RoadsideThoughts
A Gazetteer for the United States and Canada
Home >> State of Illinois >> Cook County >> Essex >> Tidbits & TriviaIndex...

Outdoor Activities ...

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

When in Essex, we use the following websites to find information relevant to Essex 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 Essex:
    • 41.762257, -87.590048
    • 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 Essex
  • 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 Cook County as the starting point when you click on the link below:
    • Open the eBird sighting report for Cook County
    • Since Essex is near Lake County and also DuPage County, we have provided a link to their eBird sighting reports:
    • Open the eBird sighting report for Lake County
    • Open the eBird sighting report for DuPage 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 Essex

Communities Also Named Essex ...

We found 32 communities that are also named Essex.

There are two communities within Illinois that are also named Essex.

Beyond Illinois, we know of 30 communities that are located in the United States and Canada. Of these 30 communities, 31 are located in the United States and one is in Canada.

  • Communities Located In Illinois ...
    • Kankakee County
      • This Essex is located in Kankakee County and lies 50 miles [80.5 km]<1> to the southwest of the Essex that is located in Cook County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Kankakee County community of Essex.
    • Will County
      • This Essex is located in Will County and lies 32 miles [51.5 km]<1> to the west southwest of the Essex that is located in Cook County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Will County community of Essex.
  • Communities Elsewhere In North America ...
    • Arkansas
      • White County
      • This community is historic<2> and we have very little information. For the information that we do have, please visit our profile page for the Arkansas community of Essex [White County].
    • California
      • Humboldt County
      • This Essex is located in Humboldt County and lies 1,876 miles [3,019.1 km]<1> to the west of the Essex that is located in Cook County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Humboldt County community of Essex.
      • Nevada County
      • We found mention of this community, but have little information.<3> For the information that we do have, please visit our profile page for the California community of Essex [Nevada County].
      • San Bernardino County
      • This Essex is located in San Bernardino County and lies 1,568 miles [2,523.5 km] to the west of the Essex that is located in Cook County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the San Bernardino County community of Essex.
    • Connecticut
      • Middlesex County
      • This Essex is located in Middlesex County and lies 784 miles [1,261.7 km]<1> to the east of the Essex that is located in Cook County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Middlesex County community of Essex.
    • Georgia
      • Oconee County
      • This Essex is located in Oconee County and lies 596 miles [959.2 km]<1> to the south southeast of the Essex that is located in Cook County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Oconee County community of Essex.
    • Iowa
      • Page County
      • This Essex is located in Page County and lies 405 miles [651.8 km]<1> to the west of the Essex that is located in Cook County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Page County community of Essex.
    • Kansas
      • Finney County
      • We found mention of this community, but have little information.<3> For the information that we do have, please visit our profile page for the Kansas community of Essex [Finney County].
      • Shawnee 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 Kansas community of Essex [Shawnee County].
    • Maryland
      • Baltimore County
      • This Essex is located in Baltimore County and lies 606 miles [975.3 km]<1> to the east southeast of the Essex that is located in Cook County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Baltimore County community of Essex.
    • Massachusetts
      • Essex County
      • This Essex is located in Essex County and lies 860 miles [1,384 km]<1> to the east of the Essex that is located in Cook County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Essex County community of Essex.
      • Suffolk County
      • We found mention of this community, but have little information.<3> For the information that we do have, please visit our profile page for the Massachusetts community of Essex [Suffolk County].
    • Michigan
      • Antrim County
      • We found mention of this community, but have little information.<3> For the information that we do have, please visit our profile page for the Michigan community of Essex [Antrim County].
    • Minnesota
      • Otter Tail County
      • We found mention of this community, but have little information.<3> For the information that we do have, please visit our profile page for the Minnesota community of Essex [Otter Tail County].
    • Mississippi
      • Quitman County
      • This Essex is located in Quitman County and lies 533 miles [857.8 km]<1> to the south southwest of the Essex that is located in Cook County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Quitman County community of Essex.
    • Missouri
      • Stoddard County
      • This Essex is located in Stoddard County and lies 362 miles [582.6 km]<1> to the south southwest of the Essex that is located in Cook County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Stoddard County community of Essex.
    • Montana
      • Flathead County
      • This Essex is located in Flathead County and lies 1,339 miles [2,154.9 km]<1> to the west northwest of the Essex that is located in Cook County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Flathead County community of Essex.
    • Nevada
      • Washoe County
      • This community is historic<2> and although located in Washoe County, we don't know where within the county.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Washoe County community of Essex.
    • New Jersey
      • Essex County
      • We found mention of this community, but have little information.<3> For the information that we do have, please visit our profile page for the New Jersey community of Essex [Essex County].
    • New York
      • Essex County
      • This Essex is located in Essex County and lies 738 miles [1,187.7 km]<1> to the east northeast of the Essex that is located in Cook County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Essex County community of Essex.
    • North Carolina
      • Halifax County
      • This Essex is located in Halifax County and lies 641 miles [1,031.6 km]<1> to the southeast of the Essex that is located in Cook County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Halifax County community of Essex.
      • Henderson County
      • This Essex is located in Henderson County and lies 521 miles [838.5 km] to the south southeast of the Essex that is located in Cook County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Henderson County community of Essex.
    • North Dakota
      • Ramsey County
      • This Essex is located in Ramsey County and lies 698 miles [1,123.3 km]<1> to the northwest of the Essex that is located in Cook County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Ramsey County community of Essex.
    • Ohio
      • Fulton County
      • This community is historic<2> and although located in Fulton County, we don't know where within the county.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Fulton County community of Essex.
      • Lawrence County
      • This Essex is located in Lawrence County and lies 349 miles [561.7 km]<1> to the southeast of the Essex that is located in Cook County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Lawrence County community of Essex.
      • Union County
      • This Essex is located in Union County and lies 239 miles [384.6 km] to the east southeast of the Essex that is located in Cook County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Union County community of Essex.
    • Ontario
      • This Essex lies 246 miles [395.9 km]<1> to the east of the Essex that is located in Cook County.
    • Vermont
      • Chittenden County
      • We found mention of this community, but have little information.<3> For the information that we do have, please visit our profile page for the Vermont community of Essex [Chittenden County].
    • Washington
      • Thurston County
      • This Essex is located in Thurston County and lies 1,769 miles [2,846.9 km]<1> to the west northwest of the Essex that is located in Cook County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Thurston County community of Essex.
    • West Virginia
      • Boone County
      • We found mention of this community, but have little information.<3> For the information that we do have, please visit our profile page for the West Virginia community of Essex [Boone County].

