RoadsideThoughts
A Gazetteer for the United States and Canada
Home >> State of New Jersey >> Essex County >> Northfield >> Tidbits & TriviaIndex...

Outdoor Activities ...

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

When in Northfield, we use the following websites to find information relevant to Northfield 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 Northfield:
    • 40.774267, -74.324594
    • 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 Northfield
  • 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 Essex County as the starting point when you click on the link below:
    • Open the eBird sighting report for Essex County
    • Since Northfield is near Morris County and also Union County, we have provided a link to their eBird sighting reports:
    • Open the eBird sighting report for Morris County
    • Open the eBird sighting report for Union 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 Northfield

Communities Also Named Northfield ...

We found 30 communities that are also named Northfield.

There is one other community in New Jersey that is also named Northfield.

Beyond New Jersey, we know of 29 communities that are located in the United States and Canada. Of these 29 communities, 26 are located in the United States and eight are in Canada.

  • Communities Located In New Jersey ...
    • Atlantic County
      • This Northfield is located in Atlantic County and lies 97 miles [156.1 km]<1> to the south of the Northfield that is located in Essex County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Atlantic County community of Northfield.
  • Communities Elsewhere In North America ...
    • British Columbia
      • This Northfield lies 2,447 miles [3,938.1 km]<1> to the west northwest of the Northfield that is located in Essex County.
    • Connecticut
      • Fairfield County
      • This Northfield is located in Fairfield County and lies 45 miles [72.4 km]<1> to the east northeast of the Northfield that is located in Essex County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Fairfield County community of Northfield.
      • Litchfield County
      • This Northfield is located in Litchfield County and lies 89 miles [143.2 km] to the northeast of the Northfield that is located in Essex County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Litchfield County community of Northfield.
    • Illinois
      • Cook County
      • This Northfield is located in Cook County and lies 701 miles [1,128.2 km]<1> to the west northwest of the Northfield that is located in Essex County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Cook County community of Northfield.
      • Will County
      • This Northfield is located in Will County and lies 720 miles [1,158.7 km] to the west of the Northfield that is located in Essex County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Will County community of Northfield.
    • Indiana
      • Boone County
      • This Northfield is located in Boone County and lies 630 miles [1,013.9 km]<1> to the west of the Northfield that is located in Essex County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Boone County community of Northfield.
    • Iowa
      • Des Moines County
      • This Northfield is located in Des Moines County and lies 875 miles [1,408.2 km]<1> to the west of the Northfield that is located in Essex County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Des Moines County community of Northfield.
    • Kansas
      • Cheyenne County
      • This community is historic<2> and although located in Cheyenne County, we don't know where within the county.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Cheyenne County community of Northfield.
      • Sherman 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 Kansas community of Northfield [Sherman 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 Northfield [Sumner County].
    • Kentucky
      • Jefferson County
      • This Northfield is located in Jefferson County and lies 625 miles [1,005.8 km]<1> to the west southwest of the Northfield that is located in Essex County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Jefferson County community of Northfield.
      • Pulaski County
      • This Northfield is located in Pulaski County and lies 605 miles [973.7 km] to the west southwest of the Northfield that is located in Essex County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Pulaski County community of Northfield.
    • Maine
      • Washington County
      • This Northfield is located in Washington County and lies 441 miles [709.7 km]<1> to the northeast of the Northfield that is located in Essex County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Washington County community of Northfield.
    • Massachusetts
      • Franklin County
      • This Northfield is located in Franklin County and lies 164 miles [263.9 km]<1> to the northeast of the Northfield that is located in Essex County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Franklin County community of Northfield.
    • Michigan
      • Monroe 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 Michigan community of Northfield [Monroe County].
      • Washtenaw County
      • This Northfield is located in Washtenaw County and lies 497 miles [799.8 km]<1> to the west northwest of the Northfield that is located in Essex County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Washtenaw County community of Northfield.
    • Minnesota
      • Rice County
      • This Northfield is located in Rice County and lies 987 miles [1,588.4 km]<1> to the west northwest of the Northfield that is located in Essex County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Rice County community of Northfield.
    • New Hampshire
      • Merrimack County
      • This Northfield is located in Merrimack County and lies 230 miles [370.1 km]<1> to the northeast of the Northfield that is located in Essex County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Merrimack County community of Northfield.
    • New York
      • Delaware County
      • This Northfield is located in Delaware County and lies 111 miles [178.6 km]<1> to the north northwest of the Northfield that is located in Essex County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Delaware County community of Northfield.
    • Nova Scotia
      • This Northfield lies 618 miles [994.6 km]<1> to the east northeast of the Northfield that is located in Essex County.
    • Ohio
      • Summit County
      • This Northfield is located in Summit County and lies 377 miles [606.7 km]<1> to the west of the Northfield that is located in Essex County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Summit County community of Northfield.
    • Ontario
      • This Northfield lies 351 miles [564.9 km]<1> to the west northwest of the Northfield that is located in Essex County.
    • Quebec
      • This Northfield lies 377 miles [606.7 km]<1> to the north of the Northfield that is located in Essex County.
    • Texas
      • Harris County
      • This Northfield is located in Harris County and lies 1,415 miles [2,277.2 km]<1> to the west southwest of the Northfield that is located in Essex County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Harris County community of Northfield.
      • Motley County
      • This Northfield is located in Motley County and lies 1,500 miles [2,414 km] to the west of the Northfield that is located in Essex County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Motley County community of Northfield.
    • Vermont
      • Washington County
      • This Northfield is located in Washington County and lies 248 miles [399.1 km]<1> to the north northeast of the Northfield that is located in Essex County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Washington County community of Northfield.
    • Virginia
      • Henrico County
      • This Northfield is located in Henrico County and lies 272 miles [437.7 km]<1> to the southwest of the Northfield that is located in Essex County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Henrico County community of Northfield.
      • Roanoke City
      • This Northfield is located in Roanoke City and lies 384 miles [618 km] to the southwest of the Northfield that is located in Essex County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Roanoke City community of Northfield.
    • Wisconsin
      • Jackson County
      • This Northfield is located in Jackson County and lies 887 miles [1,427.5 km]<1> to the west northwest of the Northfield that is located in Essex County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Jackson County community of Northfield.

