RoadsideThoughts
A Gazetteer for the United States and Canada
Home >> State of Iowa >> Des Moines County >> Garland >> Tidbits & TriviaIndex...

Outdoor Activities ...

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

When in Garland, we use the following websites to find information relevant to Garland 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 Garland:
    • 41.059200, -91.217650
    • 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 Garland
  • 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 Des Moines County as the starting point when you click on the link below:
    • Open the eBird sighting report for Des Moines County
    • Since Garland is near Louisa County and also Henry County, we have provided a link to their eBird sighting reports:
    • Open the eBird sighting report for Louisa County
    • Open the eBird sighting report for Henry 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 Garland

Communities Also Named Garland ...

We found 32 communities that are also named Garland.

Within Iowa, the name Garland is unique.

Beyond Iowa, we know of 32 communities that are located in the United States and Canada. Of these 32 communities, 30 are located in the United States and two are in Canada.

  • Communities Elsewhere In North America ...
    • Alabama
      • Butler County
      • This Garland is located in Butler County and lies 699 miles [1,124.9 km]<1> to the south southeast of the Garland that is located in Des Moines County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Butler County community of Garland.
    • Arizona
      • Yavapai 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 Arizona community of Garland [Yavapai County].
    • Arkansas
      • Miller County
      • This Garland is located in Miller County and lies 548 miles [881.9 km]<1> to the south southwest of the Garland that is located in Des Moines County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Miller County community of Garland.
    • Georgia
      • Hall County
      • This community is historic<3> and although located in Hall County, we don't know where within the county.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Hall County community of Garland.
      • Lumpkin County
      • This Garland is located in Lumpkin County and lies 602 miles [968.8 km]<1> to the southeast of the Garland that is located in Des Moines County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Lumpkin County community of Garland.
    • Illinois
      • Edgar County
      • This Garland is located in Edgar County and lies 201 miles [323.5 km]<1> to the east southeast of the Garland that is located in Des Moines County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Edgar County community of Garland.
    • Kansas
      • Bourbon County
      • This Garland is located in Bourbon County and lies 292 miles [469.9 km]<1> to the southwest of the Garland that is located in Des Moines County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Bourbon County community of Garland.
    • Louisiana
      • Saint Landry Parish
      • This Garland is located in Saint Landry Parish and lies 715 miles [1,150.7 km]<1> to the south of the Garland that is located in Des Moines County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Saint Landry Parish community of Garland.
    • Maine
      • Penobscot County
      • This Garland is located in Penobscot County and lies 1,142 miles [1,837.9 km]<1> to the east northeast of the Garland that is located in Des Moines County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Penobscot County community of Garland.
    • Manitoba
      • This Garland lies 851 miles [1,369.6 km]<1> to the north northwest of the Garland that is located in Des Moines County.
    • Maryland
      • Anne Arundel County
      • This Garland is located in Anne Arundel County and lies 779 miles [1,253.7 km]<1> to the east of the Garland that is located in Des Moines County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Anne Arundel County community of Garland.
      • Harford County
      • This Garland is located in Harford County and lies 797 miles [1,282.6 km] to the east of the Garland that is located in Des Moines County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Harford County community of Garland.
    • Missouri
      • Henry County
      • This Garland is located in Henry County and lies 228 miles [366.9 km]<1> to the southwest of the Garland that is located in Des Moines County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Henry County community of Garland.
    • Montana
      • Custer County
      • This Garland is located in Custer County and lies 811 miles [1,305.2 km]<1> to the west northwest of the Garland that is located in Des Moines County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Custer County community of Garland.
    • Nebraska
      • Seward County
      • This Garland is located in Seward County and lies 300 miles [482.8 km]<1> to the west of the Garland that is located in Des Moines County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Seward County community of Garland.
    • New York
      • Monroe County
      • This Garland is located in Monroe County and lies 697 miles [1,121.7 km]<1> to the east northeast of the Garland that is located in Des Moines County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Monroe County community of Garland.
    • North Carolina
      • Sampson County
      • This Garland is located in Sampson County and lies 820 miles [1,319.7 km]<1> to the east southeast of the Garland that is located in Des Moines County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Sampson County community of Garland.
    • Nova Scotia
      • This Garland lies 1,356 miles [2,182.3 km]<1> to the east northeast of the Garland that is located in Des Moines County.
    • Ohio
      • Miami County
      • This Garland is located in Miami County and lies 367 miles [590.6 km]<1> to the east of the Garland that is located in Des Moines County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Miami County community of Garland.
    • Oklahoma
      • Haskell County
      • This Garland is located in Haskell County and lies 447 miles [719.4 km]<1> to the south southwest of the Garland that is located in Des Moines County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Haskell County community of Garland.
    • Pennsylvania
      • Warren County
      • This Garland is located in Warren County and lies 611 miles [983.3 km]<1> to the east of the Garland that is located in Des Moines County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Warren County community of Garland.
    • South Dakota
      • Union 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 South Dakota community of Garland [Union County].
    • Tennessee
      • Campbell 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 Tennessee community of Garland [Campbell County].
      • Knox County
      • This Garland is located in Knox County and lies 525 miles [844.9 km]<1> to the southeast of the Garland that is located in Des Moines County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Knox County community of Garland.
      • Tipton County
      • This Garland is located in Tipton County and lies 386 miles [621.2 km] to the south southeast of the Garland that is located in Des Moines County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Tipton County community of Garland.
    • Texas
      • Bowie County
      • This Garland is located in Bowie County and lies 554 miles [891.6 km]<1> to the south southwest of the Garland that is located in Des Moines County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Bowie County community of Garland.
      • Dallas County
      • This Garland is located in Dallas County and lies 636 miles [1,023.5 km] to the south southwest of the Garland that is located in Des Moines County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Dallas County community of Garland.
    • Utah
      • Box Elder County
      • This Garland is located in Box Elder County and lies 1,083 miles [1,742.9 km]<1> to the west of the Garland that is located in Des Moines County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Box Elder County community of Garland.
    • Washington
      • Spokane 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 Washington community of Garland [Spokane County].
    • West Virginia
      • Barbour 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 West Virginia community of Garland [Barbour County].
      • McDowell County
      • This Garland is located in McDowell County and lies 563 miles [906.1 km]<1> to the east southeast of the Garland that is located in Des Moines County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the McDowell County community of Garland.
    • Wyoming
      • Park County
      • This Garland is located in Park County and lies 916 miles [1,474.2 km]<1> to the west northwest of the Garland that is located in Des Moines County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Park County community of Garland.

