RoadsideThoughts
A Gazetteer for the United States and Canada
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Outdoor Activities ...

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

When in Big Springs, we use the following websites to find information relevant to Big Springs 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 Big Springs:
    • 39.013098, -95.485078
    • 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 Big Springs
  • 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 Big Springs ...

We found 22 communities that share the name Big Springs.

Within Kansas, the name Big Springs is unique.

Beyond Kansas, we know of another 22 communities that are located throughout in the United States.

  • Communities Elsewhere In North America ...
    • Alabama
      • Bibb 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 Alabama community of Big Springs [Bibb County].
      • Randolph County
      • This Big Springs is located in Randolph County and lies 691 miles [1,112.1 km]<2> to the east southeast of the Big Springs that is located in Douglas County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Randolph County community of Big Springs.
    • Arizona
      • Coconino County
      • This Big Springs is located in Coconino County and lies 933 miles [1,501.5 km]<2> to the west of the Big Springs that is located in Douglas County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Coconino County community of Big Springs.
    • Arkansas
      • Stone 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 Arkansas community of Big Springs [Stone County].
    • California
      • Siskiyou County
      • This Big Springs is located in Siskiyou County and lies 1,422 miles [2,288.5 km]<2> to the west northwest of the Big Springs that is located in Douglas County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Siskiyou County community of Big Springs.
    • Georgia
      • Troup County
      • This Big Springs is located in Troup County and lies 721 miles [1,160.3 km]<2> to the east southeast of the Big Springs that is located in Douglas County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Troup County community of Big Springs.
    • Idaho
      • Fremont County
      • This Big Springs is located in Fremont County and lies 894 miles [1,438.8 km]<2> to the west northwest of the Big Springs that is located in Douglas County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Fremont County community of Big Springs.
    • Indiana
      • Boone County
      • This Big Springs is located in Boone County and lies 496 miles [798.2 km]<2> to the east of the Big Springs that is located in Douglas County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Boone County community of Big Springs.
    • Mississippi
      • Clay 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 Mississippi community of Big Springs [Clay County].
    • Nebraska
      • Deuel County
      • This Big Springs is located in Deuel County and lies 375 miles [603.5 km]<2> to the west northwest of the Big Springs that is located in Douglas County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Deuel County community of Big Springs.
    • New Jersey
      • Sussex County
      • This Big Springs is located in Sussex County and lies 1,109 miles [1,784.8 km]<2> to the east northeast of the Big Springs that is located in Douglas County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Sussex County community of Big Springs.
    • Ohio
      • Logan County
      • This Big Springs is located in Logan County and lies 636 miles [1,023.5 km]<2> to the east northeast of the Big Springs that is located in Douglas County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Logan County community of Big Springs.
    • South Carolina
      • Chesterfield County
      • This Big Springs is located in Chesterfield County and lies 896 miles [1,442 km]<2> to the east southeast of the Big Springs that is located in Douglas County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Chesterfield County community of Big Springs.
    • South Dakota
      • Union County
      • This Big Springs is located in Union County and lies 277 miles [445.8 km]<2> to the north of the Big Springs that is located in Douglas County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Union County community of Big Springs.
    • Tennessee
      • Blount County
      • This Big Springs is located in Blount County and lies 664 miles [1,068.6 km]<2> to the east southeast of the Big Springs that is located in Douglas County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Blount County community of Big Springs.
      • Dickson County
      • This Big Springs is located in Dickson County and lies 486 miles [782.1 km] to the east southeast of the Big Springs that is located in Douglas County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Dickson County community of Big Springs.
      • Hancock County
      • This Big Springs is located in Hancock County and lies 704 miles [1,133 km] to the east of the Big Springs that is located in Douglas County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Hancock County community of Big Springs.
      • Madison 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 Tennessee community of Big Springs [Madison County].
      • Overton County
      • This Big Springs is located in Overton County and lies 585 miles [941.5 km] to the east southeast of the Big Springs that is located in Douglas County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Overton County community of Big Springs.
      • Rutherford County
      • This Big Springs is located in Rutherford County and lies 554 miles [891.6 km] to the east southeast of the Big Springs that is located in Douglas County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Rutherford County community of Big Springs.
    • Texas
      • Rusk County
      • This Big Springs is located in Rusk County and lies 480 miles [772.5 km]<2> to the south of the Big Springs that is located in Douglas County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Rusk County community of Big Springs.
    • West Virginia
      • Calhoun County
      • This Big Springs is located in Calhoun County and lies 772 miles [1,242.4 km]<2> to the east of the Big Springs that is located in Douglas County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Calhoun County community of Big Springs.

