RoadsideThoughts
A Gazetteer for the United States and Canada
Home >> State of Florida >> Hillsborough County >> Shoals >> Tidbits & TriviaIndex...

Outdoor Activities ...

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

When in Shoals, we use the following websites to find information relevant to Shoals 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 Shoals:
    • 27.860300, -82.272900
    • 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 Shoals
  • 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 Shoals is near Polk County and also Manatee County, we have provided a link to their eBird sighting reports:
    • Open the eBird sighting report for Polk 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 Shoals

Communities Also Named Shoals ...

We found seven communities that are also named Shoals.

Within Florida, the name Shoals is unique.

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

  • Communities Elsewhere In North America ...
    • Delaware
      • Sussex County
      • This Shoals is located in Sussex County and lies 842 miles [1,355.1 km]<1> to the north northeast of the Shoals that is located in Hillsborough County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Sussex County community of Shoals.
    • Georgia
      • Warren 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 Georgia community of Shoals [Warren County].
    • Indiana
      • Martin County
      • This Shoals is located in Martin County and lies 790 miles [1,271.4 km]<1> to the north northwest of the Shoals that is located in Hillsborough County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Martin County community of Shoals.
    • North Carolina
      • Surry County
      • This Shoals is located in Surry County and lies 590 miles [949.5 km]<1> to the north of the Shoals that is located in Hillsborough County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Surry County community of Shoals.
    • Oklahoma
      • Choctaw County
      • This Shoals is located in Choctaw County and lies 881 miles [1,417.8 km]<1> to the west northwest of the Shoals that is located in Hillsborough County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Choctaw County community of Shoals.
    • South Carolina
      • Anderson County
      • This Shoals is located in Anderson County and lies 461 miles [741.9 km]<1> to the north of the Shoals that is located in Hillsborough County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Anderson County community of Shoals.
    • West Virginia
      • Wayne County
      • This Shoals is located in Wayne County and lies 722 miles [1,161.9 km]<1> to the north of the Shoals that is located in Hillsborough County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Wayne County community of Shoals.

Curious and Interesting Names Near Shoals ...

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.

  • Cedar Grove
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
    • Cedar Grove is located in Hillsborough County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Grove
  • Creek View
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Creek View is located in Hillsborough County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Creek View
  • Emerald Creek
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
    • Emerald Creek is located in Hillsborough County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emerald Creek
  • Fishhawk Ranch
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
    • Fishhawk Ranch is located in Hillsborough County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fishhawk Ranch
  • Gallery Gardens
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
    • Gallery Gardens is located in Hillsborough County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gallery Gardens
  • Hickory Creek
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
    • Hickory Creek is located in Hillsborough County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hickory Creek
  • Hickory Highlands
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
    • Hickory Highlands is located in Hillsborough County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hickory Highlands
  • Hickory Ridge
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
    • Hickory Ridge is located in Hillsborough County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hickory Ridge
  • Hickory Woods
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
    • Hickory Woods is located in Hillsborough County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hickory Woods
  • Hidden Forest
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
    • Hidden Forest is located in Hillsborough County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hidden Forest
  • Hunter Place
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
    • Hunter Place is located in Hillsborough County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hunter Place
  • Indian Hills
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
    • Indian Hills is located in Hillsborough County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indian Hills
  • Continue List   (16 more) ...
    • Leonard Woods
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Leonard Woods is located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leonard Woods
    • Lynnhaven
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Lynnhaven is located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lynnhaven
    • Marvinia Hills
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Marvinia Hills is located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marvinia Hills
    • Mason Oaks
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Mason Oaks is located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mason Oaks
    • Mays Greenglades
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
      • Mays Greenglades is located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mays Greenglades
    • Paddock Oaks
      (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
      • Paddock Oaks is located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paddock Oaks
    • Ponderosa
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Ponderosa is located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ponderosa
    • Ridge Dale
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
      • Ridge Dale is located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ridge Dale
    • River Rapids
      (Less than 2 miles to the south)
      • River Rapids is located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for River Rapids
    • Rivers Edge
      (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
      • Rivers Edge is located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rivers Edge
    • Riverwoods Hammock
      (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
      • Riverwoods Hammock is located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riverwoods Hammock
    • Scenic Heights
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Scenic Heights is located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scenic Heights
    • Shadow Ridge
      (Less than 2 miles to the south)
      • Shadow Ridge is located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shadow Ridge
    • Shadow Run
      (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
      • Shadow Run is located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shadow Run
    • Shady Cove
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Shady Cove is located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shady Cove
    • Shady Oaks
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
      • Shady Oaks is located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shady Oaks

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

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

  • Tampa, which is the Seat of Hillsborough County, lies 13 miles [20.9 km]<1> to the northwest. If you could walk a straight line from Shoals to Tampa, with an average speed<3> of 2.2 miles [3.5 km] per hour, it would take 6 hours to make the trip. A horse and buggy averaging 3.2 miles [5.1 km] per hour would take four to five hours.
  • Tallahassee, which is the State Capital of Florida, lies 215 miles [346 km] to the north northwest (NNW). Driving, with an average speed of 63 miles [101.4 km] per hour, would take nearly four hours, a buggy would take 9 days and walking would take 13 days.
  • The White House (Washington, DC) is 819 miles [1,318.1 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<4> to Jerusalem (specifically the Temple Mount and the Dome of the Rock) is 6,614 miles [10,644.2 km] and it lies to the northeast (NE).<5>
  • The distance to the Great Mosque of Mecca (specifically the Ka'bah - or Kaaba ) is 7,282 miles [11,719.2 km] and it lies to the northeast (NE).<6>
  • The distance to Saint Peter's Basilica (The Vatican) is 5,182 miles [8,339.6 km] and it lies to the northeast (NE).<7>'

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- Shoals) 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 Shoals 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>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.
<4>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 Shoals 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 Shoals. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 27.8603, Longitude: -82.2729       In this case, the coordinates for Shoals have been provided by the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS).
<5>The calculated bearing (or angle) to Jerusalem is 310.724 degrees.
<6>The calculated bearing (or angle) to Mecca is 305.092 degrees.
<7>The calculated bearing (or angle) to the Vatican is 309.85 degrees.