RoadsideThoughts
A Gazetteer for the United States and Canada
Home >> State of North Carolina >> Warren County >> Afton >> Tidbits & TriviaIndex...

Outdoor Activities ...

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

When in Afton, we use the following websites to find information relevant to Afton 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 Afton:
    • 36.338602, -78.215998
    • 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 Afton
  • 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 Warren County as the starting point when you click on the link below:
    • Open the eBird sighting report for Warren County
    • Since Afton is near Vance County and also Franklin County, we have provided a link to their eBird sighting reports:
    • Open the eBird sighting report for Vance County
    • Open the eBird sighting report for Franklin 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 Afton

Communities Also Named Afton ...

We found 33 communities that are also named Afton.

Within North Carolina, the name Afton is unique.

Beyond North Carolina, we know of 33 communities that are located in the United States and Canada. Of these 33 communities, 32 are located in the United States and one is in Canada.

  • Communities Elsewhere In North America ...
    • Alabama
      • Barbour 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 Afton [Barbour County].
    • Arkansas
      • Fulton 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 Arkansas community of Afton [Fulton County].
    • California
      • Glenn County
      • This Afton is located in Glenn County and lies 2,370 miles [3,814.1 km]<2> to the west northwest of the Afton that is located in Warren County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Glenn County community of Afton.
      • San Bernardino County
      • This Afton is located in San Bernardino County and lies 2,128 miles [3,424.7 km] to the west of the Afton that is located in Warren County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the San Bernardino County community of Afton.
    • Delaware
      • New Castle County
      • This Afton is located in New Castle County and lies 283 miles [455.4 km]<2> to the north northeast of the Afton that is located in Warren County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the New Castle County community of Afton.
    • Georgia
      • Berrien 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 Georgia community of Afton [Berrien County].
      • Dawson County
      • This Afton is located in Dawson County and lies 362 miles [582.6 km]<2> to the west southwest of the Afton that is located in Warren County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Dawson County community of Afton.
    • Iowa
      • Union County
      • This Afton is located in Union County and lies 918 miles [1,477.4 km]<2> to the west northwest of the Afton that is located in Warren County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Union County community of Afton.
    • Kansas
      • Marshall 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 Afton [Marshall County].
      • Sedgwick 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 Afton [Sedgwick County].
      • Sumner 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 Afton [Sumner County].
    • Louisiana
      • Madison Parish
      • This Afton is located in Madison Parish and lies 791 miles [1,273 km]<2> to the west southwest of the Afton that is located in Warren County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Madison Parish community of Afton.
      • Tensas Parish
      • 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 Louisiana community of Afton [Tensas Parish].
    • Michigan
      • Charlevoix 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 Afton [Charlevoix County].
      • Cheboygan County
      • This Afton is located in Cheboygan County and lies 704 miles [1,133 km]<2> to the north northwest of the Afton that is located in Warren County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Cheboygan County community of Afton.
    • Minnesota
      • Washington County
      • This Afton is located in Washington County and lies 964 miles [1,551.4 km]<2> to the northwest of the Afton that is located in Warren County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Washington County community of Afton.
    • Nebraska
      • Frontier 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 Nebraska community of Afton [Frontier County].
    • 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 Afton [Elko County].
    • New Jersey
      • Morris County
      • This Afton is located in Morris County and lies 369 miles [593.8 km]<2> to the north northeast of the Afton that is located in Warren County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Morris County community of Afton.
    • New Mexico
      • Dona Ana 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 New Mexico community of Afton [Dona Ana County].
    • New York
      • Chenango County
      • This Afton is located in Chenango County and lies 431 miles [693.6 km]<2> to the north northeast of the Afton that is located in Warren County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Chenango County community of Afton.
    • Nova Scotia
      • This Afton lies 1,068 miles [1,718.8 km]<2> to the northeast of the Afton that is located in Warren County.
    • Ohio
      • Clermont County
      • This Afton is located in Clermont County and lies 372 miles [598.7 km]<2> to the west northwest of the Afton that is located in Warren County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Clermont County community of Afton.
    • Oklahoma
      • Ottawa County
      • This Afton is located in Ottawa County and lies 928 miles [1,493.5 km]<2> to the west of the Afton that is located in Warren County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Ottawa County community of Afton.
    • South Dakota
      • Hyde 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 South Dakota community of Afton [Hyde County].
    • Tennessee
      • Greene County
      • This Afton is located in Greene County and lies 251 miles [403.9 km]<2> to the west of the Afton that is located in Warren County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Greene County community of Afton.
      • Sullivan 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 Tennessee community of Afton [Sullivan County].
    • Texas
      • Dickens County
      • This Afton is located in Dickens County and lies 1,286 miles [2,069.6 km]<2> to the west of the Afton that is located in Warren County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Dickens County community of Afton.
    • Virginia
      • Chesterfield County
      • This Afton is located in Chesterfield County and lies 83 miles [133.6 km]<2> to the north northeast of the Afton that is located in Warren County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Chesterfield County community of Afton.
      • Nelson County
      • This Afton is located in Nelson County and lies 121 miles [194.7 km] to the north northwest of the Afton that is located in Warren County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Nelson County community of Afton.
    • West Virginia
      • Preston County
      • This Afton is located in Preston County and lies 232 miles [373.4 km]<2> to the north northwest of the Afton that is located in Warren County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Preston County community of Afton.
    • Wisconsin
      • Rock County
      • This Afton is located in Rock County and lies 721 miles [1,160.3 km]<2> to the northwest of the Afton that is located in Warren County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Rock County community of Afton.
    • Wyoming
      • Lincoln County
      • This Afton is located in Lincoln County and lies 1,784 miles [2,871.1 km]<2> to the west northwest of the Afton that is located in Warren County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Lincoln County community of Afton.

