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

Outdoor Activities ...

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

When in Westchester, we use the following websites to find information relevant to Westchester 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 Westchester:
    • 39.279273, -76.764417
    • 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 Westchester
  • 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 Westchester is near Howard County and also Baltimore City, we have provided a link to their eBird sighting reports:
    • Open the eBird sighting report for Howard County
    • Open the eBird sighting report for Baltimore City
  • 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 Westchester

Communities Also Named Westchester ...

We found 26 communities that are also named Westchester.

There are two communities within Maryland that are also named Westchester.

Beyond Maryland, we know of 24 communities that are located in the United States and Canada. Of these 24 communities, 25 are located in the United States and one is in Canada.

  • Communities Located In Maryland ...
    • Frederick County
      • This Westchester is located in Frederick County and lies 43 miles [69.2 km]<1> to the west northwest of the Westchester that is located in Baltimore County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Frederick County community of Westchester.
    • Montgomery 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 Maryland community of Westchester [Montgomery County].
  • Communities Elsewhere In North America ...
    • California
      • Los Angeles County
      • This Westchester is located in Los Angeles County and lies 2,315 miles [3,725.6 km]<1> to the west of the Westchester that is located in Baltimore County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Los Angeles County community of Westchester.
    • Connecticut
      • New London County
      • This Westchester is located in New London County and lies 277 miles [445.8 km]<1> to the northeast of the Westchester that is located in Baltimore County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the New London County community of Westchester.
    • Florida
      • Hillsborough County
      • This Westchester is located in Hillsborough County and lies 843 miles [1,356.7 km]<1> to the south southwest of the Westchester that is located in Baltimore County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Hillsborough County community of Westchester.
      • Miami-Dade County
      • This Westchester is located in Miami-Dade County and lies 956 miles [1,538.5 km] to the south southwest of the Westchester that is located in Baltimore County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Miami-Dade County community of Westchester.
    • Georgia
      • Bulloch County
      • This Westchester is located in Bulloch County and lies 547 miles [880.3 km]<1> to the south southwest of the Westchester that is located in Baltimore County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Bulloch County community of Westchester.
      • Clarke County
      • This Westchester is located in Clarke County and lies 520 miles [836.9 km] to the southwest of the Westchester that is located in Baltimore County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Clarke County community of Westchester.
    • Illinois
      • Cook County
      • This Westchester is located in Cook County and lies 609 miles [980.1 km]<1> to the west northwest of the Westchester that is located in Baltimore County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Cook County community of Westchester.
    • Indiana
      • Allen County
      • This Westchester is located in Allen County and lies 457 miles [735.5 km]<1> to the west northwest of the Westchester that is located in Baltimore County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Allen County community of Westchester.
      • Jay County
      • This Westchester is located in Jay County and lies 438 miles [704.9 km] to the west northwest of the Westchester that is located in Baltimore County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Jay County community of Westchester.
    • Louisiana
      • East Baton Rouge Parish
      • This Westchester is located in East Baton Rouge Parish and lies 1,016 miles [1,635.1 km]<1> to the west southwest of the Westchester that is located in Baltimore County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the East Baton Rouge Parish community of Westchester.
    • Massachusetts
      • Worcester County
      • This Westchester is located in Worcester County and lies 331 miles [532.7 km]<1> to the northeast of the Westchester that is located in Baltimore County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Worcester County community of Westchester.
    • New York
      • Bronx County
      • This Westchester is located in Bronx County and lies 188 miles [302.6 km]<1> to the northeast of the Westchester that is located in Baltimore County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Bronx County community of Westchester.
      • Westchester 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 New York community of Westchester [Westchester County].
    • North Carolina
      • Cumberland County
      • This Westchester is located in Cumberland County and lies 318 miles [511.8 km]<1> to the south southwest of the Westchester that is located in Baltimore County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Cumberland County community of Westchester.
      • Mecklenburg County
      • This Westchester is located in Mecklenburg County and lies 358 miles [576.1 km] to the southwest of the Westchester that is located in Baltimore County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Mecklenburg County community of Westchester.
      • Wake County
      • This Westchester is located in Wake County and lies 260 miles [418.4 km] to the south southwest of the Westchester that is located in Baltimore County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Wake County community of Westchester.
    • Nova Scotia
      • This Westchester lies 795 miles [1,279.4 km]<1> to the northeast of the Westchester that is located in Baltimore County.
    • South Carolina
      • Charleston County
      • This Westchester is located in Charleston County and lies 487 miles [783.8 km]<1> to the south southwest of the Westchester that is located in Baltimore County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Charleston County community of Westchester.
    • Virginia
      • Chesterfield County
      • This Westchester is located in Chesterfield County and lies 128 miles [206 km]<1> to the south southwest of the Westchester that is located in Baltimore County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Chesterfield County community of Westchester.
      • Fairfax 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 Virginia community of Westchester [Fairfax County].
      • Petersburg City
      • This Westchester is located in Petersburg City and lies 146 miles [235 km] to the south southwest of the Westchester that is located in Baltimore County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Petersburg City community of Westchester.
      • Prince William County
      • This Westchester is located in Prince William County and lies 54 miles [86.9 km] to the southwest of the Westchester that is located in Baltimore County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Prince William County community of Westchester.
    • West Virginia
      • Marion County
      • This Westchester is located in Marion County and lies 182 miles [292.9 km]<1> to the west of the Westchester that is located in Baltimore County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Marion County community of Westchester.
    • Wisconsin
      • Waukesha 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 Wisconsin community of Westchester [Waukesha County].

