RoadsideThoughts
A Gazetteer for the United States and Canada
Home >> Commonwealth of Pennsylvania >> Carbon County >> Big Creek >> Tidbits & TriviaIndex...

Outdoor Activities ...

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

When in Big Creek, we use the following websites to find information relevant to Big Creek 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 Big Creek:
    • 40.845648, -75.647966
    • 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 Big Creek
  • 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 Carbon County as the starting point when you click on the link below:
    • Open the eBird sighting report for Carbon County
    • Since Big Creek is near Northampton County and also Lehigh County, we have provided a link to their eBird sighting reports:
    • Open the eBird sighting report for Northampton County
    • Open the eBird sighting report for Lehigh 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 Big Creek

Communities Also Named Big Creek ...

We found 31 communities that are also named Big Creek.

Within Pennsylvania, the name Big Creek is unique.

Beyond Pennsylvania, we know of 31 communities that are located in the United States and Canada. Of these 31 communities, 30 are located in the United States and one is in Canada.

  • Communities Elsewhere In North America ...
    • Alabama
      • Houston County
      • This Big Creek is located in Houston County and lies 867 miles [1,395.3 km]<1> to the southwest of the Big Creek that is located in Carbon County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Houston County community of Big Creek.
    • Arkansas
      • Cleveland 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 Arkansas community of Big Creek [Cleveland County].
    • British Columbia
      • This Big Creek lies 2,335 miles [3,757.8 km]<1> to the northwest of the Big Creek that is located in Carbon County.
    • California
      • Fresno County
      • This Big Creek is located in Fresno County and lies 2,328 miles [3,746.6 km]<1> to the west of the Big Creek that is located in Carbon County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Fresno County community of Big Creek.
    • Georgia
      • Forsyth County
      • This Big Creek is located in Forsyth County and lies 658 miles [1,058.9 km]<1> to the southwest of the Big Creek that is located in Carbon County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Forsyth County community of Big Creek.
      • Fulton County
      • This Big Creek is located in Fulton County and lies 698 miles [1,123.3 km] to the southwest of the Big Creek that is located in Carbon County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Fulton County community of Big Creek.
      • Gilmer County
      • This Big Creek is located in Gilmer County and lies 631 miles [1,015.5 km] to the southwest of the Big Creek that is located in Carbon County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Gilmer County community of Big Creek.
    • Idaho
      • Valley County
      • This Big Creek is located in Valley County and lies 2,005 miles [3,226.7 km]<1> to the west northwest of the Big Creek that is located in Carbon County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Valley County community of Big Creek.
    • Indiana
      • Jefferson 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 Indiana community of Big Creek [Jefferson County].
    • Kansas
      • Bourbon 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 Kansas community of Big Creek [Bourbon County].
      • Ellis 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 Big Creek [Ellis County].
    • Kentucky
      • Clay County
      • This Big Creek is located in Clay County and lies 495 miles [796.6 km]<1> to the west southwest of the Big Creek that is located in Carbon County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Clay County community of Big Creek.
    • Louisiana
      • Franklin Parish
      • This Big Creek is located in Franklin Parish and lies 1,068 miles [1,718.8 km]<1> to the west southwest of the Big Creek that is located in Carbon County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Franklin Parish community of Big Creek.
      • Richland Parish
      • 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 Louisiana community of Big Creek [Richland Parish].
    • Michigan
      • Marquette 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 Michigan community of Big Creek [Marquette County].
      • Oscoda 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 Michigan community of Big Creek [Oscoda County].
    • Mississippi
      • Calhoun County
      • This Big Creek is located in Calhoun County and lies 895 miles [1,440.4 km]<1> to the west southwest of the Big Creek that is located in Carbon County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Calhoun County community of Big Creek.
    • Missouri
      • Texas County
      • This Big Creek is located in Texas County and lies 902 miles [1,451.6 km]<1> to the west of the Big Creek that is located in Carbon County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Texas County community of Big Creek.
    • Nevada
      • Lander County
      • This community is historic<3> and although located in Lander County, we don't know where within the county.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Lander County community of Big Creek.
    • New York
      • Steuben County
      • This Big Creek is located in Steuben County and lies 144 miles [231.7 km]<1> to the northwest of the Big Creek that is located in Carbon County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Steuben County community of Big Creek.
    • North Carolina
      • Stokes 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 North Carolina community of Big Creek [Stokes County].
    • South Carolina
      • Edgefield 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 South Carolina community of Big Creek [Edgefield County].
      • Saluda County
      • This Big Creek is located in Saluda County and lies 578 miles [930.2 km]<1> to the southwest of the Big Creek that is located in Carbon County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Saluda County community of Big Creek.
    • Tennessee
      • Giles County
      • This Big Creek is located in Giles County and lies 727 miles [1,170 km]<1> to the west southwest of the Big Creek that is located in Carbon County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Giles County community of Big Creek.
      • Hancock County
      • This Big Creek is located in Hancock County and lies 512 miles [824 km] to the west southwest of the Big Creek that is located in Carbon County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Hancock County community of Big Creek.
      • Hawkins County
      • This Big Creek is located in Hawkins County and lies 495 miles [796.6 km] to the southwest of the Big Creek that is located in Carbon County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Hawkins County community of Big Creek.
      • Monroe County
      • This Big Creek is located in Monroe County and lies 598 miles [962.4 km] to the southwest of the Big Creek that is located in Carbon County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Monroe County community of Big Creek.
      • Sullivan 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 Tennessee community of Big Creek [Sullivan County].
    • Texas
      • Burleson County
      • This Big Creek is located in Burleson County and lies 1,376 miles [2,214.5 km]<1> to the west southwest of the Big Creek that is located in Carbon County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Burleson County community of Big Creek.
      • Liberty County
      • This Big Creek is located in Liberty County and lies 1,290 miles [2,076.1 km] to the west southwest of the Big Creek that is located in Carbon County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Liberty County community of Big Creek.
    • West Virginia
      • Logan County
      • This Big Creek is located in Logan County and lies 393 miles [632.5 km]<1> to the west southwest of the Big Creek that is located in Carbon County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Logan County community of Big Creek.