Curious and Interesting Names Near Afton ...

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.

  • Adcock Crossroads
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
  • Alert
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
  • Flat Rock
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Flat Rock is located in Vance County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flat Rock
  • Greystone
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • Greystone is located in Vance County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greystone
  • Inez
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Inez is located in Warren County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Inez
  • Lake View
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Lake View is located in Franklin County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake View
  • Liberia
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Liberia is located in Warren County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liberia
  • Lickskillet
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Marmaduke
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Marmaduke is located in Warren County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marmaduke
  • Seaman Way
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
    • Seaman Way is located in Vance County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seaman Way
  • Snow Hill
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
    • Snow Hill is located in Warren County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Snow Hill
  • Soul City
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
    • Soul City is located in Warren County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Soul City
  • Willow Oaks
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
    • Willow Oaks is located in Vance County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willow Oaks

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

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

  • Warrenton, which is the Seat of Warren County, lies just to the Northeast.
  • Raleigh, which is the State Capital of North Carolina, lies 45 miles [72.4 km]<2> to the south southwest (SSW). If you could walk a straight line from Afton to Raleigh, with an average speed<4> of 2.2 miles [3.5 km] per hour, it would take about three full days to make the trip. A horse and buggy averaging 3.2 miles [5.1 km] per hour would take most of two days.
  • The White House (Washington, DC) is 188 miles [302.6 km] to the north northeast (NNE). Driving, with an average speed of 63 miles [101.4 km] per hour, would take a little over three hours, a buggy would take 8 days and walking would take 11 days.
  • The shortest distance<5> to Jerusalem (specifically the Temple Mount and the Dome of the Rock) is 6,058 miles [9,749.4 km] and it lies to the northeast (NE).<6>
  • The distance to the Great Mosque of Mecca (specifically the Ka'bah - or Kaaba ) is 6,754 miles [10,869.5 km] and it lies to the east northeast (ENE).<7>
  • The distance to Saint Peter's Basilica (The Vatican) is 4,634 miles [7,457.7 km] and it lies to the northeast (NE).<8>'

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 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 Afton 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' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Afton) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.
<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 Afton, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<4>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.
<5>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 Afton 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 Afton. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 36.3386, Longitude: -78.2160    
<6>The calculated bearing (or angle) to Jerusalem is 308.695 degrees.
<7>The calculated bearing (or angle) to Mecca is 303.969 degrees.
<8>The calculated bearing (or angle) to the Vatican is 306.122 degrees.