Outdoor Activities ...
As we travel, we like to pursue some of our interests (such as astronomy and bird watching).
When in Ridgecrest, we use the following websites to find information relevant to Ridgecrest and the surrounding area.
- Weather ...
- Before heading outdoors, you should check the weather:
- The National Weather Service forecast for Ridgecrest
- 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 Ridgecrest:
- 41.399476, -88.397845
- 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.
- The Heavens-Above Website, centered on Ridgecrest
- 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 Grundy County as the starting point when you click on the link below:
- eBird sighting report for Grundy County
- Since Ridgecrest is near Kendall County and also Will County, we have provided a link to their eBird sighting reports:
- eBird sighting report for Kendall County
- eBird sighting report for Will 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:
- Waymark.com
Communities Also Named Ridgecrest ...
We found 22 communities that share the name Ridgecrest.
Within Illinois, the name Ridgecrest is unique.
Beyond Illinois, we know of another 22 communities that are located throughout in the United States.
- Communities Elsewhere In North America ...
- Alabama
- Jefferson County
- This Ridgecrest is located in Jefferson County and lies 559 miles [899.6 km]<1> to the south of the Ridgecrest that is located in Grundy County.
- For more information, please visit our profile page for the Jefferson County community of Ridgecrest.
- Montgomery County
- This Ridgecrest is located in Montgomery County and lies 635 miles [1,021.9 km] to the south of the Ridgecrest that is located in Grundy County.
- For more information, please visit our profile page for the Montgomery County community of Ridgecrest.
- Arkansas
- Lonoke County
- This Ridgecrest is located in Lonoke County and lies 483 miles [777.3 km]<1> to the south southwest of the Ridgecrest that is located in Grundy County.
- For more information, please visit our profile page for the Lonoke County community of Ridgecrest.
- California
- Kern County
- This Ridgecrest is located in Kern County and lies 1,622 miles [2,610.4 km]<1> to the west of the Ridgecrest that is located in Grundy County.
- For more information, please visit our profile page for the Kern County community of Ridgecrest.
- Florida
- Pinellas County
- This Ridgecrest is located in Pinellas County and lies 984 miles [1,583.6 km]<1> to the south southeast of the Ridgecrest that is located in Grundy County.
- For more information, please visit our profile page for the Pinellas County community of Ridgecrest.
- Georgia
- Henry County
- This Ridgecrest is located in Henry County and lies 587 miles [944.7 km]<1> to the south southeast of the Ridgecrest that is located in Grundy County.
- For more information, please visit our profile page for the Henry County community of Ridgecrest.
- Louisiana
- Concordia Parish
- This Ridgecrest is located in Concordia Parish and lies 698 miles [1,123.3 km]<1> to the south southwest of the Ridgecrest that is located in Grundy County.
- For more information, please visit our profile page for the Concordia Parish community of Ridgecrest.
- Ouachita Parish
- This Ridgecrest is located in Ouachita Parish and lies 650 miles [1,046.1 km] to the south southwest of the Ridgecrest that is located in Grundy County.
- For more information, please visit our profile page for the Ouachita Parish community of Ridgecrest.
- Maryland
- Montgomery County
- This Ridgecrest is located in Montgomery County and lies 611 miles [983.3 km]<1> to the east of the Ridgecrest that is located in Grundy County.
- For more information, please visit our profile page for the Montgomery County community of Ridgecrest.
- North Carolina
- Buncombe County
- This Ridgecrest is located in Buncombe County and lies 517 miles [832 km]<1> to the southeast of the Ridgecrest that is located in Grundy County.
- For more information, please visit our profile page for the Buncombe County community of Ridgecrest.
- South Carolina
- Aiken County
- This Ridgecrest is located in Aiken County and lies 650 miles [1,046.1 km]<1> to the southeast of the Ridgecrest that is located in Grundy County.
- For more information, please visit our profile page for the Aiken County community of Ridgecrest.
- Florence County
- This Ridgecrest is located in Florence County and lies 683 miles [1,099.2 km] to the southeast of the Ridgecrest that is located in Grundy County.
- For more information, please visit our profile page for the Florence County community of Ridgecrest.
- Tennessee
- Putnam County
- This Ridgecrest is located in Putnam County and lies 394 miles [634.1 km]<1> to the south southeast of the Ridgecrest that is located in Grundy County.
- For more information, please visit our profile page for the Putnam County community of Ridgecrest.
- Texas
- Brazos 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 Texas community of Ridgecrest [Brazos County].
- Harris County
- This Ridgecrest is located in Harris County and lies 893 miles [1,437.1 km]<1> to the south southwest of the Ridgecrest that is located in Grundy County.
- For more information, please visit our profile page for the Harris County community of Ridgecrest.
