Outdoor Activities ...
As we travel, we like to pursue some of our interests (such as astronomy and bird watching).
When in Columbia, we use the following websites to find information relevant to Columbia and the surrounding area.
- Weather ...
- Before heading outdoors, you should check the weather:
- The National Weather Service forecast for Columbia
- 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 Columbia:
- 39.240384, -76.839418
- 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 Columbia
- 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 Howard County as the starting point when you click on the link below:
- eBird sighting report for Howard County
- Since Columbia is near Baltimore County and also Anne Arundel County, we have provided a link to their eBird sighting reports:
- eBird sighting report for Baltimore County
- eBird sighting report for Anne Arundel 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 Columbia ...
We found 49 communities that share the name Columbia.
Within Maryland, the name Columbia is unique.
Beyond Maryland, we know of another 49 communities that are located throughout in the United States.
- Communities Elsewhere In North America ...
- Alabama
- Henry 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 Columbia [Henry County].
- Houston County
- This Columbia is located in Houston County and lies 719 miles [1,157.1 km]<2> to the southwest of the Columbia that is located in Howard County.
- For more information, please visit our profile page for the Houston County community of Columbia.
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Cherokee 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 Kansas community of Columbia [Cherokee County].
- Ellsworth 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 Columbia [Ellsworth County].
- Lyon 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 Columbia [Lyon County].
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Caldwell Parish
- This Columbia is located in Caldwell Parish and lies 984 miles [1,583.6 km]<2> to the west southwest of the Columbia that is located in Howard County.
- For more information, please visit our profile page for the Caldwell Parish community of Columbia.
- Saint John the Baptist Parish
- This Columbia is located in Saint John the Baptist Parish and lies 1,004 miles [1,615.8 km] to the southwest of the Columbia that is located in Howard County.
- For more information, please visit our profile page for the Saint John the Baptist Parish community of Columbia.
- Maine
- Michigan
- Tuscola 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 Michigan community of Columbia [Tuscola County].
- Van Buren 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 Michigan community of Columbia [Van Buren County].
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Boone County
- This Columbia is located in Boone County and lies 829 miles [1,334.1 km]<2> to the west of the Columbia that is located in Howard County.
- For more information, please visit our profile page for the Boone County community of Columbia.
- Saint Louis County
- This community is historic<3> and although located in Saint Louis County, we don't know where within the county.
- For more information, please visit our profile page for the Saint Louis County community of Columbia.
- Nevada
- Elko 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 Columbia [Elko County].
- Esmeralda County
- This community is historic and we have very little information. For the information that we do have, please visit our profile page for the Nevada community of Columbia [Esmeralda County].
- Eureka County
- This community is historic and although located in Eureka County, we don't know where within the county.
- For more information, please visit our profile page for the Eureka County community of Columbia.
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New York
- North Carolina
- Ohio
- Clark County
- This community is historic<3> and although located in Clark County, we don't know where within the county.
- For more information, please visit our profile page for the Clark County community of Columbia.
- Delaware County
- Although located in Delaware County, we don't know the location within the county.
- For more information, please visit our profile page for the Delaware County community of Columbia.
- Hamilton County
- This Columbia is located in Hamilton County and lies 406 miles [653.4 km]<2> to the west of the Columbia that is located in Howard County.
- For more information, please visit our profile page for the Hamilton County community of Columbia.
- Stark County
- This Columbia is located in Stark County and lies 269 miles [432.9 km] to the west northwest of the Columbia that is located in Howard County.
- For more information, please visit our profile page for the Stark County community of Columbia.
- Tuscarawas County
- This Columbia is located in Tuscarawas County and lies 263 miles [423.3 km] to the west northwest of the Columbia that is located in Howard County.
- For more information, please visit our profile page for the Tuscarawas County community of Columbia.
- Williams County
- This Columbia is located in Williams County and lies 449 miles [722.6 km] to the west northwest of the Columbia that is located in Howard County.
- For more information, please visit our profile page for the Williams County community of Columbia.
- Oklahoma
- Pennsylvania
- Lancaster County
- This Columbia is located in Lancaster County and lies 57 miles [91.7 km]<2> to the north northeast of the Columbia that is located in Howard County.
