profile page for the Virginia community of Downing [Warren County].
- Washington
- Downing, Douglas County
- This Downing is located in Douglas County and lies 2,418 miles [3,891.4 km]<3> to the northwest of the Downing that is located in Hillsborough County.
- For more information, please visit our profile page for the Douglas County community of Downing.
- Wisconsin
- Downing, Dunn County
- This Downing is located in Dunn County and lies 1,292 miles [2,079.3 km]<3> to the north northwest of the Downing that is located in Hillsborough County.
- For more information, please visit our profile page for the Dunn County community of Downing.
Curious and Interesting Names Near Downing ...
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.
- 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 southwest)
- Ben Hur is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ben Hur
- Big Oaks
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- 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 southwest)
- 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 east)
- Bonita is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bonita
- Bonniehaven
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Bonniehaven is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bonniehaven
- Bryans
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Bryans is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bryans
- Buffalo
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Buffalo is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buffalo
- Buffalo Gardens
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Buffalo Gardens is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buffalo Gardens
- Canning
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Canning is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canning
- Catherine City
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Catherine City is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Catherine City
- Central Court
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Central Court is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Central Court
- Continue List (80 more) ...
- Central Village
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Central Village is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Central Village
- Citrus Park
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Citrus Park is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Citrus Park
- Cones
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Cones is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cones
- Crabcake
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Crabcake is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crabcake
- Crest Place
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Crest Place is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crest Place
- Curlin Place
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Curlin Place is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Curlin Place
- Dorothy Park
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Dorothy Park is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dorothy Park
- Edwards
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Edwards is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edwards
- Eldorado
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Eldorado is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eldorado
- Elizabeth
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Elizabeth is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elizabeth
- Emma Heights
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Emma Heights is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emma Heights
- Erin Place
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Erin Place is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Erin Place
- Eureka
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Eureka is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eureka
- Francis
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Francis is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Francis
- Friendship
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Friendship is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Friendship
- Garytown
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Garytown is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garytown
- Geneva
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Geneva is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Geneva
- Georgia Park
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Georgia Park is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Georgia Park
- Glovers
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Glovers is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glovers
- Golden
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Golden is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Golden
- Goodwater
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Goodwater is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goodwater
- Grand View
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- 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
- Grove Hill Heights
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Grove Hill Heights is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grove Hill Heights
- Hazard
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Hazard is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hazard
- Headford
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Headford is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Headford
- Healthy Hill
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Healthy Hill is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Healthy Hill
- Hiawatha Highlands
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Hiawatha Highlands is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hiawatha Highlands
- High Ridge
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- 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 east)
- High School Heights is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for High School Heights
- Highland View
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Highland View is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Highland View
- Homestead
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Homestead is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Homestead
- Ida
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Ida is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ida
- Independence Square
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Independence Square is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Independence Square
- Jensen Place
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Jensen Place is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jensen Place
- La Petite
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- La Petite is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Petite
- 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 southeast)
- Little Cuba is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little Cuba
- Lucky Strike
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Lucky Strike is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lucky Strike
- Lullaby Pines
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Lullaby Pines is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lullaby Pines
- Lyons
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Lyons is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lyons
- Maine Park
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Maine Park is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maine Park
- Manor Heights
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Manor Heights is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Manor Heights
- Marie
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Marie is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marie
- 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 northwest)
- Mattie is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mattie
- Meadowbrook
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Meadowbrook is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meadowbrook
- Mooreland
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- 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
- Murray
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Murray is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Murray
- Nebraska Park
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Nebraska Park is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nebraska Park
- Oak Tree
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Oak Tree is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Tree
- Orange Heights
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Orange Heights is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orange Heights
- Palm
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Palm is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Palm
- Panama
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- 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 southwest)
- Pierce is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pierce
- Pine Level
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Pine Level is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Level
- Piney Woods
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Piney Woods is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Piney Woods
- Prince
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Prince is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prince
- Rainbow Heights
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Rainbow Heights is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rainbow Heights
- Record Grove
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Record Grove is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Record Grove
- River Haven
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- River Haven is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for River Haven
- Rose
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Rose is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rose
- Salmon
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Salmon is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Salmon
- Shadowlawn
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Shadowlawn is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shadowlawn
- Shady Nook
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Shady Nook is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shady Nook
- Silver Moon
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Silver Moon is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Silver Moon
- Sparkman Place
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Sparkman Place is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sparkman Place
- Suburb Royal
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Suburb Royal is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Suburb Royal
- Sunnyside
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Sunnyside is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunnyside
- Tanner Place
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Tanner Place is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tanner Place
- Thrashers
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Thrashers is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thrashers
- Tripoli Place
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Tripoli Place is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tripoli Place
- Unity Circle
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Unity Circle is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Unity Circle
- Vista Bonita
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Vista Bonita is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vista Bonita
- Watch Hill
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Watch Hill is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Watch Hill
- Woodland Terrace
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Woodland Terrace is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodland Terrace
- Zephyr Grove
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Zephyr Grove is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zephyr Grove
- Zion Height
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Zion Height is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zion Height
How Far From Downing 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 included the distance from a community such as Downing to various places of note, such as the White House.
With a nod to our favorite Gazetteers, the straight-line distance beginning in Downing and extending to:
- Tampa, which is the Seat of Hillsborough County, lies just to the South Southwest.
- Tallahassee, which is the State Capital of Florida, lies 202 miles [325.1 km]<3> to the north northwest (NNW). If you could drive a straight line from Downing to Tallahassee, with an average speed<5>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 815 miles [1,311.6 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<6> to Jerusalem (specifically the Temple Mount and the Dome of the Rock) is 6,617 miles [10,649 km] and it lies to the northeast (NE).<7>
- The distance to the Great Mosque of Mecca (specifically the Ka'bah - or Kaaba ) is 7,286 miles [11,725.7 km] and it lies to the northeast (NE).<8>
- The distance to Saint Peter's Basilica (The Vatican) is 5,185 miles [8,344.4 km] and it lies to the northeast (NE).<9>
Footnotes ...
| <1> | GPS Coordinates for Downing:
Decimal: 27.98440, -82.445700
DDMMSS: 27° 59' 3", -82° 26' 44" |
| <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 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 Downing 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> | 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- Downing) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |
| <4> | 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 Downing, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <5> | 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. |
| <6> | 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 Downing 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 Downing. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 27.9844, Longitude: -82.4457 In this case, the coordinates for Downing have been provided by the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS). |
| <7> | The calculated bearing (or angle) to Jerusalem is 310.824 degrees. |
| <8> | The calculated bearing (or angle) to Mecca is 305.225 degrees. |
| <9> | The calculated bearing (or angle) to the Vatican is 309.88 degrees. |
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