- Jefferson 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 Texas community of Ridgecrest [Jefferson County].
- Orange County
- This Ridgecrest is located in Orange County and lies 831 miles [1,337.4 km] to the south southwest of the Ridgecrest that is located in Grundy County.
- For more information, please visit our profile page for the Orange County community of Ridgecrest.
- Randall 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 Texas community of Ridgecrest [Randall County].
- Utah
- Salt Lake County
- This Ridgecrest is located in Salt Lake County and lies 1,219 miles [1,961.8 km]<1> to the west of the Ridgecrest that is located in Grundy County.
- For more information, please visit our profile page for the Salt Lake County community of Ridgecrest.
- Virginia
- Fairfax 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 Ridgecrest [Fairfax County].
- Pittsylvania County
- This Ridgecrest is located in Pittsylvania County and lies 581 miles [935 km]<1> to the east southeast of the Ridgecrest that is located in Grundy County.
- For more information, please visit our profile page for the Pittsylvania County community of Ridgecrest.
- Washington
- King County
- This Ridgecrest is located in King County and lies 1,710 miles [2,752 km]<1> to the west northwest of the Ridgecrest that is located in Grundy County.
- For more information, please visit our profile page for the King County community of Ridgecrest.
- Alabama
Curious and Interesting Names Near Ridgecrest ...
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.
- Central
(5 miles [8 km] to the north) - Claypool
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Claypool
- Claypool is located in Grundy County
- Divine
(5 miles [8 km] to the east) - Fields of Saratoga
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Fields of Saratoga have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fields of Saratoga
- Fields of Saratoga is located in Grundy County
- Gaslight Village
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Gaslight Village have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gaslight Village
- Gaslight Village is located in Grundy County
- Heatherfield
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Heatherfield have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Heatherfield
- Heatherfield is located in Grundy County
- Pebble Beach
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Pebble Beach have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pebble Beach
- Pebble Beach is located in Grundy County
- Sand Ridge
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Sand Ridge have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sand Ridge
- Sand Ridge is located in Grundy County
- Stockdale
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest) - White Willow ‑ Historic
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for White Willow have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Willow
- White Willow is located in Kendall County
- Willow Ridge
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Willow Ridge have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willow Ridge
- Willow Ridge is located in Grundy County
How Far From Ridgecrest 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 Ridgecrest to various places of note, such as the White House.
With a nod to our favorite Gazetteers, the straight-line distance beginning in Ridgecrest and extending to:
- Morris, which is the Seat of Grundy County, lies just to the Southwest.
- Springfield, which is the State Capital of Illinois, lies 129 miles [207.6 km]<1> to the south southwest (SSW). If you could drive a straight line from Ridgecrest to Springfield, with an average speed<4>of 63 miles [101.4 km] per hour, it would take less than three hours to make the trip. A comfortable walk of 2.2 miles [3.5 km] per hour would take 8 days. A horse and buggy averaging 3.2 miles [5.1 km] per hour would take 5 days.
- The White House (Washington, DC) is 623 miles [1,002.6 km] to the east southeast (ESE). Driving would take just over a day, a buggy would take 25 days and walking would take 36 days.
- The shortest distance<5> to Jerusalem (specifically the Temple Mount and the Dome of the Rock) is 6,233 miles [10,031 km] and it lies to the northeast (NE).<6>
- The distance to the Great Mosque of Mecca (specifically the Ka'bah - or Kaaba ) is 6,972 miles [11,220.3 km] and it lies to the northeast (NE).<7>
- The distance to Saint Peter's Basilica (The Vatican) is 4,856 miles [7,815 km] and it lies to the northeast (NE).<8>
Off-the-Road Links ...
Unfortunately, we don't know of a website for Ridgecrest. If you can help, please contact us through our Feedback Page.
The official website for Grundy County: www.grundyco.org/
The official website for State of Illinois: https://illinois.gov
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 from Point A (ie- Ridgecrest) to Point B.Our distance measurements begin at a specific point in Ridgecrest. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 41.3995, Longitude: -88.3978 In this case, the coordinates for Ridgecrest have been provided by the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS). |
| <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 Ridgecrest 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> | The location has been supplied by the Geographic Names Information System - which is maintained by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). While these values should be definitive, we found that accuracy can vary and you should double-check the location if accuracy is required. |
| <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 Ridgecrest to the Middle East to be East and South, the Great Circle Route actually lies to the North and East. |
| <6> | The calculated bearing (or angle) to Jerusalem is 314.944 degrees. |
| <7> | The calculated bearing (or angle) to Mecca is 311.844 degrees. |
| <8> | The calculated bearing (or angle) to the Vatican is 309.081 degrees. |