Curious and Interesting Names Near Garland ...

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.

  • Bard
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
    • Bard is located in Louisa County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bard
  • Beaverdale
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
    • Beaverdale is located in Des Moines County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaverdale
  • Cairo
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Cairo is located in Louisa County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cairo
  • Danville
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
    • Danville is located in Des Moines County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Danville
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 896 people
  • Dodgeville
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
    • Dodgeville is located in Des Moines County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dodgeville
  • Grandview
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
    • Grandview is located in Louisa County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grandview
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 519 people
  • Keithsburg
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
  • Marsh
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • Marsh is located in Louisa County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marsh
  • Mediapolis
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Pleasant Grove
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Pleasant Grove is located in Des Moines County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Grove
  • Prairie Grove
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
    • Prairie Grove is located in Des Moines County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairie Grove

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

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

  • Burlington, which is the Seat of Des Moines County, lies 18 miles [29 km]<1> to the south southeast. If you could walk a straight line from Garland to Burlington, with an average speed<5> of 2.2 miles [3.5 km] per hour, it would take just over a day to make the trip. A horse and buggy averaging 3.2 miles [5.1 km] per hour would take five to six hours.
  • Des Moines, which is the State Capital of Iowa, lies 129 miles [207.6 km] to the west northwest (WNW). Driving, with an average speed of 63 miles [101.4 km] per hour, would take less than three hours, a buggy would take 5 days and walking would take 8 days.
  • The White House (Washington, DC) is 764 miles [1,229.5 km] to the east (E). Driving would take just about two full days, a buggy would take 30 days and walking would take 44 days.
  • The shortest distance<6> to Jerusalem (specifically the Temple Mount and the Dome of the Rock) is 6,352 miles [10,222.6 km] and it lies to the northeast (NE).<7>
  • The distance to the Great Mosque of Mecca (specifically the Ka'bah - or Kaaba ) is 7,096 miles [11,419.9 km] and it lies to the northeast (NE).<8>
  • The distance to Saint Peter's Basilica (The Vatican) is 4,984 miles [8,021 km] and it lies to the northeast (NE).<9>'

Footnotes ...

<1>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Garland) 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 Garland 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 Garland, 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 Garland 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 Garland. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 41.0592, Longitude: -91.2177       In this case, the coordinates for Garland have been provided by the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS).
<7>The calculated bearing (or angle) to Jerusalem is 316.828 degrees.
<8>The calculated bearing (or angle) to Mecca is 313.954 degrees.
<9>The calculated bearing (or angle) to the Vatican is 310.567 degrees.