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

Outdoor Activities ...

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

When in Saratoga, we use the following websites to find information relevant to Saratoga and the surrounding area.

  • Weather ...
  • 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 Saratoga:
    • 41.459198, -88.431458
    • 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 Saratoga
  • 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:
    • Open the eBird sighting report for Grundy County
    • Since Saratoga is near Kendall County and also La Salle County, we have provided a link to their eBird sighting reports:
    • Open the eBird sighting report for Kendall County
    • Open the eBird sighting report for La Salle 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 Saratoga

Communities Also Named Saratoga ...

We found 25 communities that are also named Saratoga.

There is one other community in Illinois that is also named Saratoga.

Beyond Illinois, we know of 24 communities that are located in the United States and Canada. Of these 24 communities, 24 are located in the United States and one is in Canada.

  • Communities Located In Illinois ...
    • Union County
      • This Saratoga is located in Union County and lies 275 miles [442.6 km]<1> to the south of the Saratoga that is located in Grundy County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Union County community of Saratoga.
  • Communities Elsewhere In North America ...
    • Alabama
      • Marshall County
      • This Saratoga is located in Marshall County and lies 512 miles [824 km]<1> to the south southeast of the Saratoga that is located in Grundy County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Marshall County community of Saratoga.
    • Arkansas
      • Howard County
      • This Saratoga is located in Howard County and lies 610 miles [981.7 km]<1> to the south southwest of the Saratoga that is located in Grundy County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Howard County community of Saratoga.
    • California
      • Santa Clara County
      • This Saratoga is located in Santa Clara County and lies 1,804 miles [2,903.3 km]<1> to the west of the Saratoga that is located in Grundy County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Santa Clara County community of Saratoga.
    • Florida
      • Putnam County
      • This Saratoga is located in Putnam County and lies 905 miles [1,456.5 km]<1> to the south southeast of the Saratoga that is located in Grundy County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Putnam County community of Saratoga.
    • Indiana
      • Randolph County
      • This Saratoga is located in Randolph County and lies 202 miles [325.1 km]<1> to the east southeast of the Saratoga that is located in Grundy County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Randolph County community of Saratoga.
    • Iowa
      • Howard County
      • This Saratoga is located in Howard County and lies 241 miles [387.9 km]<1> to the northwest of the Saratoga that is located in Grundy County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Howard County community of Saratoga.
    • Kansas
      • Pratt 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 Kansas community of Saratoga [Pratt County].
    • Kentucky
      • Lyon County
      • This Saratoga is located in Lyon County and lies 304 miles [489.2 km]<1> to the south of the Saratoga that is located in Grundy County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Lyon County community of Saratoga.
    • Minnesota
      • Winona County
      • This Saratoga is located in Winona County and lies 249 miles [400.7 km]<1> to the northwest of the Saratoga that is located in Grundy County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Winona County community of Saratoga.
    • Mississippi
      • Simpson County
      • This Saratoga is located in Simpson County and lies 670 miles [1,078.3 km]<1> to the south of the Saratoga that is located in Grundy County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Simpson County community of Saratoga.
    • Missouri
      • McDonald County
      • This Saratoga is located in McDonald County and lies 472 miles [759.6 km]<1> to the southwest of the Saratoga that is located in Grundy County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the McDonald County community of Saratoga.
    • Nebraska
      • Holt County
      • This community is historic<3> and although located in Holt County, we don't know where within the county.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Holt County community of Saratoga.
    • New York
      • Saratoga 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 New York community of Saratoga [Saratoga County].
    • North Carolina
      • Wilson County
      • This Saratoga is located in Wilson County and lies 700 miles [1,126.5 km]<1> to the east southeast of the Saratoga that is located in Grundy County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Wilson County community of Saratoga.
    • Ohio
      • Champaign County
      • This community is historic<3> and although located in Champaign County, we don't know where within the county.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Champaign County community of Saratoga.
      • Columbiana County
      • This community is historic and we have very little information. For the information that we do have, please visit our profile page for the Ohio community of Saratoga [Columbiana County].
    • Ontario
      • This Saratoga lies 384 miles [618 km]<1> to the east northeast of the Saratoga that is located in Grundy County.
    • Tennessee
      • Williamson County
      • This Saratoga is located in Williamson County and lies 388 miles [624.4 km]<1> to the south southeast of the Saratoga that is located in Grundy County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Williamson County community of Saratoga.
    • Texas
      • Hardin County
      • This Saratoga is located in Hardin County and lies 843 miles [1,356.7 km]<1> to the south southwest of the Saratoga that is located in Grundy County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Hardin County community of Saratoga.
    • Virginia
      • Clarke County
      • This Saratoga is located in Clarke County and lies 570 miles [917.3 km]<1> to the east southeast of the Saratoga that is located in Grundy County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Clarke County community of Saratoga.
      • 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 Saratoga [Fairfax County].
      • Stafford County
      • This Saratoga is located in Stafford County and lies 620 miles [997.8 km] to the east southeast of the Saratoga that is located in Grundy County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Stafford County community of Saratoga.
    • Washington
      • Island County
      • This Saratoga is located in Island County and lies 1,714 miles [2,758.4 km]<1> to the west northwest of the Saratoga that is located in Grundy County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Island County community of Saratoga.
    • Wyoming
      • Carbon County
      • This Saratoga is located in Carbon County and lies 949 miles [1,527.3 km]<1> to the west of the Saratoga that is located in Grundy County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Carbon County community of Saratoga.

