RoadsideThoughts
A Gazetteer for the United States and Canada
Home >> State of Iowa >> Lucas County >> Oakley >> Tidbits & TriviaIndex...

Outdoor Activities ...

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

When in Oakley, we use the following websites to find information relevant to Oakley 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 Oakley:
    • 41.101109, -93.365211
    • 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 Oakley
  • 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 Lucas County as the starting point when you click on the link below:
    • Open the eBird sighting report for Lucas County
    • Since Oakley is near Marion County and also Warren County, we have provided a link to their eBird sighting reports:
    • Open the eBird sighting report for Marion County
    • Open the eBird sighting report for Warren 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 Oakley

Communities Also Named Oakley ...

We found 30 communities that are also named Oakley.

Within Iowa, the name Oakley is unique.

Beyond Iowa, we know of 30 communities that are located in the United States.

  • Communities Elsewhere In North America ...
    • Alabama
      • Bibb County
      • This Oakley is located in Bibb County and lies 663 miles [1,067 km]<1> to the southeast of the Oakley that is located in Lucas County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Bibb County community of Oakley.
    • California
      • Contra Costa County
      • This Oakley is located in Contra Costa County and lies 1,517 miles [2,441.4 km]<1> to the west of the Oakley that is located in Lucas County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Contra Costa County community of Oakley.
    • Delaware
      • Sussex County
      • This Oakley is located in Sussex County and lies 957 miles [1,540.1 km]<1> to the east of the Oakley that is located in Lucas County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Sussex County community of Oakley.
    • Idaho
      • Cassia County
      • This Oakley is located in Cassia County and lies 1,058 miles [1,702.7 km]<1> to the west northwest of the Oakley that is located in Lucas County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Cassia County community of Oakley.
    • Illinois
      • Macon County
      • This Oakley is located in Macon County and lies 253 miles [407.2 km]<1> to the east southeast of the Oakley that is located in Lucas County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Macon County community of Oakley.
    • Indiana
      • Hendricks 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 Indiana community of Oakley [Hendricks County].
      • Miami County
      • This Oakley is located in Miami County and lies 384 miles [618 km]<1> to the east of the Oakley that is located in Lucas County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Miami County community of Oakley.
    • Kansas
      • Logan County
      • This Oakley is located in Logan County and lies 418 miles [672.7 km]<1> to the west southwest of the Oakley that is located in Lucas County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Logan County community of Oakley.
    • Kentucky
      • Laurel County
      • This Oakley is located in Laurel County and lies 562 miles [904.5 km]<1> to the east southeast of the Oakley that is located in Lucas County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Laurel County community of Oakley.
    • Louisiana
      • Assumption Parish
      • This Oakley is located in Assumption Parish and lies 786 miles [1,264.9 km]<1> to the south of the Oakley that is located in Lucas County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Assumption Parish community of Oakley.
      • Franklin Parish
      • This Oakley is located in Franklin Parish and lies 635 miles [1,021.9 km] to the south of the Oakley that is located in Lucas County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Franklin Parish community of Oakley.
      • Iberville Parish
      • This Oakley is located in Iberville Parish and lies 758 miles [1,219.9 km] to the south of the Oakley that is located in Lucas County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Iberville Parish community of Oakley.
    • Maryland
      • Saint Mary's County
      • This Oakley is located in Saint Mary's County and lies 903 miles [1,453.2 km]<1> to the east of the Oakley that is located in Lucas County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Saint Mary's County community of Oakley.
    • Michigan
      • Saginaw County
      • This Oakley is located in Saginaw County and lies 491 miles [790.2 km]<1> to the east northeast of the Oakley that is located in Lucas County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Saginaw County community of Oakley.
    • Mississippi
      • Hinds County
      • This Oakley is located in Hinds County and lies 633 miles [1,018.7 km]<1> to the south southeast of the Oakley that is located in Lucas County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Hinds County community of Oakley.
    • Missouri
      • Reynolds County
      • This Oakley is located in Reynolds County and lies 301 miles [484.4 km]<1> to the south southeast of the Oakley that is located in Lucas County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Reynolds County community of Oakley.
    • North Carolina
      • Buncombe County
      • This Oakley is located in Buncombe County and lies 700 miles [1,126.5 km]<1> to the east southeast of the Oakley that is located in Lucas County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Buncombe County community of Oakley.
      • Pitt County
      • This Oakley is located in Pitt County and lies 942 miles [1,516 km] to the east southeast of the Oakley that is located in Lucas County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Pitt County community of Oakley.
    • Ohio
      • Hamilton County
      • This Oakley is located in Hamilton County and lies 490 miles [788.6 km]<1> to the east southeast of the Oakley that is located in Lucas County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Hamilton County community of Oakley.
    • Oregon
      • Harney 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 Oregon community of Oakley [Harney County].
    • Pennsylvania
      • Susquehanna County
      • This Oakley is located in Susquehanna County and lies 911 miles [1,466.1 km]<1> to the east of the Oakley that is located in Lucas County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Susquehanna County community of Oakley.
    • South Carolina
      • Berkeley County
      • This Oakley is located in Berkeley County and lies 916 miles [1,474.2 km]<1> to the east southeast of the Oakley that is located in Lucas County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Berkeley County community of Oakley.
    • Tennessee
      • Overton County
      • This Oakley is located in Overton County and lies 536 miles [862.6 km]<1> to the southeast of the Oakley that is located in Lucas County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Overton County community of Oakley.
    • Utah
      • Salt Lake County
      • This Oakley is located in Salt Lake County and lies 966 miles [1,554.6 km]<1> to the west of the Oakley that is located in Lucas County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Salt Lake County community of Oakley.
      • Summit County
      • This Oakley is located in Summit County and lies 934 miles [1,503.1 km] to the west of the Oakley that is located in Lucas County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Summit County community of Oakley.
    • Virginia
      • Essex County
      • This Oakley is located in Essex County and lies 913 miles [1,469.3 km]<1> to the east of the Oakley that is located in Lucas County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Essex County community of Oakley.
      • Mecklenburg 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 Oakley [Mecklenburg County].
      • Roanoke 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 Virginia community of Oakley [Roanoke County].
    • Wisconsin
      • Green County
      • This Oakley is located in Green County and lies 223 miles [358.9 km]<1> to the east northeast of the Oakley that is located in Lucas County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Green County community of Oakley.
    • Wyoming
      • Lincoln County
      • This Oakley is located in Lincoln County and lies 888 miles [1,429.1 km]<1> to the west of the Oakley that is located in Lucas County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Lincoln County community of Oakley.

