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

Outdoor Activities ...

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

When in Westlake, we use the following websites to find information relevant to Westlake 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 Westlake:
    • 41.620833, -88.156944
    • 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 Westlake
  • 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 Will County as the starting point when you click on the link below:
    • Open the eBird sighting report for Will County
    • Since Westlake is near Cook County and also Kendall County, we have provided a link to their eBird sighting reports:
    • Open the eBird sighting report for Cook County
    • Open the eBird sighting report for Kendall 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 Westlake

Communities Also Named Westlake ...

We found fifteen communities that are also named Westlake.

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

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

  • Communities Located In Illinois ...
    • DuPage County
      • We found mention of this community, but have little information.<1> For the information that we do have, please visit our profile page for the Illinois community of Westlake [DuPage County].
  • Communities Elsewhere In North America ...
    • California
      • San Mateo County
      • This Westlake is located in San Mateo County and lies 1,832 miles [2,948.3 km]<2> to the west of the Westlake that is located in Will County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the San Mateo County community of Westlake.
    • Florida
      • Hillsborough County
      • This Westlake is located in Hillsborough County and lies 999 miles [1,607.7 km]<2> to the south southeast of the Westlake that is located in Will County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Hillsborough County community of Westlake.
    • Georgia
      • Columbia County
      • This Westlake is located in Columbia County and lies 649 miles [1,044.5 km]<2> to the south southeast of the Westlake that is located in Will County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Columbia County community of Westlake.
      • Twiggs County
      • This Westlake is located in Twiggs County and lies 680 miles [1,094.4 km] to the south southeast of the Westlake that is located in Will County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Twiggs County community of Westlake.
    • Idaho
      • Idaho County
      • This Westlake is located in Idaho County and lies 1,436 miles [2,311 km]<2> to the west northwest of the Westlake that is located in Will County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Idaho County community of Westlake.
    • Louisiana
      • Calcasieu Parish
      • This Westlake is located in Calcasieu Parish and lies 834 miles [1,342.2 km]<2> to the south southwest of the Westlake that is located in Will County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Calcasieu Parish community of Westlake.
      • Natchitoches Parish
      • This Westlake is located in Natchitoches Parish and lies 734 miles [1,181.3 km] to the south southwest of the Westlake that is located in Will County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Natchitoches Parish community of Westlake.
    • Maryland
      • Wicomico County
      • This Westlake is located in Wicomico County and lies 699 miles [1,124.9 km]<2> to the east southeast of the Westlake that is located in Will County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Wicomico County community of Westlake.
    • Montana
      • Gallatin County
      • This Westlake is located in Gallatin County and lies 1,187 miles [1,910.3 km]<2> to the west northwest of the Westlake that is located in Will County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Gallatin County community of Westlake.
    • Ohio
      • Cuyahoga County
      • This Westlake is located in Cuyahoga County and lies 322 miles [518.2 km]<2> to the east of the Westlake that is located in Will County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Cuyahoga County community of Westlake.
    • Oregon
      • Lane County
      • This Westlake is located in Lane County and lies 1,815 miles [2,921 km]<2> to the west northwest of the Westlake that is located in Will County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Lane County community of Westlake.
    • Texas
      • Harris County
      • This Westlake is located in Harris County and lies 919 miles [1,479 km]<2> to the south southwest of the Westlake that is located in Will County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Harris County community of Westlake.
      • Tarrant County
      • This Westlake is located in Tarrant County and lies 775 miles [1,247.2 km] to the southwest of the Westlake that is located in Will County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Tarrant County community of Westlake.
    • Washington
      • Grant County
      • This Westlake is located in Grant County and lies 1,573 miles [2,531.5 km]<2> to the west northwest of the Westlake that is located in Will County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Grant County community of Westlake.

Curious and Interesting Names Near Westlake ...

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.