Curious and Interesting Names Near Big Springs ...

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.

  • Carbondale
    (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Carbondale have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carbondale
    • Carbondale is located in Osage County
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,347 people
  • Globe
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
  • Grantville
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Grantville have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grantville
    • Grantville is located in Jefferson County
  • Grover
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
    • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Grover. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<4>
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grover
    • Grover is located in Douglas County
    • Google driving directions:
    • From your current location to Grover
    • From Big Springs to Grover
  • Indian Ridge
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Indian Ridge have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indian Ridge
    • Indian Ridge is located in Jefferson County
  • Lake Shore
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Lake Shore have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Shore
    • Lake Shore is located in Jefferson County
  • Lone Star
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Lone Star have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lone Star
    • Lone Star is located in Douglas County
  • Mineral Springs
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Pleasant Grove
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
  • Rock Creek
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
  • Swissvale
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Swissvale have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swissvale
    • Swissvale is located in Osage County

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

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

  • Lawrence, which is the Seat of Douglas County, lies 12 miles [19.3 km]<2> to the east southeast. If you could walk a straight line from Big Springs to Lawrence, with an average speed<5> of 2.2 miles [3.5 km] per hour, it would take five to six hours to make the trip. A horse and buggy averaging 3.2 miles [5.1 km] per hour would take nearly four hours.
  • Topeka, which is the State Capital of Kansas, lies 10 miles [16.1 km] to the west northwest (WNW). The buggy would take a little over three hours and walking would take four to five hours.
  • The White House (Washington, DC) is 988 miles [1,590 km] to the east (E). Driving, with an average speed of 63 miles [101.4 km] per hour, would take most of two days, a buggy would take 39 days and walking would take 57 days.
  • The shortest distance<6> to Jerusalem (specifically the Temple Mount and the Dome of the Rock) is 6,608 miles [10,634.5 km] and it lies to the northeast (NE).<7>
  • The distance to the Great Mosque of Mecca (specifically the Ka'bah - or Kaaba ) is 7,355 miles [11,836.7 km] and it lies to the northeast (NE).<8>
  • The distance to Saint Peter's Basilica (The Vatican) is 5,246 miles [8,442.6 km] and it lies to the northeast (NE).<9>

Unfortunately, we don't know of a website for Big Springs. If you can help, please contact us through our Feedback Page.

The official website for Douglas County: www.douglas-county.com/

The official website for State of Kansas: https://portal.kansas.gov/

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 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 Big Springs 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 '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- Big Springs) to Point B.Our distance measurements begin at a specific point in Big Springs. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 39.0131, Longitude: -95.4851    
<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>An 'estimated' location is one where we have been given GPS coordinates, but are unable to verify the accuracy of those coordinates. That said, we have some confidence that we have placed the marker near the actual location. A typical reason for being unable to verify a location is that it might be on private property or maybe historic and gone without an obvious trace.
<5>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.
<6>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 Big Springs to the Middle East to be East and South, the Great Circle Route actually lies to the North and East.
<7>The calculated bearing (or angle) to Jerusalem is 319.647 degrees.
<8>The calculated bearing (or angle) to Mecca is 316.933 degrees.
<9>The calculated bearing (or angle) to the Vatican is 313.126 degrees.




 

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This page was last modified/updated: 21 Apr 2025