Curious and Interesting Names Near Westchester ...

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.

  • Asylum ‑ Historic
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
    • Asylum is located in Baltimore County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Asylum
  • Bonnie Brae
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
    • Bonnie Brae is located in Howard County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bonnie Brae
  • Chapelview
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
    • Chapelview is located in Howard County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chapelview
  • Chestnut Farms
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Chestnut Farms is located in Howard County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chestnut Farms
  • Chestnut Hill
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
    • Chestnut Hill is located in Howard County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chestnut Hill
  • Daniels ‑ Historic
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Daniels is located in Baltimore County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Daniels
    • Former names for Daniels:
    • Alberton
    • Elsyville
  • Fair Brook
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
    • Fair Brook is located in Baltimore County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fair Brook
  • Featherbed
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
    • Featherbed is located in Baltimore County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Featherbed
  • Frederick Village
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
    • Frederick Village is located in Baltimore County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frederick Village
  • Gray
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
    • Gray is located in Howard County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gray
  • Gray Rock
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
    • Gray Rock is located in Howard County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gray Rock
  • Grays Level
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
    • Grays Level is located in Baltimore County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grays Level
  • Continue List   (17 more) ...
    • Harristown
      (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
      • Harristown is located in Baltimore County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harristown
    • Heraldry Square
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
      • Heraldry Square is located in Baltimore County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Heraldry Square
    • Hilltop
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
      • Hilltop is located in Howard County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hilltop
    • Howard Heights
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
      • Howard Heights is located in Howard County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Howard Heights
    • Hunting Ridge
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
      • Hunting Ridge is located in Baltimore City
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hunting Ridge
    • Ivy Hill
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Ivy Hill is located in Howard County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ivy Hill
    • Kingswood Common
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
      • Kingswood Common is located in Baltimore County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kingswood Common
    • Orange Grove ‑ Historic
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
      • Orange Grove is located in Howard County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orange Grove
    • Paradise
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
      • Paradise is located in Baltimore County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paradise
    • Rockland
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Rockland is located in Howard County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockland
    • Rolling Heights
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
      • Rolling Heights is located in Baltimore County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rolling Heights
    • Rolling Ridge
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Rolling Ridge is located in Howard County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rolling Ridge
    • Thistle
      (Less than 2 miles to the south)
      • Thistle is located in Baltimore County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thistle
    • Timber Point
      (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
      • Timber Point is located in Baltimore County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Timber Point
    • Toll House
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
      • Toll House is located in Howard County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Toll House
    • Wheatfield Way
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Wheatfield Way is located in Howard County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wheatfield Way
    • Woodlawn
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Woodlawn is located in Baltimore County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodlawn

How Far From Westchester to ...

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

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

  • Towson, which is the Seat of Baltimore County, lies 11 miles [17.7 km]<1> to the northeast. If you could walk a straight line from Westchester to Towson, with an average speed<3> of 2.2 miles [3.5 km] per hour, it would take five to six hours to make the trip. A horse and buggy averaging 3.2 miles [5.1 km] per hour would take nearly four hours.
  • Annapolis, which is the State Capital of Maryland, lies 25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast (SE). The buggy would take most of a day and walking would take just about two full days.
  • The White House (Washington, DC) is 30 miles [48.3 km] to the south southwest (SSW). The buggy would take just over a day and walking would take most of two days.
  • The shortest distance<4> to Jerusalem (specifically the Temple Mount and the Dome of the Rock) is 5,870 miles [9,446.8 km] and it lies to the northeast (NE).<5>
  • The distance to the Great Mosque of Mecca (specifically the Ka'bah - or Kaaba ) is 6,576 miles [10,583 km] and it lies to the east northeast (ENE).<6>
  • The distance to Saint Peter's Basilica (The Vatican) is 4,452 miles [7,164.8 km] and it lies to the northeast (NE).<7>'

Footnotes ...

<1>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Westchester) 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 Westchester 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>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.
<4>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 Westchester 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 Westchester. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 39.2793, Longitude: -76.7644       In this case, the coordinates for Westchester have been provided by the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS).
<5>The calculated bearing (or angle) to Jerusalem is 307.703 degrees.
<6>The calculated bearing (or angle) to Mecca is 303.286 degrees.
<7>The calculated bearing (or angle) to the Vatican is 304.45 degrees.