RoadsideThoughts
A Gazetteer for the United States and Canada
Home >> State of Louisiana >> Jackson Parish >> Chatham >> Tidbits & TriviaIndex...

Outdoor Activities ...

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

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

  • 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 Chatham:
    • 32.309371, -92.452037
    • 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 Chatham
  • 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 parish-by-parish basis. We have selected Jackson Parish as the starting point when you click on the link below:
    • Open the eBird sighting report for Jackson Parish
    • Since Chatham is near Ouachita Parish and also Caldwell Parish, we have provided a link to their eBird sighting reports:
    • Open the eBird sighting report for Ouachita Parish
    • Open the eBird sighting report for Caldwell Parish
  • 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 Chatham

Communities Also Named Chatham ...

We found 26 communities that are also named Chatham.

Within Louisiana, the name Chatham is unique.

Beyond Louisiana, we know of 26 communities that are located in the United States and Canada. Of these 26 communities, 23 are located in the United States and three are in Canada.

  • Communities Elsewhere In North America ...
    • Alaska
      • This Chatham lies 2,639 miles [4,247.1 km]<1> to the northwest of the Chatham that is located in Jackson Parish.
    • Connecticut
      • Tolland County
      • Although located in Tolland County, we don't know the location within the parish.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Tolland County community of Chatham.
    • Delaware
      • New Castle County
      • This Chatham is located in New Castle County and lies 1,075 miles [1,730 km]<1> to the east northeast of the Chatham that is located in Jackson Parish.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the New Castle County community of Chatham.
    • Florida
      • Monroe County
      • This Chatham is located in Monroe County and lies 814 miles [1,310 km]<1> to the east southeast of the Chatham that is located in Jackson Parish.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Monroe County community of Chatham.
    • Illinois
      • Cook County
      • This Chatham is located in Cook County and lies 703 miles [1,131.4 km]<1> to the north northeast of the Chatham that is located in Jackson Parish.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Cook County community of Chatham.
      • Sangamon County
      • This Chatham is located in Sangamon County and lies 531 miles [854.6 km] to the north northeast of the Chatham that is located in Jackson Parish.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Sangamon County community of Chatham.
    • Kentucky
      • Bracken County
      • This Chatham is located in Bracken County and lies 647 miles [1,041.2 km]<1> to the northeast of the Chatham that is located in Jackson Parish.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Bracken County community of Chatham.
    • Maryland
      • Harford County
      • This Chatham is located in Harford County and lies 1,031 miles [1,659.2 km]<1> to the east northeast of the Chatham that is located in Jackson Parish.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Harford County community of Chatham.
      • Howard County
      • This Chatham is located in Howard County and lies 996 miles [1,602.9 km] to the east northeast of the Chatham that is located in Jackson Parish.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Howard County community of Chatham.
      • Prince George's County
      • This Chatham is located in Prince George's County and lies 982 miles [1,580.4 km] to the east northeast of the Chatham that is located in Jackson Parish.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Prince George's County community of Chatham.
    • Massachusetts
      • Barnstable County
      • This Chatham is located in Barnstable County and lies 1,393 miles [2,241.8 km]<1> to the northeast of the Chatham that is located in Jackson Parish.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Barnstable County community of Chatham.
    • Michigan
      • Alger County
      • This Chatham is located in Alger County and lies 1,012 miles [1,628.7 km]<1> to the north northeast of the Chatham that is located in Jackson Parish.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Alger County community of Chatham.
    • Minnesota
      • Kittson County
      • This Chatham is located in Kittson County and lies 1,156 miles [1,860.4 km]<1> to the north of the Chatham that is located in Jackson Parish.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Kittson County community of Chatham.
      • Wright 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 Minnesota community of Chatham [Wright County].
    • Mississippi
      • Washington County
      • This Chatham is located in Washington County and lies 95 miles [152.9 km]<1> to the northeast of the Chatham that is located in Jackson Parish.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Washington County community of Chatham.
    • New Brunswick
      • This Chatham lies 1,743 miles [2,805.1 km]<1> to the northeast of the Chatham that is located in Jackson Parish.
    • New Hampshire
      • Carroll County
      • This Chatham is located in Carroll County and lies 1,415 miles [2,277.2 km]<1> to the northeast of the Chatham that is located in Jackson Parish.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Carroll County community of Chatham.
    • New Jersey
      • Morris 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 Chatham [Morris County].
    • New York
      • Columbia County
      • This Chatham is located in Columbia County and lies 1,241 miles [1,997.2 km]<1> to the northeast of the Chatham that is located in Jackson Parish.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Columbia County community of Chatham.
    • Ohio
      • Licking County
      • This Chatham is located in Licking County and lies 776 miles [1,248.9 km]<1> to the northeast of the Chatham that is located in Jackson Parish.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Licking County community of Chatham.
      • Medina County
      • This Chatham is located in Medina County and lies 836 miles [1,345.4 km] to the northeast of the Chatham that is located in Jackson Parish.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Medina County community of Chatham.
    • Ontario
      • This Chatham lies 894 miles [1,438.8 km]<1> to the northeast of the Chatham that is located in Jackson Parish.
    • Pennsylvania
      • Chester County
      • This Chatham is located in Chester County and lies 1,061 miles [1,707.5 km]<1> to the northeast of the Chatham that is located in Jackson Parish.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Chester County community of Chatham.
    • Quebec
      • This Chatham lies 1,330 miles [2,140.4 km]<1> to the northeast of the Chatham that is located in Jackson Parish.
    • Virginia
      • Pittsylvania County
      • This Chatham is located in Pittsylvania County and lies 804 miles [1,293.9 km]<1> to the east northeast of the Chatham that is located in Jackson Parish.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Pittsylvania County community of Chatham.
    • Wyoming
      • Washakie 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 Wyoming community of Chatham [Washakie County].

