RoadsideThoughts
A Gazetteer for the United States and Canada
Home >> Commonwealth of Pennsylvania >> Bucks County >> Rockdale >> Tidbits & TriviaIndex...

Outdoor Activities ...

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

When in Rockdale, we use the following websites to find information relevant to Rockdale 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 Rockdale:
    • 40.108444, -74.881277
    • 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 Rockdale
  • 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 Bucks County as the starting point when you click on the link below:
    • Open the eBird sighting report for Bucks County
    • Since Rockdale is near Burlington County and also Philadelphia County, we have provided a link to their eBird sighting reports:
    • Open the eBird sighting report for Burlington County
    • Open the eBird sighting report for Philadelphia 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 Rockdale

Communities Also Named Rockdale ...

We found 36 communities that are also named Rockdale.

There are six communities within Pennsylvania that are also named Rockdale.

Beyond Pennsylvania, we know of 30 communities that are located in the United States and Canada. Of these 30 communities, 34 are located in the United States and three are in Canada.

  • Communities Located In Pennsylvania ...
    • Butler County
      • This Rockdale is located in Butler County and lies 266 miles [428.1 km]<1> to the west northwest of the Rockdale that is located in Bucks County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Butler County community of Rockdale.
    • Delaware County
      • This Rockdale is located in Delaware County and lies 33 miles [53.1 km]<1> to the west southwest of the Rockdale that is located in Bucks County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Delaware County community of Rockdale.
    • Franklin County
      • This Rockdale is located in Franklin County and lies 156 miles [251.1 km]<1> to the west of the Rockdale that is located in Bucks County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Franklin County community of Rockdale.
    • Jefferson County
      • This Rockdale is located in Jefferson County and lies 220 miles [354.1 km]<1> to the west northwest of the Rockdale that is located in Bucks County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Jefferson County community of Rockdale.
    • Lackawanna County
      • This Rockdale is located in Lackawanna County and lies 90 miles [144.8 km]<1> to the north northwest of the Rockdale that is located in Bucks County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Lackawanna County community of Rockdale.
    • Lehigh County
      • This Rockdale is located in Lehigh County and lies 55 miles [88.5 km]<1> to the northwest of the Rockdale that is located in Bucks County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Lehigh County community of Rockdale.
  • Communities Elsewhere In North America ...
    • Alabama
      • Jefferson County
      • This Rockdale is located in Jefferson County and lies 815 miles [1,311.6 km]<1> to the west southwest of the Rockdale that is located in Bucks County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Jefferson County community of Rockdale.
      • Randolph County
      • This Rockdale is located in Randolph County and lies 747 miles [1,202.2 km] to the southwest of the Rockdale that is located in Bucks County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Randolph County community of Rockdale.
    • Colorado
      • Chaffee County
      • This Rockdale is located in Chaffee County and lies 1,671 miles [2,689.2 km]<1> to the west of the Rockdale that is located in Bucks County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Chaffee County community of Rockdale.
      • Fremont 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 Colorado community of Rockdale [Fremont County].
    • Florida
      • Miami-Dade County
      • This Rockdale is located in Miami-Dade County and lies 1,048 miles [1,686.6 km]<1> to the south southwest of the Rockdale that is located in Bucks County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Miami-Dade County community of Rockdale.
    • Georgia
      • Fulton County
      • This Rockdale is located in Fulton County and lies 683 miles [1,099.2 km]<1> to the southwest of the Rockdale that is located in Bucks County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Fulton County community of Rockdale.
    • Illinois
      • Will County
      • This Rockdale is located in Will County and lies 697 miles [1,121.7 km]<1> to the west northwest of the Rockdale that is located in Bucks County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Will County community of Rockdale.
    • Indiana
      • Franklin County
      • This Rockdale is located in Franklin County and lies 531 miles [854.6 km]<1> to the west of the Rockdale that is located in Bucks County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Franklin County community of Rockdale.
    • Iowa
      • Dubuque County
      • This Rockdale is located in Dubuque County and lies 834 miles [1,342.2 km]<1> to the west northwest of the Rockdale that is located in Bucks County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Dubuque County community of Rockdale.
    • Kentucky
      • Boyd County
      • This Rockdale is located in Boyd County and lies 433 miles [696.8 km]<1> to the west southwest of the Rockdale that is located in Bucks County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Boyd County community of Rockdale.
      • Owen County
      • This Rockdale is located in Owen County and lies 536 miles [862.6 km] to the west of the Rockdale that is located in Bucks County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Owen County community of Rockdale.
    • Maryland
      • Washington County
      • This Rockdale is located in Washington County and lies 159 miles [255.9 km]<1> to the west of the Rockdale that is located in Bucks County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Washington County community of Rockdale.
    • Massachusetts
      • Berkshire 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 Massachusetts community of Rockdale [Berkshire County].
      • Bristol County
      • This Rockdale is located in Bristol County and lies 230 miles [370.1 km]<1> to the east northeast of the Rockdale that is located in Bucks County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Bristol County community of Rockdale.
      • Norfolk 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 Massachusetts community of Rockdale [Norfolk County].
    • Missouri
      • Camden County
      • This community is historic<3> and although located in Camden County, we don't know where within the county.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Camden County community of Rockdale.
    • New York
      • Chenango County
      • This Rockdale is located in Chenango County and lies 159 miles [255.9 km]<1> to the north of the Rockdale that is located in Bucks County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Chenango County community of Rockdale.
    • North Carolina
      • Cleveland County
      • This Rockdale is located in Cleveland County and lies 482 miles [775.7 km]<1> to the southwest of the Rockdale that is located in Bucks County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Cleveland County community of Rockdale.
    • Nova Scotia
      • This Rockdale lies 806 miles [1,297.1 km]<1> to the east northeast of the Rockdale that is located in Bucks County.
    • Ohio
      • Butler County
      • This Rockdale is located in Butler County and lies 510 miles [820.8 km]<1> to the west of the Rockdale that is located in Bucks County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Butler County community of Rockdale.
    • Ontario
      • This Rockdale lies 338 miles [544 km]<1> to the north northwest of the Rockdale that is located in Bucks County.
    • Tennessee
      • Maury County
      • This Rockdale is located in Maury County and lies 746 miles [1,200.6 km]<1> to the west southwest of the Rockdale that is located in Bucks County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Maury County community of Rockdale.
      • Rutherford County
      • This Rockdale is located in Rutherford County and lies 688 miles [1,107.2 km] to the west southwest of the Rockdale that is located in Bucks County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Rutherford County community of Rockdale.
    • Texas
      • Hopkins County
      • This Rockdale is located in Hopkins County and lies 1,243 miles [2,000.4 km]<1> to the west southwest of the Rockdale that is located in Bucks County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Hopkins County community of Rockdale.
      • Milam County
      • This Rockdale is located in Milam County and lies 1,400 miles [2,253.1 km] to the west southwest of the Rockdale that is located in Bucks County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Milam County community of Rockdale.
    • Washington
      • King County
      • This Rockdale is located in King County and lies 2,340 miles [3,765.9 km]<1> to the west northwest of the Rockdale that is located in Bucks County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the King County community of Rockdale.
      • Lincoln 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 Washington community of Rockdale [Lincoln County].
    • West Virginia
      • Brooke County
      • This Rockdale is located in Brooke County and lies 300 miles [482.8 km]<1> to the west of the Rockdale that is located in Bucks County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Brooke County community of Rockdale.
    • Wisconsin
      • Dane County
      • This Rockdale is located in Dane County and lies 756 miles [1,216.7 km]<1> to the west northwest of the Rockdale that is located in Bucks County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Dane County community of Rockdale.
    • Wyoming
      • Carbon 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 Wyoming community of Rockdale [Carbon County].