Curious and Interesting Names Near Northfield ...

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.

  • Ampere
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Ampere is located in Essex County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ampere
  • Birch Hills
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Birch Hills is located in Morris County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Birch Hills
  • Floral Hill
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
    • Floral Hill is located in Morris County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Floral Hill
  • Franklin
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
    • Franklin is located in Essex County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Franklin
  • Hickory Tree
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
    • Hickory Tree is located in Morris County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hickory Tree
  • Maplewood
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Maplewood is located in Essex County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maplewood
  • Milltown
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Milltown is located in Union County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milltown
  • Orange
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
    • Orange is located in Essex County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orange
  • Overlook
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
    • Overlook is located in Union County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Overlook
  • Continue List   (6 more) ...
    • Rosedale Village
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
      • Rosedale Village is located in Morris County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rosedale Village
    • Short Hills
      (Less than 2 miles to the south)
      • Short Hills is located in Essex County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Short Hills
    • Union
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Union is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union
    • Unionburg
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
      • Unionburg is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Unionburg
    • Woodland Park
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
      • Woodland Park is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodland Park
    • Wyoming
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Wyoming is located in Essex County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wyoming

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

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

  • Newark, which is the Seat of Essex County, lies just to the East Southeast.
  • Trenton, which is the State Capital of New Jersey, lies 44 miles [70.8 km]<1> to the south southwest (SSW). If you could walk a straight line from Northfield to Trenton, 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 193 miles [310.6 km] to the southwest (SW). 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 5,705 miles [9,181.3 km] and it lies to the northeast (NE).<6>
  • The distance to the Great Mosque of Mecca (specifically the Ka'bah - or Kaaba ) is 6,411 miles [10,317.5 km] and it lies to the east northeast (ENE).<7>
  • The distance to Saint Peter's Basilica (The Vatican) is 4,288 miles [6,900.9 km] and it lies to the east northeast (ENE).<8>'

Footnotes ...

<1>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- Northfield) 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 Northfield, 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 Northfield 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 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 Northfield 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 Northfield. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 40.7743, Longitude: -74.3246       In this case, the coordinates for Northfield have been provided by the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS).
<6>The calculated bearing (or angle) to Jerusalem is 306.126 degrees.
<7>The calculated bearing (or angle) to Mecca is 301.735 degrees.
<8>The calculated bearing (or angle) to the Vatican is 302.775 degrees.