Curious and Interesting Names Near Chatham ...

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.

  • Cartwright
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
    • Cartwright is located in Jackson Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cartwright
  • Cypress
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
    • Cypress is located in Ouachita Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cypress
  • Gulf Crossing
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Gulf Crossing is located in Jackson Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gulf Crossing
  • Hebron
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
    • Hebron is located in Jackson Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hebron
  • Hickory Springs ‑ Historic
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Hickory Springs is located in Jackson Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hickory Springs
  • Indian Village
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
    • Indian Village is located in Ouachita Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indian Village
  • Lyons
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • Lyons is located in Jackson Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lyons
  • Mineral Springs
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Mineral Springs is located in Ouachita Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mineral Springs
  • Mount Pleasant
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Mount Pleasant is located in Ouachita Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Pleasant
  • Pleasant Hill
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Pleasant Hill is located in Jackson Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Hill
  • Vixen
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Vixen is located in Caldwell Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vixen
  • Wood Junction
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Wood Junction is located in Jackson Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wood Junction

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

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

  • Jonesboro, which is the Seat of Jackson Parish, lies 16 miles [25.7 km]<1> to the west southwest. If you could walk a straight line from Chatham to Jonesboro, with an average speed<3> of 2.2 miles [3.5 km] per hour, it would take most of a day to make the trip. A horse and buggy averaging 3.2 miles [5.1 km] per hour would take five to six hours.
  • Baton Rouge, which is the State Capital of Louisiana, lies 149 miles [239.8 km] to the south southeast (SSE). Driving, with an average speed of 63 miles [101.4 km] per hour, would take less than three hours, a buggy would take 6 days and walking would take 9 days.
  • The White House (Washington, DC) is 975 miles [1,569.1 km] to the east northeast (ENE). Driving would take most of two days, a buggy would take 38 days and walking would take 56 days.
  • The shortest distance<4> to Jerusalem (specifically the Temple Mount and the Dome of the Rock) is 6,841 miles [11,009.5 km] and it lies to the northeast (NE).<5>
  • The distance to the Great Mosque of Mecca (specifically the Ka'bah - or Kaaba ) is 7,562 miles [12,169.9 km] and it lies to the northeast (NE).<6>
  • The distance to Saint Peter's Basilica (The Vatican) is 5,437 miles [8,750 km] and it lies to the northeast (NE).<7>'

Footnotes ...

<1>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 drawn from Point A (ie- Chatham) 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 Chatham 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 parish. 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 Chatham 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 Chatham. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 32.3094, Longitude: -92.4520       In this case, the coordinates for Chatham have been provided by the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS).
<5>The calculated bearing (or angle) to Jerusalem is 317.058 degrees.
<6>The calculated bearing (or angle) to Mecca is 313.05 degrees.
<7>The calculated bearing (or angle) to the Vatican is 312.833 degrees.