Curious and Interesting Names Near Rockdale ...

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.

  • Beverly
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Beverly is located in Burlington County (NJ)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beverly
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,480 people
  • Carriage Stop
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
    • Carriage Stop is located in Bucks County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carriage Stop
  • Cobalt Ridge
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
    • Cobalt Ridge is located in Bucks County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cobalt Ridge
  • Dogwood Hollow
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Dogwood Hollow is located in Bucks County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dogwood Hollow
  • Edgewater Park
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
    • Edgewater Park is located in Burlington County (NJ)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edgewater Park
  • Flushing
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
    • Flushing is located in Bucks County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flushing
  • Goldenridge
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Goldenridge is located in Bucks County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goldenridge
  • Indian Creek
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
    • Indian Creek is located in Bucks County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indian Creek
  • Maple Beach
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
    • Maple Beach is located in Bucks County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maple Beach
  • Maple Shade
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
    • Maple Shade is located in Bucks County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maple Shade
  • Margo Gardens
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
    • Margo Gardens is located in Bucks County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Margo Gardens
  • Oaktree Hollow
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Oaktree Hollow is located in Bucks County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oaktree Hollow
  • Continue List   (5 more) ...
    • Orchard View
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
      • Orchard View is located in Burlington County (NJ)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orchard View
    • Red Cedar Hill
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Red Cedar Hill is located in Bucks County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Cedar Hill
    • Violet Wood
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Violet Wood is located in Bucks County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Violet Wood
    • Winder Village
      (Less than 2 miles to the east)
      • Winder Village is located in Bucks County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winder Village
    • Yellowood
      (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
      • Yellowood is located in Bucks County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yellowood

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

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

  • Doylestown, which is the Seat of Bucks County, lies 19 miles [30.6 km]<1> to the northwest. If you could walk a straight line from Rockdale to Doylestown, with an average speed<4> of 2.2 miles [3.5 km] per hour, it would take just over a day to make the trip. A horse and buggy averaging 3.2 miles [5.1 km] per hour would take 6 hours.
  • Harrisburg, which is the State Capital of Pennsylvania, lies 106 miles [170.6 km] to the west (W). Driving, with an average speed of 63 miles [101.4 km] per hour, would take less than two hours, a buggy would take 5 days and walking would take 6 days.
  • The White House (Washington, DC) is 142 miles [228.5 km] to the southwest (SW). Driving would take less than three hours, a buggy would take 6 days and walking would take 8 days.
  • The shortest distance<5> to Jerusalem (specifically the Temple Mount and the Dome of the Rock) is 5,755 miles [9,261.8 km] and it lies to the northeast (NE).<6>
  • The distance to the Great Mosque of Mecca (specifically the Ka'bah - or Kaaba ) is 6,461 miles [10,398 km] and it lies to the east northeast (ENE).<7>
  • The distance to Saint Peter's Basilica (The Vatican) is 4,337 miles [6,979.7 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 things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Rockdale) 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 Rockdale 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 Rockdale, 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 Rockdale 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 Rockdale. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 40.1084, Longitude: -74.8813       In this case, the coordinates for Rockdale have been provided by the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS).
<6>The calculated bearing (or angle) to Jerusalem is 306.522 degrees.
<7>The calculated bearing (or angle) to Mecca is 302.077 degrees.
<8>The calculated bearing (or angle) to the Vatican is 303.307 degrees.