RoadsideThoughts
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 Ralston, we use the following websites to find information relevant to Ralston 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 Ralston:
    • 39.370939, -76.726639
    • 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 Ralston
  • 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 Baltimore County as the starting point when you click on the link below:
    • Open the eBird sighting report for Baltimore County
    • Since Ralston is near Baltimore City and also Howard County, we have provided a link to their eBird sighting reports:
    • Open the eBird sighting report for Baltimore City
    • Open the eBird sighting report for Howard 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 Ralston

Communities Also Named Ralston ...

We found fifteen communities that are also named Ralston.

Within Maryland, the name Ralston is unique.

Beyond Maryland, we know of fifteen communities that are located in the United States and Canada. Of these fifteen communities, thirteen are located in the United States and two are in Canada.

  • Communities Elsewhere In North America ...
    • Alberta
      • This Ralston lies 1,826 miles [2,938.7 km]<1> to the northwest of the Ralston that is located in Baltimore County.
    • California
      • Placer County
      • This community is historic<2> and we have very little information. For the information that we do have, please visit our profile page for the California community of Ralston [Placer County].
    • Iowa
      • Carroll County
      • This Ralston is located in Carroll County and lies 953 miles [1,533.7 km]<1> to the west northwest of the Ralston that is located in Baltimore County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Carroll County community of Ralston.
    • Manitoba
      • This Ralston lies 1,361 miles [2,190.3 km]<1> to the northwest of the Ralston that is located in Baltimore County.
    • Mississippi
      • Forrest County
      • This Ralston is located in Forrest County and lies 899 miles [1,446.8 km]<1> to the southwest of the Ralston that is located in Baltimore County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Forrest County community of Ralston.
    • Montana
      • Silver Bow 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 Montana community of Ralston [Silver Bow County].
    • Nebraska
      • Douglas County
      • This Ralston is located in Douglas County and lies 1,022 miles [1,644.7 km]<1> to the west northwest of the Ralston that is located in Baltimore County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Douglas County community of Ralston.
    • Nevada
      • Nye County
      • This community is historic<2> and we have very little information. For the information that we do have, please visit our profile page for the Nevada community of Ralston [Nye County].
    • New Jersey
      • Morris County
      • This Ralston is located in Morris County and lies 147 miles [236.6 km]<1> to the northeast of the Ralston that is located in Baltimore County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Morris County community of Ralston.
    • North Dakota
      • Ward County
      • This Ralston is located in Ward County and lies 1,368 miles [2,201.6 km]<1> to the northwest of the Ralston that is located in Baltimore County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Ward County community of Ralston.
    • Oklahoma
      • Pawnee County
      • This Ralston is located in Pawnee County and lies 1,105 miles [1,778.3 km]<1> to the west of the Ralston that is located in Baltimore County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Pawnee County community of Ralston.
    • Pennsylvania
      • Lycoming County
      • This Ralston is located in Lycoming County and lies 147 miles [236.6 km]<1> to the north of the Ralston that is located in Baltimore County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Lycoming County community of Ralston.
    • Tennessee
      • Weakley County
      • This Ralston is located in Weakley County and lies 690 miles [1,110.4 km]<1> to the west southwest of the Ralston that is located in Baltimore County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Weakley County community of Ralston.
    • Washington
      • Adams County
      • This community is historic<2> and we have very little information. For the information that we do have, please visit our profile page for the Washington community of Ralston [Adams County].
    • Wyoming
      • Park County
      • This Ralston is located in Park County and lies 1,677 miles [2,698.9 km]<1> to the west northwest of the Ralston that is located in Baltimore County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Park County community of Ralston.

Curious and Interesting Names Near Ralston ...

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.

  • Colonial Village
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
    • Colonial Village is located in Baltimore City
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colonial Village
  • Euclid Heights
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Euclid Heights is located in Baltimore City
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Euclid Heights
  • Falls Gable
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
    • Falls Gable is located in Baltimore County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Falls Gable
  • Fields of Stevenson
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
    • Fields of Stevenson is located in Baltimore County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fields of Stevenson
  • Fishtown
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
    • Fishtown is located in Baltimore County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fishtown
  • Greene Tree
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
    • Greene Tree is located in Baltimore County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greene Tree
  • Greengate
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
    • Greengate is located in Baltimore County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greengate
  • Grey Rock
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
    • Grey Rock is located in Baltimore County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grey Rock
  • Halcyon Gate
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Halcyon Gate is located in Baltimore County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Halcyon Gate
  • Howardsville
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
    • Howardsville is located in Baltimore County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Howardsville
  • Imperial Gardens
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
    • Imperial Gardens is located in Baltimore County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Imperial Gardens
  • Julian Woods
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
    • Julian Woods is located in Baltimore County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Julian Woods
  • Continue List   (12 more) ...
    • Leisure Hill
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
      • Leisure Hill is located in Baltimore County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leisure Hill
    • Merrymount
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Merrymount is located in Baltimore County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Merrymount
    • Mount Hope
      (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
      • Mount Hope is located in Baltimore City
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Hope
    • Pickwick
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
      • Pickwick is located in Baltimore County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pickwick
    • Pikesville
      (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
    • Rolling Park
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Rolling Park is located in Baltimore County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rolling Park
    • Rolling Ridge
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Rolling Ridge is located in Baltimore County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rolling Ridge
    • Summit Chase
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
      • Summit Chase is located in Baltimore County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summit Chase
    • Summit Park
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
      • Summit Park is located in Baltimore County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summit Park
    • Valley Stream
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
      • Valley Stream is located in Baltimore County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Valley Stream
    • Whispering Meadows
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
      • Whispering Meadows is located in Baltimore County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whispering Meadows
    • Willow Glen
      (Less than 2 miles to the south)
      • Willow Glen is located in Baltimore County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willow Glen

How Far From Ralston 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 Ralston to various places of note, such as the White House.

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

  • Towson, which is the Seat of Baltimore County, lies just to the East Northeast.
  • Annapolis, which is the State Capital of Maryland, lies 29 miles [46.7 km]<1> to the south southeast (SSE). If you could walk a straight line from Ralston 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 just over a day.
  • The White House (Washington, DC) is 36 miles [57.9 km] to the south southwest (SSW). Driving, with an average speed of 63 miles [101.4 km] per hour, would take less than an hour, a buggy would take just about two full days and walking would take over two days.
  • The shortest distance<6> to Jerusalem (specifically the Temple Mount and the Dome of the Rock) is 5,864 miles [9,437.2 km] and it lies to the northeast (NE).<7>
  • The distance to the Great Mosque of Mecca (specifically the Ka'bah - or Kaaba ) is 6,571 miles [10,575 km] and it lies to the east northeast (ENE).<8>
  • The distance to Saint Peter's Basilica (The Vatican) is 4,447 miles [7,156.8 km] and it lies to the northeast (NE).<9>'

Footnotes ...

<1>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- Ralston) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.
<2>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 Ralston, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<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 Ralston 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>While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program.
<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 Ralston 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 Ralston. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 39.3709, Longitude: -76.7266       In this case, the coordinates for Ralston have been provided by the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS).
<7>The calculated bearing (or angle) to Jerusalem is 307.675 degrees.
<8>The calculated bearing (or angle) to Mecca is 303.268 degrees.
<9>The calculated bearing (or angle) to the Vatican is 304.398 degrees.