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

Outdoor Activities ...

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

When in White Plains, we use the following websites to find information relevant to White Plains 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 White Plains:
    • 42.129444, -87.844444
    • 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 White Plains
  • 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 White Plains 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 White Plains

Communities Also Named White Plains ...

We found 21 communities that are also named White Plains.

There is one other community in Illinois that is also named White Plains.

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

  • Communities Located In Illinois ...
    • Jersey County
      • Although located in Jersey County, we don't know the location within the county.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Jersey County community of White Plains.
  • Communities Elsewhere In North America ...
    • Alabama
      • Calhoun County
      • This White Plains is located in Calhoun County and lies 590 miles [949.5 km]<1> to the south southeast of the White Plains that is located in Cook County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Calhoun County community of White Plains.
      • Chambers County
      • This White Plains is located in Chambers County and lies 644 miles [1,036.4 km] to the south southeast of the White Plains that is located in Cook County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Chambers County community of White Plains.
    • Georgia
      • Greene County
      • This White Plains is located in Greene County and lies 651 miles [1,047.7 km]<1> to the south southeast of the White Plains that is located in Cook County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Greene County community of White Plains.
    • Kentucky
      • Allen 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 Kentucky community of White Plains [Allen County].
      • Hopkins County
      • This White Plains is located in Hopkins County and lies 342 miles [550.4 km]<1> to the south of the White Plains that is located in Cook County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Hopkins County community of White Plains.
    • Louisiana
      • East Baton Rouge Parish
      • This White Plains is located in East Baton Rouge Parish and lies 823 miles [1,324.5 km]<1> to the south southwest of the White Plains that is located in Cook County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the East Baton Rouge Parish community of White Plains.
    • Manitoba
      • This White Plains lies 706 miles [1,136.2 km]<1> to the northwest of the White Plains that is located in Cook County.
    • Maryland
      • Charles County
      • This White Plains is located in Charles County and lies 623 miles [1,002.6 km]<1> to the east southeast of the White Plains that is located in Cook County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Charles County community of White Plains.
      • Wicomico County
      • This White Plains is located in Wicomico County and lies 697 miles [1,121.7 km] to the east southeast of the White Plains that is located in Cook County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Wicomico County community of White Plains.
    • Mississippi
      • Harrison County
      • This White Plains is located in Harrison County and lies 801 miles [1,289.1 km]<1> to the south of the White Plains that is located in Cook County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Harrison County community of White Plains.
    • Nevada
      • Churchill 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 Nevada community of White Plains [Churchill County].
    • New York
      • Westchester County
      • This White Plains is located in Westchester County and lies 730 miles [1,174.8 km]<1> to the east of the White Plains that is located in Cook County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Westchester County community of White Plains.
    • North Carolina
      • Cleveland County
      • This White Plains is located in Cleveland County and lies 589 miles [947.9 km]<1> to the southeast of the White Plains that is located in Cook County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Cleveland County community of White Plains.
      • Hyde County
      • This White Plains is located in Hyde County and lies 784 miles [1,261.7 km] to the east southeast of the White Plains that is located in Cook County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Hyde County community of White Plains.
      • Surry County
      • This White Plains is located in Surry County and lies 549 miles [883.5 km] to the southeast of the White Plains that is located in Cook County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Surry County community of White Plains.
    • South Carolina
      • Anderson County
      • This White Plains is located in Anderson County and lies 589 miles [947.9 km]<1> to the south southeast of the White Plains that is located in Cook County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Anderson County community of White Plains.
      • Cherokee County
      • This White Plains is located in Cherokee County and lies 592 miles [952.7 km] to the southeast of the White Plains that is located in Cook County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Cherokee County community of White Plains.
      • Chesterfield County
      • This White Plains is located in Chesterfield County and lies 650 miles [1,046.1 km] to the southeast of the White Plains that is located in Cook County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Chesterfield County community of White Plains.
    • Tennessee
      • Putnam County
      • This White Plains is located in Putnam County and lies 431 miles [693.6 km]<1> to the south southeast of the White Plains that is located in Cook County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Putnam County community of White Plains.
    • Virginia
      • Brunswick County
      • This White Plains is located in Brunswick County and lies 648 miles [1,042.9 km]<1> to the east southeast of the White Plains that is located in Cook County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Brunswick County community of White Plains.

Curious and Interesting Names Near White Plains ...

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.

