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

Outdoor Activities ...

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

When in Washington Park, we use the following websites to find information relevant to Washington Park 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 Washington Park:
    • 41.794592, -87.620863
    • 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 Washington Park
  • 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 Washington Park 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 Washington Park

Communities Also Named Washington Park ...

We found 23 communities that are also named Washington Park.

There is one other community in Illinois that is also named Washington Park.

Beyond Illinois, we know of 22 communities that are located in the United States.

  • Communities Located In Illinois ...
    • Saint Clair County
      • This Washington Park is located in Saint Clair County and lies 254 miles [408.8 km]<1> to the south southwest of the Washington Park that is located in Cook County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Saint Clair County community of Washington Park.
  • Communities Elsewhere In North America ...
    • Alabama
      • Colbert County
      • This Washington Park is located in Colbert County and lies 485 miles [780.5 km]<1> to the south of the Washington Park that is located in Cook County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Colbert County community of Washington Park.
      • Montgomery County
      • This Washington Park is located in Montgomery County and lies 655 miles [1,054.1 km] to the south of the Washington Park that is located in Cook County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Montgomery County community of Washington Park.
    • Arizona
      • Gila County
      • This Washington Park is located in Gila County and lies 1,376 miles [2,214.5 km]<1> to the west southwest of the Washington Park that is located in Cook County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Gila County community of Washington Park.
    • Connecticut
      • New Haven County
      • Although located in New Haven County, we don't know the location within the county.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the New Haven County community of Washington Park.
    • Delaware
      • New Castle County
      • This Washington Park is located in New Castle County and lies 646 miles [1,039.6 km]<1> to the east of the Washington Park that is located in Cook County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the New Castle County community of Washington Park.
    • Florida
      • Broward County
      • This Washington Park is located in Broward County and lies 1,161 miles [1,868.4 km]<1> to the south southeast of the Washington Park that is located in Cook County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Broward County community of Washington Park.
      • Glades County
      • This Washington Park is located in Glades County and lies 1,096 miles [1,763.8 km] to the south southeast of the Washington Park that is located in Cook County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Glades County community of Washington Park.
      • Hillsborough County
      • This Washington Park is located in Hillsborough County and lies 1,000 miles [1,609.3 km] to the south southeast of the Washington Park that is located in Cook County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Hillsborough County community of Washington Park.
    • Maryland
      • Kent County
      • This Washington Park is located in Kent County and lies 630 miles [1,013.9 km]<1> to the east southeast of the Washington Park that is located in Cook County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Kent County community of Washington Park.
    • Missouri
      • Jackson 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 Missouri community of Washington Park [Jackson County].
    • New Jersey
      • Essex 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 Jersey community of Washington Park [Essex County].
      • Middlesex County
      • This Washington Park is located in Middlesex County and lies 692 miles [1,113.7 km]<1> to the east of the Washington Park that is located in Cook County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Middlesex County community of Washington Park.
    • North Carolina
      • Beaufort County
      • This Washington Park is located in Beaufort County and lies 715 miles [1,150.7 km]<1> to the southeast of the Washington Park that is located in Cook County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Beaufort County community of Washington Park.
      • Davidson County
      • This Washington Park is located in Davidson County and lies 572 miles [920.5 km] to the southeast of the Washington Park that is located in Cook County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Davidson County community of Washington Park.
    • Pennsylvania
      • Montgomery County
      • This Washington Park is located in Montgomery County and lies 648 miles [1,042.9 km]<1> to the east of the Washington Park that is located in Cook County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Montgomery County community of Washington Park.
    • Rhode Island
      • Providence 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 Rhode Island community of Washington Park [Providence County].
    • South Carolina
      • Horry County
      • This Washington Park is located in Horry County and lies 734 miles [1,181.3 km]<1> to the southeast of the Washington Park that is located in Cook County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Horry County community of Washington Park.
      • Richland County
      • This Washington Park is located in Richland County and lies 650 miles [1,046.1 km] to the southeast of the Washington Park that is located in Cook County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Richland County community of Washington Park.
    • Virginia
      • Greensville County
      • This Washington Park is located in Greensville County and lies 642 miles [1,033.2 km]<1> to the east southeast of the Washington Park that is located in Cook County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Greensville County community of Washington Park.
      • Norfolk City
      • This Washington Park is located in Norfolk City and lies 693 miles [1,115.3 km] to the east southeast of the Washington Park that is located in Cook County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Norfolk City community of Washington Park.
      • Richmond City
      • This Washington Park is located in Richmond City and lies 613 miles [986.5 km] to the east southeast of the Washington Park that is located in Cook County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Richmond City community of Washington Park.
    • Washington
      • Yakima County
      • This Washington Park is located in Yakima County and lies 1,647 miles [2,650.6 km]<1> to the west northwest of the Washington Park that is located in Cook County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Yakima County community of Washington Park.

Curious and Interesting Names Near Washington Park ...

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.

  • Back of the Yards
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
    • Back of the Yards is located in Cook County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Back of the Yards
  • Bronzeville
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
    • Bronzeville is located in Cook County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bronzeville
  • Chinatown
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
    • Chinatown is located in Cook County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chinatown
  • Ducktown
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Ducktown is located in Cook County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ducktown
  • Forestville
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
    • Forestville is located in Cook County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forestville
  • Fuller Park
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
    • Fuller Park is located in Cook County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fuller Park
  • Gage Park
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
    • Gage Park is located in Cook County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gage Park
  • Grand Boulevard
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
    • Grand Boulevard is located in Cook County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grand Boulevard
  • Grand Crossing
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
    • Grand Crossing is located in Cook County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grand Crossing
  • Grant Village
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
    • Grant Village is located in Cook County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grant Village
  • Italian Bowery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Italian Bowery is located in Cook County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Italian Bowery
  • Lake Meadows
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
    • Lake Meadows is located in Cook County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Meadows
  • Continue List   (11 more) ...
    • Locks
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Locks is located in Cook County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Locks
    • Mexico
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
      • Mexico is located in Cook County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mexico
    • Mount Pleasant
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Mount Pleasant is located in Cook County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Pleasant
    • New City
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
      • New City is located in Cook County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New City
    • New Patch
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
      • New Patch is located in Cook County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Patch
    • Pierces Park
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Pierces Park is located in Cook County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pierces Park
    • Poverty Row
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
      • Poverty Row is located in Cook County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Poverty Row
    • Prairie Courts
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
      • Prairie Courts is located in Cook County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairie Courts
    • Prairie Shores
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
      • Prairie Shores is located in Cook County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairie Shores
    • Whiskey Row
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Whiskey Row is located in Cook County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whiskey Row
    • Woodlawn
      (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
      • Woodlawn is located in Cook County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodlawn

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

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

  • Chicago, which is the Seat of Cook County, lies just to the North.
  • 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 Washington Park to Springfield, with an average speed<3>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 591 miles [951.1 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<4> 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).<5>
  • The distance to the Great Mosque of Mecca (specifically the Ka'bah - or Kaaba ) is 6,924 miles [11,143.1 km] and it lies to the northeast (NE).<6>
  • The distance to Saint Peter's Basilica (The Vatican) is 4,808 miles [7,737.7 km] and it lies to the northeast (NE).<7>'

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 drawn from Point A (ie- Washington Park) 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 Washington Park 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 Washington Park 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 Washington Park. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 41.7946, Longitude: -87.6209    
<5>The calculated bearing (or angle) to Jerusalem is 314.428 degrees.
<6>The calculated bearing (or angle) to Mecca is 311.311 degrees.
<7>The calculated bearing (or angle) to the Vatican is 308.585 degrees.