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

Outdoor Activities ...

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

When in Wilmington, we use the following websites to find information relevant to Wilmington 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 Wilmington:
    • 34.210465, -77.886763
    • 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 Wilmington
  • 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 Wilmington ...

We found seventeen communities that share the name Wilmington.

Within North Carolina, the name Wilmington is unique.

Beyond North Carolina, we know of another seventeen communities that are located throughout in the United States.

  • Communities Elsewhere In North America ...
    • Alabama
      • Walker 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 Wilmington [Walker County].
    • California
      • Los Angeles County
      • This Wilmington is located in Los Angeles County and lies 2,296 miles [3,695.1 km]<2> to the west of the Wilmington that is located in New Hanover County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Los Angeles County community of Wilmington.
    • Delaware
      • New Castle County
      • This Wilmington is located in New Castle County and lies 402 miles [647 km]<2> to the north northeast of the Wilmington that is located in New Hanover County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the New Castle County community of Wilmington.
    • Georgia
      • Chatham County
      • This Wilmington is located in Chatham County and lies 236 miles [379.8 km]<2> to the southwest of the Wilmington that is located in New Hanover County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Chatham County community of Wilmington.
    • Illinois
      • Greene County
      • This Wilmington is located in Greene County and lies 784 miles [1,261.7 km]<2> to the west northwest of the Wilmington that is located in New Hanover County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Greene County community of Wilmington.
      • Will County
      • This Wilmington is located in Will County and lies 743 miles [1,195.7 km] to the northwest of the Wilmington that is located in New Hanover County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Will County community of Wilmington.
    • Indiana
      • Dearborn County
      • This Wilmington is located in Dearborn County and lies 514 miles [827.2 km]<2> to the northwest of the Wilmington that is located in New Hanover County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Dearborn County community of Wilmington.
    • Kansas
      • Wabaunsee County
      • This Wilmington is located in Wabaunsee County and lies 1,049 miles [1,688.2 km]<2> to the west northwest of the Wilmington that is located in New Hanover County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Wabaunsee County community of Wilmington.
    • Massachusetts
      • Middlesex County
      • This Wilmington is located in Middlesex County and lies 680 miles [1,094.4 km]<2> to the north northeast of the Wilmington that is located in New Hanover County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Middlesex County community of Wilmington.
    • Minnesota
      • Houston County
      • This Wilmington is located in Houston County and lies 974 miles [1,567.5 km]<2> to the northwest of the Wilmington that is located in New Hanover County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Houston County community of Wilmington.
    • New York
      • Essex County
      • This Wilmington is located in Essex County and lies 735 miles [1,182.9 km]<2> to the north northeast of the Wilmington that is located in New Hanover County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Essex County community of Wilmington.
    • Ohio
      • Clinton County
      • This Wilmington is located in Clinton County and lies 487 miles [783.8 km]<2> to the northwest of the Wilmington that is located in New Hanover County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Clinton County community of Wilmington.
      • Holmes County
      • This community is historic<3> and although located in Holmes County, we don't know where within the county.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Holmes County community of Wilmington.
      • Tuscarawas County
      • This community is historic and although located in Tuscarawas County, we don't know where within the county.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Tuscarawas County community of Wilmington.
    • Utah
      • Salt Lake County
      • This Wilmington is located in Salt Lake County and lies 1,903 miles [3,062.6 km]<2> to the west northwest of the Wilmington that is located in New Hanover County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Salt Lake County community of Wilmington.
    • Vermont
      • Windham County
      • This Wilmington is located in Windham County and lies 656 miles [1,055.7 km]<2> to the north northeast of the Wilmington that is located in New Hanover County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Windham County community of Wilmington.
    • Virginia
      • Fluvanna County
      • This Wilmington is located in Fluvanna County and lies 251 miles [403.9 km]<2> to the north of the Wilmington that is located in New Hanover County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Fluvanna County community of Wilmington.

Curious and Interesting Names Near Wilmington ...

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.

  • Arrowhead
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Arrowhead have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arrowhead
    • Arrowhead is located in New Hanover County
  • Echo Farms
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Echo Farms have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Echo Farms
    • Echo Farms is located in New Hanover County
  • Fairlawn
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Fairlawn have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairlawn
    • Fairlawn is located in New Hanover County
  • Hightsville
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Hightsville have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hightsville
    • Hightsville is located in New Hanover County
  • Kings Grant
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Kings Grant have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kings Grant
    • Kings Grant is located in New Hanover County
  • Lincoln Forest
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Lincoln Forest have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lincoln Forest
    • Lincoln Forest is located in New Hanover County
  • Lions Gate
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Lions Gate have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lions Gate
    • Lions Gate is located in New Hanover County
  • Love Grove
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Love Grove have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Love Grove
    • Love Grove is located in New Hanover County
  • Piney Woods
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Piney Woods have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Piney Woods
    • Piney Woods is located in New Hanover County
  • Princess Place
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Princess Place have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Princess Place
    • Princess Place is located in New Hanover County
  • Silver Lake
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Silver Lake have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Silver Lake
    • Silver Lake is located in New Hanover County
  • Sunset Park
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Sunset Park have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunset Park
    • Sunset Park is located in New Hanover County
  • Tanglewood
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Tanglewood have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tanglewood
    • Tanglewood is located in New Hanover County
  • Winter Park
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Winter Park have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winter Park
    • Winter Park is located in New Hanover County

How Far From Wilmington to ...

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

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

  • Raleigh, which is the State Capital of North Carolina, lies 116 miles [186.7 km]<2> to the north northwest (NNW). If you could drive a straight line from Wilmington to Raleigh, with an average speed<5>of 63 miles [101.4 km] per hour, it would take about two hours to make the trip. A comfortable walk of 2.2 miles [3.5 km] per hour would take 7 days. A horse and buggy averaging 3.2 miles [5.1 km] per hour would take 5 days.
  • The White House (Washington, DC) is 327 miles [526.3 km] to the north (N). Driving would take five to six hours, a buggy would take 13 days and walking would take 19 days.
  • The shortest distance<6> to Jerusalem (specifically the Temple Mount and the Dome of the Rock) is 6,135 miles [9,873.3 km] and it lies to the northeast (NE).<7>
  • The distance to the Great Mosque of Mecca (specifically the Ka'bah - or Kaaba ) is 6,820 miles [10,975.7 km] and it lies to the east northeast (ENE).<8>
  • The distance to Saint Peter's Basilica (The Vatican) is 4,707 miles [7,575.2 km] and it lies to the northeast (NE).<9>

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 Wilmington 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 obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Wilmington) to Point B.Our distance measurements begin at a specific point in Wilmington. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 34.2105, Longitude: -77.8868    
<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 Wilmington, 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 Wilmington 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 308.559 degrees.
<8>The calculated bearing (or angle) to Mecca is 303.499 degrees.
<9>The calculated bearing (or angle) to the Vatican is 306.701 degrees.