  • Ancient Tree
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
    • Ancient Tree is located in Cook County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ancient Tree
  • Arrowhead
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
    • Arrowhead is located in Cook County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arrowhead
  • Birch Pond
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
    • Birch Pond is located in Cook County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Birch Pond
  • Buttonwood
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
    • Buttonwood is located in Cook County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buttonwood
  • Cobblewood
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
    • Cobblewood is located in Cook County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cobblewood
  • Colonial Village
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
    • Colonial Village is located in Cook County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colonial Village
  • Covenant Village
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
    • Covenant Village is located in Cook County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Covenant Village
  • Cozy Corner
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
    • Cozy Corner is located in Cook County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cozy Corner
  • Edgewood Grove
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
    • Edgewood Grove is located in Cook County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edgewood Grove
  • Fair Meadows
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
    • Fair Meadows is located in Cook County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fair Meadows
  • Fox Hedge
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
    • Fox Hedge is located in Cook County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fox Hedge
  • Fox Run
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
    • Fox Run is located in Cook County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fox Run
  • Continue List   (20 more) ...
    • Garden Court
      (Less than 2 miles to the west)
      • Garden Court is located in Cook County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garden Court
    • Heathercrest
      (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
      • Heathercrest is located in Cook County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Heathercrest
    • Mallard Creek
      (Less than 2 miles to the south)
      • Mallard Creek is located in Cook County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mallard Creek
    • Maple Ridge
      (Less than 2 miles to the south)
      • Maple Ridge is located in Cook County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maple Ridge
    • Meadow Green
      (Less than 2 miles to the south)
      • Meadow Green is located in Cook County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meadow Green
    • Pheasant Creek
      (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
      • Pheasant Creek is located in Cook County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pheasant Creek
    • Regency Place
      (Less than 2 miles to the west)
      • Regency Place is located in Cook County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Regency Place
    • Royal Court
      (Less than 2 miles to the south)
      • Royal Court is located in Cook County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Royal Court
    • Solar Grove
      (Less than 2 miles to the south)
      • Solar Grove is located in Cook County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Solar Grove
    • Sportmans Cove
      (Less than 2 miles to the west)
      • Sportmans Cove is located in Cook County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sportmans Cove
    • Stonebrook
      (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
      • Stonebrook is located in Cook County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stonebrook
    • Stonegate
      (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
      • Stonegate is located in Cook County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stonegate
    • Summerhill
      (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
      • Summerhill is located in Cook County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summerhill
    • Sunset Fields
      (Less than 2 miles to the south)
      • Sunset Fields is located in Cook County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunset Fields
    • Sycamore Lane
      (Less than 2 miles to the east)
      • Sycamore Lane is located in Cook County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sycamore Lane
    • Thorn Hill
      (Less than 2 miles to the east)
      • Thorn Hill is located in Cook County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thorn Hill
    • Timber Ridge
      (Less than 2 miles to the east)
      • Timber Ridge is located in Cook County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Timber Ridge
    • Willow Cove
      (Less than 2 miles to the south)
      • Willow Cove is located in Cook County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willow Cove
    • Willow Creek
      (Less than 2 miles to the south)
      • Willow Creek is located in Cook County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willow Creek
    • Willow Wood
      (Less than 2 miles to the south)
      • Willow Wood is located in Cook County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willow Wood

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

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

  • Chicago, which is the Seat of Cook County, lies 20 miles [32.2 km]<1> to the south southeast. If you could walk a straight line from White Plains to Chicago, with an average speed<3> of 2.2 miles [3.5 km] per hour, it would take just over a day to make the trip. A horse and buggy averaging 3.2 miles [5.1 km] per hour would take most of a day.
  • Springfield, which is the State Capital of Illinois, lies 187 miles [300.9 km] to the south southwest (SSW). Driving, with an average speed of 63 miles [101.4 km] per hour, would take a little over three hours, a buggy would take 8 days and walking would take 11 days.
  • The White House (Washington, DC) is 609 miles [980.1 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<4> to Jerusalem (specifically the Temple Mount and the Dome of the Rock) is 6,178 miles [9,942.5 km] and it lies to the northeast (NE).<5>
  • The distance to the Great Mosque of Mecca (specifically the Ka'bah - or Kaaba ) is 6,918 miles [11,133.4 km] and it lies to the northeast (NE).<6>
  • The distance to Saint Peter's Basilica (The Vatican) is 4,802 miles [7,728.1 km] and it lies to the northeast (NE).<7>'

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 drawn from Point A (ie- White Plains) 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 White Plains 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 White Plains 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 White Plains. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 42.1294, Longitude: -87.8444       In this case, the coordinates for White Plains have been provided by the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS).
<5>The calculated bearing (or angle) to Jerusalem is 314.575 degrees.
<6>The calculated bearing (or angle) to Mecca is 311.526 degrees.
<7>The calculated bearing (or angle) to the Vatican is 308.599 degrees.