RoadsideThoughts
A Gazetteer for the United States and Canada
Home >> State of Maryland >> Montgomery County >> Boyds >> Tidbits & TriviaIndex...

Tidbits & Trivia

Introduction ...

Below is our collection of tidbits and odds 'n ends for Boyds.

Outdoor Activities ...

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

When in Boyds, we use the following websites to find information relevant to Boyds 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 Boyds:
    • 39.184527, -77.312574<1>
    • 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 Boyds
  • 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 Montgomery County as the starting point when you click on the link below:
    • Open the eBird sighting report for Montgomery County
    • Since Boyds is near Frederick County and also Loudoun County, we have provided a link to their eBird sighting reports:
    • Open the eBird sighting report for Frederick County
    • Open the eBird sighting report for Loudoun 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 Boyds

Communities Also Named Boyds ...

We found nine communities that are also named Boyds.

Within Maryland, the name Boyds is unique.

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

  • Communities Elsewhere In North America ...
    • Alabama
      • Boyds, Chambers County
      • This Boyds is located in Chambers County and lies 630 miles [1,013.9 km]<2> to the southwest of the Boyds that is located in Montgomery County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Chambers County community of Boyds.
      • Boyds, Montgomery 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 Alabama community of Boyds [Montgomery County].
    • Michigan
      • Boyds, Houghton 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 Michigan community of Boyds [Houghton County].
    • Ohio
      • Boyds, Columbiana County
      • This community is historic<4> and although located in Columbiana County, we don't know where within the county.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Columbiana County community of Boyds.
      • Boyds, Fayette County
      • This Boyds is located in Fayette County and lies 324 miles [521.4 km]<2> to the west of the Boyds that is located in Montgomery County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Fayette County community of Boyds.
      • Boyds, Miami 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 Ohio community of Boyds [Miami County].
    • Ontario
      • This Boyds lies 411 miles [661.4 km]<2> to the north of the Boyds that is located in Montgomery County.
    • South Carolina
      • Boyds, Newberry 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 South Carolina community of Boyds [Newberry County].
    • Washington
      • Boyds, Ferry County
      • This Boyds is located in Ferry County and lies 2,104 miles [3,386.1 km]<2> to the west northwest of the Boyds that is located in Montgomery County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Ferry County community of Boyds.

Curious and Interesting Names Near Boyds ...

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 Oak
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • Ancient Oak is also located in Montgomery County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ancient Oak
  • Big Woods Acres
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
    • Big Woods Acres is also located in Montgomery County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Woods Acres
  • Brink
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Brink is also located in Montgomery County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brink
  • Brown
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • Brown is also located in Montgomery County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brown
  • Clopper
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Clopper is also located in Montgomery County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clopper
  • Coventry
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • Coventry is also located in Montgomery County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coventry
  • Dawsonville
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
    • Dawsonville is also located in Montgomery County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dawsonville
  • Diamond Farms
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • Diamond Farms is also located in Montgomery County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Diamond Farms
  • Elizabeths Delight
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
    • Elizabeths Delight is also located in Montgomery County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elizabeths Delight
  • Fountain View
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Fountain View is also located in Montgomery County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fountain View
  • Fox Chapel
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
    • Fox Chapel is also located in Montgomery County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fox Chapel
  • Freedom Forest
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
    • Freedom Forest is also located in Montgomery County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Freedom Forest
  • Continue List   (20 more) ...
    • Jerusalem
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
      • Jerusalem is also located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jerusalem
    • Jonesville
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Jonesville is also located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jonesville
    • Kings Square
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
      • Kings Square is also located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kings Square
    • Kingsview Knolls
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Kingsview Knolls is also located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kingsview Knolls
    • Lees Corner
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Lees Corner is also located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lees Corner
    • Liberty Heights
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Liberty Heights is also located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liberty Heights
    • Longdraft
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Longdraft is also located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Longdraft
    • Miles Corner
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
      • Miles Corner is also located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Miles Corner
    • Mitchells Range
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
      • Mitchells Range is also located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mitchells Range
    • Natural Woods
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
      • Natural Woods is also located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Natural Woods
    • Orchard Place
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
      • Orchard Place is also located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orchard Place
    • Orchard Pond
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
      • Orchard Pond is also located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orchard Pond
    • Parkridge
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Parkridge is also located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parkridge
    • Pioneer Hills
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
      • Pioneer Hills is also located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pioneer Hills
    • Pleasant Fields
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Pleasant Fields is also located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Fields
    • Pleasant Run
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
      • Pleasant Run is also located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Run
    • Quail Ridge
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
      • Quail Ridge is also located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quail Ridge
    • Quail Run
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
      • Quail Run is also located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quail Run
    • Spring Meadows
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
      • Spring Meadows is also located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Meadows
    • Willow Ridge
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
      • Willow Ridge is also located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willow Ridge

How Far From Boyds 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 included the distance from a community such as Boyds to various places of note, such as the White House.

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

  • Rockville, which is the Seat of Montgomery County, lies 10 miles [16.1 km]<2> to the southeast. If you could walk a straight line from Boyds to Rockville, with an average speed<5> of 2.2 miles [3.5 km] per hour, it would take four to five hours to make the trip. A horse and buggy averaging 3.2 miles [5.1 km] per hour would take a little over three hours.
  • Annapolis, which is the State Capital of Maryland, lies 46 miles [74 km] to the east southeast (ESE). 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 24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast (SE). The buggy would take most of a day and walking would take just about two full days.
  • The shortest distance<6> to Jerusalem (specifically the Temple Mount and the Dome of the Rock) is 5,897 miles [9,490.3 km] and it lies to the northeast (NE).<7>
  • The distance to the Great Mosque of Mecca (specifically the Ka'bah - or Kaaba ) is 6,604 miles [10,628.1 km] and it lies to the east northeast (ENE).<8>
  • The distance to Saint Peter's Basilica (The Vatican) is 4,480 miles [7,209.9 km] and it lies to the northeast (NE).<9>

Footnotes ...

<1>GPS Coordinates for Boyds:
     Decimal: 39.18452, -77.312574
     DDMMSS: 39° 11' 4", -77° 18' 45"
<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 from Point A (ie- Boyds) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.
<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 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 Boyds 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>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 Boyds, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<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 Boyds 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 Boyds. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 39.1845, Longitude: -77.3126    
<7>The calculated bearing (or angle) to Jerusalem is 308.034 degrees.
<8>The calculated bearing (or angle) to Mecca is 303.648 degrees.
<9>The calculated bearing (or angle) to the Vatican is 304.72 degrees.