Outdoor Activities ...
As we travel, we like to pursue some of our interests (such as astronomy and bird watching).
When in Dorchester, we use the following websites to find information relevant to Dorchester and the surrounding area.
- Weather ...
- Before heading outdoors, you should check the weather:
- The National Weather Service forecast for Dorchester
- 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 Dorchester:
- 42.301066, -71.067500
- 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 Dorchester
- 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 Suffolk County as the starting point when you click on the link below:
- eBird sighting report for Suffolk County
- Since Dorchester is near Norfolk County and also Middlesex County, we have provided a link to their eBird sighting reports:
- eBird sighting report for Norfolk County
- eBird sighting report for Middlesex 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:
- Waymark.com
Communities Also Named Dorchester ...
We found twenty communities that share the name Dorchester.
Within Massachusetts, the name Dorchester is unique.
Beyond Massachusetts, we know of another twenty communities that are located throughout in the United States and Canada. Of these twenty communities, eighteen are located in the United States and two are in Canada.
- Communities Elsewhere In North America ...
- Colorado
- Gunnison County
- This community is historic<1> and although located in Gunnison County, we don't know where within the county.
- For more information, please visit our profile page for the Gunnison County community of Dorchester.
- Florida
- Hillsborough County
- This Dorchester is located in Hillsborough County and lies 1,178 miles [1,895.8 km]<2> to the southwest of the Dorchester that is located in Suffolk County.
- For more information, please visit our profile page for the Hillsborough County community of Dorchester.
- Georgia
- Liberty County
- This Dorchester is located in Liberty County and lies 920 miles [1,480.6 km]<2> to the southwest of the Dorchester that is located in Suffolk County.
- For more information, please visit our profile page for the Liberty County community of Dorchester.
- Richmond County
- This Dorchester is located in Richmond County and lies 851 miles [1,369.6 km] to the southwest of the Dorchester that is located in Suffolk County.
- For more information, please visit our profile page for the Richmond County community of Dorchester.
- Illinois
- Macoupin County
- This Dorchester is located in Macoupin County and lies 1,007 miles [1,620.6 km]<2> to the west of the Dorchester that is located in Suffolk County.
- For more information, please visit our profile page for the Macoupin County community of Dorchester.
- Iowa
- Allamakee County
- This Dorchester is located in Allamakee County and lies 1,034 miles [1,664.1 km]<2> to the west northwest of the Dorchester that is located in Suffolk County.
- For more information, please visit our profile page for the Allamakee County community of Dorchester.
- Maryland
- Charles County
- This Dorchester is located in Charles County and lies 399 miles [642.1 km]<2> to the southwest of the Dorchester that is located in Suffolk County.
- For more information, please visit our profile page for the Charles County community of Dorchester.
- Missouri
- Greene County
- We found mention of this community, but have little information.<3> For the information that we do have, please visit our profile page for the Missouri community of Dorchester [Greene County].
- Nebraska
- Saline County
- This Dorchester is located in Saline County and lies 1,347 miles [2,167.8 km]<2> to the west of the Dorchester that is located in Suffolk County.
- For more information, please visit our profile page for the Saline County community of Dorchester.
- New Brunswick
- This Dorchester lies 409 miles [658.2 km]<2> to the northeast of the Dorchester that is located in Suffolk County.
- New Hampshire
- Grafton County
- This Dorchester is located in Grafton County and lies 109 miles [175.4 km]<2> to the north northwest of the Dorchester that is located in Suffolk County.
- For more information, please visit our profile page for the Grafton County community of Dorchester.
- New Jersey
- Cumberland County
- This Dorchester is located in Cumberland County and lies 292 miles [469.9 km]<2> to the southwest of the Dorchester that is located in Suffolk County.
- For more information, please visit our profile page for the Cumberland County community of Dorchester.
- North Carolina
- Forsyth County
- This Dorchester is located in Forsyth County and lies 653 miles [1,050.9 km]<2> to the southwest of the Dorchester that is located in Suffolk County.
- For more information, please visit our profile page for the Forsyth County community of Dorchester.
- Ontario
- This Dorchester lies 508 miles [817.5 km]<2> to the west of the Dorchester that is located in Suffolk County.
- South Carolina
- Charleston County
- This Dorchester is located in Charleston County and lies 813 miles [1,308.4 km]<2> to the southwest of the Dorchester that is located in Suffolk County.
- For more information, please visit our profile page for the Charleston County community of Dorchester.
- Dorchester County
- This Dorchester is located in Dorchester County and lies 811 miles [1,305.2 km] to the southwest of the Dorchester that is located in Suffolk County.