Curious and Interesting Names Near Oakley ...

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.

  • Cloud
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Cloud is located in Marion County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cloud
  • Cool
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Cool is located in Warren County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cool
  • Derby
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
    • Derby is located in Lucas County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Derby
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 111 people
  • Jay
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
    • Jay is located in Clarke County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jay
  • Last Chance
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Last Chance is located in Lucas County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Last Chance
  • Liberty
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
    • Liberty is located in Clarke County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liberty
  • Liberty Center
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Liberty Center is located in Warren County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liberty Center
  • Lucas
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Lucas is located in Lucas County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lucas
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 207 people
  • Purdy
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Purdy is located in Lucas County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Purdy
  • Zero
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Zero is located in Lucas County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zero

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

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

  • Chariton, which is the Seat of Lucas County, lies just to the South Southeast.
  • Des Moines, which is the State Capital of Iowa, lies 36 miles [57.9 km]<1> to the north northwest (NNW). If you could walk a straight line from Oakley to Des Moines, with an average speed<3> of 2.2 miles [3.5 km] per hour, it would take over two days to make the trip. A horse and buggy averaging 3.2 miles [5.1 km] per hour would take just about two full days.
  • The White House (Washington, DC) is 875 miles [1,408.2 km] to the east (E). Driving, with an average speed of 63 miles [101.4 km] per hour, would take most of two days, a buggy would take 35 days and walking would take 50 days.
  • The shortest distance<4> to Jerusalem (specifically the Temple Mount and the Dome of the Rock) is 6,426 miles [10,341.6 km] and it lies to the northeast (NE).<5>
  • The distance to the Great Mosque of Mecca (specifically the Ka'bah - or Kaaba ) is 7,173 miles [11,543.8 km] and it lies to the northeast (NE).<6>
  • The distance to Saint Peter's Basilica (The Vatican) is 5,066 miles [8,152.9 km] and it lies to the northeast (NE).<7>'

Footnotes ...

<1>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Oakley) 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 Bird Creek to see Pete ... Bird 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 Oakley 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 Oakley 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 Oakley. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 41.1011, Longitude: -93.3652       In this case, the coordinates for Oakley have been provided by the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS).
<5>The calculated bearing (or angle) to Jerusalem is 318.294 degrees.
<6>The calculated bearing (or angle) to Mecca is 315.642 degrees.
<7>The calculated bearing (or angle) to the Vatican is 311.639 degrees.