Curious and Interesting Names Near Essex ...

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.

  • Forestville
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
    • Forestville is located in Cook County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forestville
  • Fuller Park
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Fuller Park is located in Cook County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fuller Park
  • Grand Boulevard
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
    • Grand Boulevard is located in Cook County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grand Boulevard
  • Grand Crossing
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
    • Grand Crossing is located in Cook County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grand Crossing
  • Grant Village
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
    • Grant Village is located in Cook County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grant Village
  • Irondale ‑ Historic
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Irondale is located in Cook County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Irondale
  • Italian Bowery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
    • Italian Bowery is located in Cook County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Italian Bowery
  • New City
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
    • New City is located in Cook County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New City
  • Pierces Park
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
    • Pierces Park is located in Cook County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pierces Park
  • Poverty Row
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
    • Poverty Row is located in Cook County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Poverty Row
  • Roseland
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Roseland is located in Cook County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roseland
  • Stony Island
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
    • Stony Island is located in Cook County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stony Island
  • Woodlawn
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
    • Woodlawn is located in Cook County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodlawn

How Far From Essex to ...

We spend a lot of time looking through Gazetteers & Almanacs that were published in the late 1800's and early 1900's. Many of the Gazetteers include the distance from a community such as Essex to various places of note, such as the White House.

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

  • Chicago, which is the Seat of Cook County, lies just to the North Northwest.
  • Springfield, which is the State Capital of Illinois, lies 174 miles [280 km]<1> to the southwest (SW). If you could drive a straight line from Essex to Springfield, with an average speed<4>of 63 miles [101.4 km] per hour, it would take about three hours to make the trip. A comfortable walk of 2.2 miles [3.5 km] per hour would take 10 days. A horse and buggy averaging 3.2 miles [5.1 km] per hour would take 7 days.
  • The White House (Washington, DC) is 589 miles [947.9 km] to the east southeast (ESE). Driving would take just over a day, a buggy would take 23 days and walking would take 34 days.
  • The shortest distance<5> to Jerusalem (specifically the Temple Mount and the Dome of the Rock) is 6,186 miles [9,955.4 km] and it lies to the northeast (NE).<6>
  • The distance to the Great Mosque of Mecca (specifically the Ka'bah - or Kaaba ) is 6,925 miles [11,144.7 km] and it lies to the northeast (NE).<7>
  • The distance to Saint Peter's Basilica (The Vatican) is 4,808 miles [7,737.7 km] and it lies to the northeast (NE).<8>'

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 obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Essex) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.
<2>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 Essex, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<3>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 Essex 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.
<4>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.
<5>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 Essex 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 Essex. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 41.7623, Longitude: -87.5900       In this case, the coordinates for Essex have been provided by the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS).
<6>The calculated bearing (or angle) to Jerusalem is 314.408 degrees.
<7>The calculated bearing (or angle) to Mecca is 311.283 degrees.
<8>The calculated bearing (or angle) to the Vatican is 308.579 degrees.