- For more information, please visit our profile page for the Dorchester County community of Dorchester.
- Texas
- Grayson County
- This Dorchester is located in Grayson County and lies 1,513 miles [2,434.9 km]<2> to the west southwest of the Dorchester that is located in Suffolk County.
- For more information, please visit our profile page for the Grayson County community of Dorchester.
- Virginia
- Richmond City
- This Dorchester is located in Richmond City and lies 475 miles [764.4 km]<2> to the southwest of the Dorchester that is located in Suffolk County.
- For more information, please visit our profile page for the Richmond City community of Dorchester.
- Wise County
- This Dorchester is located in Wise County and lies 717 miles [1,153.9 km] to the west southwest of the Dorchester that is located in Suffolk County.
- For more information, please visit our profile page for the Wise County community of Dorchester.
- Wisconsin
- Clark County
- This Dorchester is located in Clark County and lies 977 miles [1,572.3 km]<2> to the west northwest of the Dorchester that is located in Suffolk County.
- For more information, please visit our profile page for the Clark County community of Dorchester.
- Colorado
Curious and Interesting Names Near Dorchester ...
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.
- Boston
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boston
- Boston is located in Suffolk County
- Population from the 2020 Census: 691,531 people
- Cedar Grove
(Less than 2 miles to the south)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Cedar Grove have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Grove
- Cedar Grove is located in Suffolk County
- Downtown Crossing
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Downtown Crossing have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Downtown Crossing
- Downtown Crossing is located in Suffolk County
- Fields Corner
(Less than 2 miles to the east)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Fields Corner have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fields Corner
- Fields Corner is located in Suffolk County
- Fort Independence
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Fort Independence have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fort Independence
- Fort Independence is located in Suffolk County
- Grove Hall
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Grove Hall have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grove Hall
- Grove Hall is located in Suffolk County
- Highland
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west) - Longwood Station
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Longwood Station have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Longwood Station
- Longwood Station is located in Norfolk County
- Meeting House Hill
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Meeting House Hill have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meeting House Hill
- Meeting House Hill is located in Suffolk County
- Merrymount
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Merrymount have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Merrymount
- Merrymount is located in Norfolk County
- Milton Center
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Milton Center have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milton Center
- Milton Center is located in Norfolk County
- Mount Hope
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Mount Hope have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Hope
- Mount Hope is located in Suffolk County
- Reservoir
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
How Far From Dorchester 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 Dorchester to various places of note, such as the White House.
With a nod to our favorite Gazetteers, the straight-line distance beginning in Dorchester and extending to:
- Boston, which is the Seat of Suffolk County, lies just to the North.
- Boston, which is the State Capital of Massachusetts, lies just to the north (N).
- The White House (Washington, DC) is 391 miles [629.3 km]<2> to the southwest (SW). If you could drive a straight line from Dorchester to White House, with an average speed<5>of 63 miles [101.4 km] per hour, it would take most of a day to make the trip. A comfortable walk of 2.2 miles [3.5 km] per hour would take 23 days. A horse and buggy averaging 3.2 miles [5.1 km] per hour would take 16 days.
- The shortest distance<6> to Jerusalem (specifically the Temple Mount and the Dome of the Rock) is 5,506 miles [8,861 km] and it lies to the east northeast (ENE).<7>
- The distance to the Great Mosque of Mecca (specifically the Ka'bah - or Kaaba ) is 6,213 miles [9,998.9 km] and it lies to the east northeast (ENE).<8>
- The distance to Saint Peter's Basilica (The Vatican) is 4,089 miles [6,580.6 km] and it lies to the east northeast (ENE).<9>
Off-the-Road Links ...
Unfortunately, we don't know of a website for Dorchester. If you can help, please contact us through our Feedback Page.
The official website for State of Massachusetts: https://www.mass.gov/
Footnotes ...
| <1> | We use the term 'Historic' broadly and it generally means that the community no longer exists. However, it can also mean that the community might still exist, but was significantly larger or had a more 'official' existence in the past than it does now. Unfortunately our sources of data have proven to be unreliable. If you can provide us with more specific information about Dorchester, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <2> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' (or point-to-point) distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Dorchester) to Point B.Our distance measurements begin at a specific point in Dorchester. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 42.3011, Longitude: -71.0675 |
| <3> | 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 Dorchester 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. |
| <4> | 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. |
| <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 Dorchester 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 303.989 degrees. |
| <8> | The calculated bearing (or angle) to Mecca is 299.576 degrees. |
| <9> | The calculated bearing (or angle) to the Vatican is 300.605 degrees. |