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A Gazetteer for the United States and Canada
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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 ...
  • 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:
    • 38.618174, -76.943306
    • 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
  • 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 Maryland, the name Dorchester is unique.

Beyond Maryland, 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 801 miles [1,289.1 km]<2> to the south southwest of the Dorchester that is located in Charles 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 533 miles [857.8 km]<2> to the south southwest of the Dorchester that is located in Charles 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 453 miles [729 km] to the southwest of the Dorchester that is located in Charles 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 696 miles [1,120.1 km]<2> to the west of the Dorchester that is located in Charles 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 827 miles [1,330.9 km]<2> to the west northwest of the Dorchester that is located in Charles County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Allamakee County community of Dorchester.
    • Massachusetts
      • Suffolk County
      • This Dorchester is located in Suffolk County and lies 399 miles [642.1 km]<2> to the northeast of the Dorchester that is located in Charles County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Suffolk 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 1,079 miles [1,736.5 km]<2> to the west northwest of the Dorchester that is located in Charles County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Saline County community of Dorchester.
    • New Brunswick
      • This Dorchester lies 808 miles [1,300.3 km]<2> to the northeast of the Dorchester that is located in Charles County.
    • New Hampshire
      • Grafton County
      • This Dorchester is located in Grafton County and lies 439 miles [706.5 km]<2> to the north northeast of the Dorchester that is located in Charles 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 114 miles [183.5 km]<2> to the east northeast of the Dorchester that is located in Charles 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 254 miles [408.8 km]<2> to the southwest of the Dorchester that is located in Charles County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Forsyth County community of Dorchester.
    • Ontario
      • This Dorchester lies 370 miles [595.5 km]<2> to the northwest of the Dorchester that is located in Charles County.
    • South Carolina
      • Charleston County
      • This Dorchester is located in Charleston County and lies 433 miles [696.8 km]<2> to the south southwest of the Dorchester that is located in Charles 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 424 miles [682.4 km] to the south southwest of the Dorchester that is located in Charles 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 1,154 miles [1,857.2 km]<2> to the west of the Dorchester that is located in Charles 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 84 miles [135.2 km]<2> to the south southwest of the Dorchester that is located in Charles 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 331 miles [532.7 km] to the west southwest of the Dorchester that is located in Charles 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 816 miles [1,313.2 km]<2> to the northwest of the Dorchester that is located in Charles County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Clark County community of Dorchester.

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.

  • Bannister
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Bannister have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bannister
    • Bannister is located in Charles County
  • Beantown
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Beantown have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beantown
    • Beantown is located in Charles County
  • Berry
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Berry have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berry
    • Berry is located in Charles County
  • Bolton
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Bolton have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bolton
    • Bolton is located in Charles County
  • Constitution Hills
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Constitution Hills have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Constitution Hills
    • Constitution Hills is located in Charles County
  • Deerwood
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Deerwood have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deerwood
    • Deerwood is located in Charles County
  • Delight
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Delight have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delight
    • Delight is located in Charles County
  • Forest Grove
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Forest Grove have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest Grove
    • Forest Grove is located in Charles County
  • Fox Run
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Fox Run have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fox Run
    • Fox Run is located in Charles County
  • Green Acres
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Green Acres have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Acres
    • Green Acres is located in Prince George's County
  • Holly Station
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Holly Station have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holly Station
    • Holly Station is located in Charles County
  • Hunters Ridge
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Hunters Ridge have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hunters Ridge
    • Hunters Ridge is located in Charles County
  • Continue List   (5 more) ...
    • Lynnbrook
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Lynnbrook have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lynnbrook
      • Lynnbrook is located in Charles County
    • Lyons Corner
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lyons Corner
      • Lyons Corner is located in Charles County
    • Spring Valley
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Spring Valley have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Valley
      • Spring Valley is located in Charles County
    • Springhaven
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Springhaven have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Springhaven
      • Springhaven is located in Charles County
    • Turkey Hill
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Turkey Hill have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Turkey Hill
      • Turkey Hill is located in Charles County

How Far From Dorchester 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 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:

  • La Plata, which is the Seat of Charles County, lies just to the South Southwest.
  • Annapolis, which is the State Capital of Maryland, lies 34 miles [54.7 km]<2> to the northeast (NE). If you could walk a straight line from Dorchester to Annapolis, with an average speed<5> of 2.2 miles [3.5 km] per hour, it would take most of two days to make the trip. A horse and buggy averaging 3.2 miles [5.1 km] per hour would take just about two full days.
  • The White House (Washington, DC) is 19 miles [30.6 km] to the north northwest (NNW). The buggy would take 6 hours and walking would take just over a day.
  • The shortest distance<6> to Jerusalem (specifically the Temple Mount and the Dome of the Rock) is 5,905 miles [9,503.2 km] and it lies to the northeast (NE).<7>
  • The distance to the Great Mosque of Mecca (specifically the Ka'bah - or Kaaba ) is 6,609 miles [10,636.2 km] and it lies to the east northeast (ENE).<8>
  • The distance to Saint Peter's Basilica (The Vatican) is 4,486 miles [7,219.5 km] and it lies to the northeast (NE).<9>

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 Charles County: www.charlescounty.org/

The official website for State of Maryland: www.maryland.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 '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- 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: 38.6182, Longitude: -76.9433       In this case, the coordinates for Dorchester have been provided by the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS).
<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 307.852 degrees.
<8>The calculated bearing (or angle) to Mecca is 303.353 degrees.
<9>The calculated bearing (or angle) to the Vatican is 304.782 degrees.









 

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This page was last modified/updated: 07 Apr 2024