Curious and Interesting Names Near Saratoga ...

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
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
    • Central is located in Kendall County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Central
  • Claypool
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
    • Claypool is located in Grundy County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Claypool
  • Divine
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Divine is located in Grundy County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Divine
  • Fields of Saratoga
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Fields of Saratoga is located in Grundy County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fields of Saratoga
  • Gaslight Village
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
    • Gaslight Village is located in Grundy County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gaslight Village
  • Heatherfield
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • Heatherfield is located in Grundy County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Heatherfield
  • Kentland
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Kentland is located in Kendall County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kentland
  • Lisbon
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Lisbon is located in Kendall County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lisbon
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 310 people
  • Pebble Beach
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
    • Pebble Beach is located in Grundy County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pebble Beach
  • Sand Ridge
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Sand Ridge is located in Grundy County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sand Ridge
  • Stockdale
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Stockdale is located in Grundy County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stockdale
  • White Willow ‑ Historic
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
    • White Willow is located in Kendall County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Willow
  • Willow Ridge
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
    • Willow Ridge is located in Grundy County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willow Ridge

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

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

  • Morris, which is the Seat of Grundy County, lies just to the South.
  • Springfield, which is the State Capital of Illinois, lies 132 miles [212.4 km]<1> to the south southwest (SSW). If you could drive a straight line from Saratoga 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 6 days.
  • The White House (Washington, DC) is 626 miles [1,007.4 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 6,232 miles [10,029.4 km] and it lies to the northeast (NE).<6>
  • The distance to the Great Mosque of Mecca (specifically the Ka'bah - or Kaaba ) is 6,971 miles [11,218.7 km] and it lies to the northeast (NE).<7>
  • The distance to Saint Peter's Basilica (The Vatican) is 4,855 miles [7,813.4 km] and it lies to the northeast (NE).<8>'

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- Saratoga) 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 Saratoga 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 Saratoga, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<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 Saratoga 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 Saratoga. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 41.4592, Longitude: -88.4315       In this case, the coordinates for Saratoga have been provided by the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS).
<6>The calculated bearing (or angle) to Jerusalem is 314.967 degrees.
<7>The calculated bearing (or angle) to Mecca is 311.878 degrees.
<8>The calculated bearing (or angle) to the Vatican is 309.081 degrees.