Curious and Interesting Names Near Big Creek ...

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.

  • Beltzville
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
    • Beltzville is located in Carbon County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beltzville
  • Dry Tavern
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Dry Tavern is located in Carbon County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dry Tavern
  • Hazard
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
    • Hazard is located in Carbon County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hazard
  • Indian Hills
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
    • Indian Hills is located in Carbon County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indian Hills
  • Jamestown
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
    • Jamestown is located in Carbon County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jamestown
  • Jim Thorpe
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Jim Thorpe is located in Carbon County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jim Thorpe
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 4,650 people
    • Former names for Jim Thorpe:
    • East Mauch Chunk
    • Mauch Chunk
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Jim Thorpe <4>
  • Lizard Creek Junction
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
  • Long Run
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
    • Long Run is located in Carbon County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Long Run
  • Sunny Rest Lodge
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
    • Sunny Rest Lodge is located in Carbon County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunny Rest Lodge
  • Union Hill
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Union Hill is located in Carbon County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union Hill

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

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

  • Jim Thorpe, which is the Seat of Carbon County, lies just to the West Northwest.
  • Harrisburg, which is the State Capital of Pennsylvania, lies 75 miles [120.7 km]<1> to the west southwest (WSW). If you could drive a straight line from Big Creek to Harrisburg, with an average speed<5>of 63 miles [101.4 km] per hour, it would take less than two hours to make the trip. A comfortable walk of 2.2 miles [3.5 km] per hour would take 5 days. A horse and buggy averaging 3.2 miles [5.1 km] per hour would take most of three days.
  • The White House (Washington, DC) is 153 miles [246.2 km] to the south southwest (SSW). Driving would take less than three hours, a buggy would take 6 days and walking would take 9 days.
  • The shortest distance<6> to Jerusalem (specifically the Temple Mount and the Dome of the Rock) is 5,757 miles [9,265 km] and it lies to the northeast (NE).<7>
  • The distance to the Great Mosque of Mecca (specifically the Ka'bah - or Kaaba ) is 6,467 miles [10,407.6 km] and it lies to the east northeast (ENE).<8>
  • The distance to Saint Peter's Basilica (The Vatican) is 4,343 miles [6,989.4 km] and it lies to the east northeast (ENE).<9>'

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 things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Big Creek) 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 Big Creek 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>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 Big Creek, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<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 Big Creek 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 Big Creek. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 40.8456, Longitude: -75.6480       In this case, the coordinates for Big Creek have been provided by the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS).
<7>The calculated bearing (or angle) to Jerusalem is 306.911 degrees.
<8>The calculated bearing (or angle) to Mecca is 302.634 degrees.
<9>The calculated bearing (or angle) to the Vatican is 303.325 degrees.