RoadsideThoughts
A Gazetteer for the United States and Canada
Home >> State of Massachusetts >> Plymouth County >> Rochester >> Tidbits & TriviaIndex...

Outdoor Activities ...

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

When in Rochester, we use the following websites to find information relevant to Rochester 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 Rochester:
    • 41.731810, -70.820488
    • 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 Rochester
  • 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 Plymouth County as the starting point when you click on the link below:
    • Open the eBird sighting report for Plymouth County
    • Since Rochester is near Bristol County and also Barnstable County, we have provided a link to their eBird sighting reports:
    • Open the eBird sighting report for Bristol County
    • Open the eBird sighting report for Barnstable 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 Rochester

Communities Also Named Rochester ...

We found 32 communities that are also named Rochester.

Within Massachusetts, the name Rochester is unique.

Beyond Massachusetts, we know of 32 communities that are located in the United States and Canada. Of these 32 communities, 31 are located in the United States and one is in Canada.

  • Communities Elsewhere In North America ...
    • Alberta
      • This Rochester lies 2,111 miles [3,397.3 km]<1> to the northwest of the Rochester that is located in Plymouth County.
    • California
      • San Bernardino County
      • This Rochester is located in San Bernardino County and lies 2,567 miles [4,131.2 km]<1> to the west of the Rochester that is located in Plymouth County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the San Bernardino County community of Rochester.
    • Illinois
      • Sangamon County
      • This Rochester is located in Sangamon County and lies 986 miles [1,586.8 km]<1> to the west of the Rochester that is located in Plymouth County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Sangamon County community of Rochester.
      • Wabash County
      • This Rochester is located in Wabash County and lies 927 miles [1,491.9 km] to the west of the Rochester that is located in Plymouth County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Wabash County community of Rochester.
    • Indiana
      • Fulton County
      • This Rochester is located in Fulton County and lies 796 miles [1,281 km]<1> to the west of the Rochester that is located in Plymouth County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Fulton County community of Rochester.
    • Iowa
      • Cedar County
      • This Rochester is located in Cedar County and lies 1,046 miles [1,683.4 km]<1> to the west of the Rochester that is located in Plymouth County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Cedar County community of Rochester.
    • Kansas
      • Anderson 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 Kansas community of Rochester [Anderson County].
      • Atchison County
      • We found mention of this community, but have little information. For the information that we do have, please visit our profile page for the Kansas community of Rochester [Atchison County].
      • Cloud County
      • We found mention of this community, but have little information. For the information that we do have, please visit our profile page for the Kansas community of Rochester [Cloud County].
      • Meade County
      • We found mention of this community, but have little information. For the information that we do have, please visit our profile page for the Kansas community of Rochester [Meade County].
      • Neosho County
      • We found mention of this community, but have little information. For the information that we do have, please visit our profile page for the Kansas community of Rochester [Neosho County].
      • Shawnee County
      • We found mention of this community, but have little information. For the information that we do have, please visit our profile page for the Kansas community of Rochester [Shawnee County].
    • Kentucky
      • Butler County
      • This Rochester is located in Butler County and lies 910 miles [1,464.5 km]<1> to the west southwest of the Rochester that is located in Plymouth County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Butler County community of Rochester.
    • Louisiana
      • Jackson Parish
      • 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 Louisiana community of Rochester [Jackson Parish].
    • Michigan
      • Oakland County
      • This Rochester is located in Oakland County and lies 632 miles [1,017.1 km]<1> to the west of the Rochester that is located in Plymouth County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Oakland County community of Rochester.
    • Minnesota
      • Olmsted County
      • This Rochester is located in Olmsted County and lies 1,104 miles [1,776.7 km]<1> to the west northwest of the Rochester that is located in Plymouth County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Olmsted County community of Rochester.
    • Missouri
      • Andrew County
      • This community is historic<3> and we have very little information. For the information that we do have, please visit our profile page for the Missouri community of Rochester [Andrew County].
    • Montana
      • Deer Lodge 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 Montana community of Rochester [Deer Lodge County].
      • Madison County
      • This Rochester is located in Madison County and lies 2,075 miles [3,339.4 km]<1> to the west northwest of the Rochester that is located in Plymouth County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Madison County community of Rochester.
    • Nevada
      • Pershing County
      • This community is historic<3> and we have very little information. For the information that we do have, please visit our profile page for the Nevada community of Rochester [Pershing County].
    • New Hampshire
      • Strafford County
      • This Rochester is located in Strafford County and lies 108 miles [173.8 km]<1> to the north of the Rochester that is located in Plymouth County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Strafford County community of Rochester.
    • New York
      • Monroe County
      • This Rochester is located in Monroe County and lies 359 miles [577.8 km]<1> to the west northwest of the Rochester that is located in Plymouth County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Monroe County community of Rochester.
    • North Carolina
      • Robeson 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 North Carolina community of Rochester [Robeson County].
    • Ohio
      • Champaign County
      • This Rochester is located in Champaign County and lies 595 miles [957.6 km]<1> to the west of the Rochester that is located in Plymouth County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Champaign County community of Rochester.
      • Coshocton County
      • This community is historic<3> and although located in Coshocton County, we don't know where within the county.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Coshocton County community of Rochester.
      • Lorain County
      • This Rochester is located in Lorain County and lies 595 miles [957.6 km] to the west of the Rochester that is located in Plymouth County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Lorain County community of Rochester.
      • Noble County
      • This Rochester is located in Noble County and lies 574 miles [923.8 km] to the west of the Rochester that is located in Plymouth County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Noble County community of Rochester.
    • Pennsylvania
      • Beaver County
      • This Rochester is located in Beaver County and lies 496 miles [798.2 km]<1> to the west of the Rochester that is located in Plymouth County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Beaver County community of Rochester.
    • Texas
      • Haskell County
      • This Rochester is located in Haskell County and lies 1,683 miles [2,708.5 km]<1> to the west of the Rochester that is located in Plymouth County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Haskell County community of Rochester.
    • Vermont
      • Windsor County
      • This Rochester is located in Windsor County and lies 178 miles [286.5 km]<1> to the north northwest of the Rochester that is located in Plymouth County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Windsor County community of Rochester.
    • Washington
      • Thurston County
      • This Rochester is located in Thurston County and lies 2,558 miles [4,116.7 km]<1> to the west northwest of the Rochester that is located in Plymouth County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Thurston County community of Rochester.
    • Wisconsin
      • Racine County
      • This Rochester is located in Racine County and lies 890 miles [1,432.3 km]<1> to the west of the Rochester that is located in Plymouth County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Racine County community of Rochester.

