RoadsideThoughts
A Gazetteer for the United States and Canada
Home >> State of Florida >> Pinellas County >> Rio Vista >> Tidbits & TriviaIndex...

Outdoor Activities ...

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

When in Rio Vista, we use the following websites to find information relevant to Rio Vista 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 Rio Vista:
    • 27.850025, -82.638987
    • 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 Rio Vista
  • 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 Pinellas County as the starting point when you click on the link below:
    • Open the eBird sighting report for Pinellas County
    • Since Rio Vista is near Hillsborough County and also Manatee County, we have provided a link to their eBird sighting reports:
    • Open the eBird sighting report for Hillsborough County
    • Open the eBird sighting report for Manatee 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 Rio Vista

Communities Also Named Rio Vista ...

We found fourteen communities that are also named Rio Vista.

Within Florida, the name Rio Vista is unique.

Beyond Florida, we know of fourteen communities that are located in the United States.

  • Communities Elsewhere In North America ...
    • Arkansas
      • White County
      • This Rio Vista is located in White County and lies 730 miles [1,174.8 km]<1> to the northwest of the Rio Vista that is located in Pinellas County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the White County community of Rio Vista.
    • California
      • Solano County
      • This Rio Vista is located in Solano County and lies 2,351 miles [3,783.6 km]<1> to the west northwest of the Rio Vista that is located in Pinellas County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Solano County community of Rio Vista.
    • Georgia
      • Chatham County
      • This Rio Vista is located in Chatham County and lies 296 miles [476.4 km]<1> to the north northeast of the Rio Vista that is located in Pinellas County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Chatham County community of Rio Vista.
      • Dougherty County
      • This Rio Vista is located in Dougherty County and lies 271 miles [436.1 km] to the north northwest of the Rio Vista that is located in Pinellas County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Dougherty County community of Rio Vista.
    • Kentucky
      • Harlan County
      • This Rio Vista is located in Harlan County and lies 622 miles [1,001 km]<1> to the north of the Rio Vista that is located in Pinellas County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Harlan County community of Rio Vista.
    • Maryland
      • Talbot County
      • This Rio Vista is located in Talbot County and lies 840 miles [1,351.8 km]<1> to the north northeast of the Rio Vista that is located in Pinellas County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Talbot County community of Rio Vista.
    • Massachusetts
      • Middlesex County
      • This Rio Vista is located in Middlesex County and lies 1,196 miles [1,924.8 km]<1> to the north northeast of the Rio Vista that is located in Pinellas County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Middlesex County community of Rio Vista.
    • Nevada
      • Esmeralda 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 Nevada community of Rio Vista [Esmeralda County].
      • Lyon County
      • This community is historic<3> and although located in Lyon County, we don't know where within the county.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Lyon County community of Rio Vista.
    • Tennessee
      • Blount County
      • This Rio Vista is located in Blount County and lies 554 miles [891.6 km]<1> to the north of the Rio Vista that is located in Pinellas County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Blount County community of Rio Vista.
    • Texas
      • Johnson County
      • This Rio Vista is located in Johnson County and lies 930 miles [1,496.7 km]<1> to the west northwest of the Rio Vista that is located in Pinellas County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Johnson County community of Rio Vista.
    • Utah
      • Weber County
      • This Rio Vista is located in Weber County and lies 1,890 miles [3,041.7 km]<1> to the northwest of the Rio Vista that is located in Pinellas County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Weber County community of Rio Vista.
    • Virginia
      • Henrico 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 Virginia community of Rio Vista [Henrico County].
      • Richmond County
      • This Rio Vista is located in Richmond County and lies 733 miles [1,179.6 km]<1> to the north northeast of the Rio Vista that is located in Pinellas County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Richmond County community of Rio Vista.

Curious and Interesting Names Near Rio Vista ...

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.

  • Ball
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Ball is located in Hillsborough County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ball
  • Carol Shores
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Carol Shores is located in Hillsborough County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carol Shores
  • Crescent Park
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Crescent Park is located in Hillsborough County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crescent Park
  • Cross Bayou
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
    • Cross Bayou is located in Pinellas County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cross Bayou
  • Feather Sound
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Four Corners
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Four Corners is located in Pinellas County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Four Corners
  • Gulfport
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
  • Harbor Shores
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Harbor Shores is located in Hillsborough County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harbor Shores
  • High Point
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • High Point is located in Pinellas County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for High Point
  • Highpoint
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Highpoint is located in Pinellas County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Highpoint
  • Occident
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Occident is located in Hillsborough County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Occident
  • Palm Grove
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Palm Grove is located in Hillsborough County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Palm Grove
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...
    • Rattlesnake
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
      • Rattlesnake is located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rattlesnake
    • Regency Cove
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Regency Cove is located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Regency Cove
    • Robinson Heights
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
      • Robinson Heights is located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Robinson Heights
    • Ronnie Place
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
      • Ronnie Place is located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ronnie Place
    • Skinners
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
      • Skinners is located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Skinners
    • Speedway Place
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
      • Speedway Place is located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Speedway Place
    • Stephanie Way
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Stephanie Way is located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stephanie Way
    • Stoney Point
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Stoney Point is located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stoney Point
    • Sunset
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
      • Sunset is located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunset
    • Sunset Beach
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Sunset Beach is located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunset Beach
    • Sunset Camp
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Sunset Camp is located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunset Camp
    • Sunset Park
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Sunset Park is located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunset Park
    • Temple Square
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
      • Temple Square is located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Temple Square
    • Treasure Park
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
      • Treasure Park is located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Treasure Park
    • Tropical Pines
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
      • Tropical Pines is located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tropical Pines

How Far From Rio Vista 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 Rio Vista to various places of note, such as the White House.

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

  • Clearwater, which is the Seat of Pinellas County, lies 12 miles [19.3 km]<1> to the northwest. If you could walk a straight line from Rio Vista to Clearwater, with an average speed<5> of 2.2 miles [3.5 km] per hour, it would take five to six hours to make the trip. A horse and buggy averaging 3.2 miles [5.1 km] per hour would take nearly four hours.
  • Tallahassee, which is the State Capital of Florida, lies 204 miles [328.3 km] to the north northwest (NNW). Driving, with an average speed of 63 miles [101.4 km] per hour, would take a little over three hours, a buggy would take 8 days and walking would take 12 days.
  • The White House (Washington, DC) is 827 miles [1,330.9 km] to the north northeast (NNE). Driving would take just about two full days, a buggy would take 33 days and walking would take 47 days.
  • The shortest distance<6> to Jerusalem (specifically the Temple Mount and the Dome of the Rock) is 6,632 miles [10,673.2 km] and it lies to the northeast (NE).<7>
  • The distance to the Great Mosque of Mecca (specifically the Ka'bah - or Kaaba ) is 7,301 miles [11,749.8 km] and it lies to the northeast (NE).<8>
  • The distance to Saint Peter's Basilica (The Vatican) is 5,200 miles [8,368.6 km] and it lies to the northeast (NE).<9>'

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- Rio Vista) 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 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 Rio Vista 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 Rio Vista, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<4>While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program.
<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 Rio Vista 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 Rio Vista. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 27.8500, Longitude: -82.6390       In this case, the coordinates for Rio Vista have been provided by the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS).
<7>The calculated bearing (or angle) to Jerusalem is 310.916 degrees.
<8>The calculated bearing (or angle) to Mecca is 305.313 degrees.
<9>The calculated bearing (or angle) to the Vatican is 309.968 degrees.