- For more information, please visit our profile page for the Lancaster County community of Columbia.
- Venango 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 Pennsylvania community of Columbia [Venango County].
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Utah
- Virginia
- Washington
- King County
- This Columbia is located in King County and lies 2,315 miles [3,725.6 km]<2> to the west northwest of the Columbia that is located in Howard County.
- For more information, please visit our profile page for the King County community of Columbia.
- Whatcom County
- This Columbia is located in Whatcom County and lies 2,307 miles [3,712.8 km] to the west northwest of the Columbia that is located in Howard County.
- For more information, please visit our profile page for the Whatcom County community of Columbia.
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Alabama
Curious and Interesting Names Near Columbia ...
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.
- Bonnie Brae
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Bonnie Brae have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bonnie Brae
- Bonnie Brae is located in Howard County
- Chapelview
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Chapelview have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chapelview
- Chapelview is located in Howard County
- Fox Hill
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest) - Gray Rock
(Less than 2 miles to the north) - Gray Rock Farms
(Less than 2 miles to the north)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Gray Rock Farms have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gray Rock Farms
- Gray Rock Farms is located in Howard County
- Harpers Choice
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Harpers Choice have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harpers Choice
- Harpers Choice is located in Howard County
- Jonestown
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast) - Locust Park
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Locust Park have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Locust Park
- Locust Park is located in Howard County
- Long Reach
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Long Reach have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Long Reach
- Long Reach is located in Howard County
- Longfellow
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Longfellow have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Longfellow
- Longfellow is located in Howard County
- Phelps Luck
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Phelps Luck have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Phelps Luck
- Phelps Luck is located in Howard County
- Pine Orchard
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Pine Orchard have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Orchard
- Pine Orchard is located in Howard County
- Continue List (6 more) ...
- Running Brook
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Running Brook have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Running Brook
- Running Brook is located in Howard County
- Thunder Hill
(Less than 2 miles to the south)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Thunder Hill have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thunder Hill
- Thunder Hill is located in Howard County
- Timber Run
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Timber Run have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Timber Run
- Timber Run is located in Howard County
- Toll House
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Toll House have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Toll House
- Toll House is located in Howard County
- Vantage Point
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Vantage Point have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vantage Point
- Vantage Point is located in Howard County
- Wheatfield Way
(Less than 2 miles to the east)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Wheatfield Way have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wheatfield Way
- Wheatfield Way is located in Howard County
- Running Brook
How Far From Columbia 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 Columbia to various places of note, such as the White House.
With a nod to our favorite Gazetteers, the straight-line distance beginning in Columbia and extending to:
- Ellicott City, which is the Seat of Howard County, lies just to the Northeast.
- Annapolis, which is the State Capital of Maryland, lies 25 miles [40.2 km]<2> to the southeast (SE). If you could walk a straight line from Columbia to Annapolis, with an average speed<5> of 2.2 miles [3.5 km] per hour, it would take just about two full days to make the trip. A horse and buggy averaging 3.2 miles [5.1 km] per hour would take most of a day.
- The White House (Washington, DC) is 25 miles [40.2 km] to the south southwest (SSW). 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 5,875 miles [9,454.9 km] and it lies to the northeast (NE).<7>
- The distance to the Great Mosque of Mecca (specifically the Ka'bah - or Kaaba ) is 6,581 miles [10,591.1 km] and it lies to the east northeast (ENE).<8>
- The distance to Saint Peter's Basilica (The Vatican) is 4,457 miles [7,172.8 km] and it lies to the northeast (NE).<9>
Off-the-Road Links ...
Unfortunately, we don't know of a website for Columbia. If you can help, please contact us through our Feedback Page.
The official website for Howard County: www.co.ho.md.us/
The official website for State of Maryland: www.maryland.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 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 Columbia 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 '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- Columbia) to Point B.Our distance measurements begin at a specific point in Columbia. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 39.2404, Longitude: -76.8394 In this case, the coordinates for Columbia have been provided by the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS). |
| <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 Columbia, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <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 Columbia 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 307.75 degrees. |
| <8> | The calculated bearing (or angle) to Mecca is 303.334 degrees. |
| <9> | The calculated bearing (or angle) to the Vatican is 304.498 degrees. |