Curious and Interesting Names Near Rochester ...

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.

  • Alms House
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • Alms House is located in Plymouth County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alms House
  • Cannonville
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Cannonville is located in Plymouth County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cannonville
  • Crescent Beach
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Crescent Beach is located in Plymouth County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crescent Beach
  • Douglas Corner
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Douglas Corner is located in Plymouth County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Douglas Corner
  • Five Corners
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Five Corners is located in Plymouth County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Five Corners
  • Harbor Beach
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • Harbor Beach is located in Plymouth County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harbor Beach
  • Holly Woods
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • Holly Woods is located in Plymouth County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holly Woods
  • Howlands
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Howlands is located in Plymouth County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Howlands
  • Inland Park
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • Inland Park is located in Bristol County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Inland Park
  • Long Plain
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • Marion
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Masons Corner
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • Masons Corner is located in Bristol County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Masons Corner
  • Continue List   (4 more) ...
    • Piney Point Beach
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
      • Piney Point Beach is located in Plymouth County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Piney Point Beach
    • Shell Beach
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
      • Shell Beach is located in Plymouth County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shell Beach
    • Swifts Beach
      (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
      • Swifts Beach is located in Plymouth County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swifts Beach
    • Wolf Lake
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Wolf Lake is located in Plymouth County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wolf Lake

How Far From Rochester to ...

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

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

  • Plymouth, which is the Seat of Plymouth County, lies 17 miles [27.4 km]<1> to the north northeast. If you could walk a straight line from Rochester to Plymouth, with an average speed<4> 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.
  • Boston, which is the State Capital of Massachusetts, lies 45 miles [72.4 km] to the north northwest (NNW). Driving, with an average speed of 63 miles [101.4 km] per hour, would take less than an hour, a buggy would take most of two days and walking would take about three full days.
  • The White House (Washington, DC) is 381 miles [613.2 km] to the west southwest (WSW). Driving would take most of a day, a buggy would take 15 days and walking would take 22 days.
  • The shortest distance<5> to Jerusalem (specifically the Temple Mount and the Dome of the Rock) is 5,518 miles [8,880.4 km] and it lies to the east northeast (ENE).<6>
  • The distance to the Great Mosque of Mecca (specifically the Ka'bah - or Kaaba ) is 6,221 miles [10,011.7 km] and it lies to the east northeast (ENE).<7>
  • The distance to Saint Peter's Basilica (The Vatican) is 4,098 miles [6,595.1 km] and it lies to the east northeast (ENE).<8>'

Footnotes ...

<1>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- Rochester) 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 Rochester 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>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 Rochester, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<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 Rochester 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 Rochester. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 41.7318, Longitude: -70.8205    
<6>The calculated bearing (or angle) to Jerusalem is 303.927 degrees.
<7>The calculated bearing (or angle) to Mecca is 299.411 degrees.
<8>The calculated bearing (or angle) to the Vatican is 300.786 degrees.