  • Champion Creek
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Champion Creek is located in Will County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Champion Creek
  • Cider Creek
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Cider Creek is located in Will County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cider Creek
  • Crystal Lawns
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
    • Crystal Lawns is located in Will County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crystal Lawns
  • Erin
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
    • Erin is located in Will County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Erin
  • Fox Meadow
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
    • Fox Meadow is located in Will County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fox Meadow
  • Grand Haven
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Grand Haven is located in Will County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grand Haven
  • Grand Prairie
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
    • Grand Prairie is located in Will County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grand Prairie
  • Harvest Glen
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
    • Harvest Glen is located in Will County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harvest Glen
  • Heritage Meadows
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Heritage Meadows is located in Will County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Heritage Meadows
  • Heritage Place
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Heritage Place is located in Will County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Heritage Place
  • High Meadow
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
    • High Meadow is located in Will County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for High Meadow
  • Liberty Grove
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
    • Liberty Grove is located in Will County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liberty Grove
  • Continue List   (18 more) ...
    • Malibu Bay
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Malibu Bay is located in Will County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Malibu Bay
    • Normantown
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Normantown is located in Will County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Normantown
    • Pheasant Chase
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
      • Pheasant Chase is located in Will County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pheasant Chase
    • Plantation
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Plantation is located in Will County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plantation
    • Poplar Ridge
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Poplar Ridge is located in Will County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Poplar Ridge
    • Prairie Ponds
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
      • Prairie Ponds is located in Will County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairie Ponds
    • Prairie Trail
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Prairie Trail is located in Will County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairie Trail
    • Quail Run
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
      • Quail Run is located in Will County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quail Run
    • Riverwalk
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Riverwalk is located in Will County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riverwalk
    • Rockdale Junction
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Rockdale Junction is located in Will County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockdale Junction
    • Romeoville
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Saddle Creek
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Saddle Creek is located in Will County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saddle Creek
    • Spangler Farms
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Spangler Farms is located in Will County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spangler Farms
    • Squires Mill
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
      • Squires Mill is located in Will County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Squires Mill
    • Sunset Ridge
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
      • Sunset Ridge is located in Will County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunset Ridge
    • Vintage Harvest
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Vintage Harvest is located in Will County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vintage Harvest
    • Winding Creek
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
      • Winding Creek is located in Will County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winding Creek
    • Wolf Creek Island
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Wolf Creek Island is located in Will County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wolf Creek Island

How Far From Westlake to ...

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

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

  • Joliet, which is the Seat of Will County, lies just to the South Southeast.
  • Springfield, which is the State Capital of Illinois, lies 149 miles [239.8 km]<2> to the south southwest (SSW). If you could drive a straight line from Westlake 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 9 days. A horse and buggy averaging 3.2 miles [5.1 km] per hour would take 6 days.
  • The White House (Washington, DC) is 614 miles [988.1 km] to the east southeast (ESE). Driving would take just over a day, a buggy would take 24 days and walking would take 35 days.
  • The shortest distance<5> to Jerusalem (specifically the Temple Mount and the Dome of the Rock) is 6,214 miles [10,000.5 km] and it lies to the northeast (NE).<6>
  • The distance to the Great Mosque of Mecca (specifically the Ka'bah - or Kaaba ) is 6,953 miles [11,189.8 km] and it lies to the northeast (NE).<7>
  • The distance to Saint Peter's Basilica (The Vatican) is 4,837 miles [7,784.4 km] and it lies to the northeast (NE).<8>'

Footnotes ...

<1>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 Mile's to see Pete ... Mile's 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 Westlake 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.
<2>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' (or 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- Westlake) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.
<3>While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program.
<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 Westlake 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 Westlake. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 41.6208, Longitude: -88.1569       In this case, the coordinates for Westlake have been provided by the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS).
<6>The calculated bearing (or angle) to Jerusalem is 314.784 degrees.
<7>The calculated bearing (or angle) to Mecca is 311.693 degrees.
<8>The calculated bearing (or angle) to the Vatican is 308.90 degrees.