Outdoor Activities ...
As we travel, we like to pursue some of our interests (such as astronomy and bird watching).
When in Florence, we use the following websites to find information relevant to Florence and the surrounding area.
- Weather ...
- Before heading outdoors, you should check the weather:
- The National Weather Service forecast for Florence
- 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 Florence:
- 44.135816, -103.780199
- 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 Florence
- 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 Pennington County as the starting point when you click on the link below:
- eBird sighting report for Pennington County
- Since Florence is near Lawrence County and also Weston County, we have provided a link to their eBird sighting reports:
- eBird sighting report for Lawrence County
- eBird sighting report for Weston 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:
- Waymark.com
Communities Also Named Florence ...
We found 61 communities that share the name Florence.
There are two communities within South Dakota that are also named Florence.
Beyond South Dakota, we know of another 59 communities that are located throughout in the United States and Canada. Of these 59 communities, 59 are located in the United States and four are in Canada.
- Communities Located In South Dakota ...
- Codington County
- Hand County
- Communities Elsewhere In North America ...
- Alabama
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Delaware
- Florida
- Clay 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 Florida community of Florence [Clay County].
- Gadsden County
- This Florence is located in Gadsden County and lies 1,406 miles [2,262.7 km]<1> to the southeast of the Florence that is located in Pennington County.
- For more information, please visit our profile page for the Gadsden County community of Florence.
- Saint Johns County
- This Florence is located in Saint Johns County and lies 1,556 miles [2,504.1 km] to the east southeast of the Florence that is located in Pennington County.
- For more information, please visit our profile page for the Saint Johns County community of Florence.
- Georgia
- Morgan 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 Georgia community of Florence [Morgan County].
- Stewart County
- This Florence is located in Stewart County and lies 1,309 miles [2,106.6 km]<1> to the southeast of the Florence that is located in Pennington County.
- For more information, please visit our profile page for the Stewart County community of Florence.
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Pike County
- This Florence is located in Pike County and lies 743 miles [1,195.7 km]<1> to the east southeast of the Florence that is located in Pennington County.
- For more information, please visit our profile page for the Pike County community of Florence.
- Stephenson County
- This Florence is located in Stephenson County and lies 722 miles [1,161.9 km] to the east of the Florence that is located in Pennington County.
- For more information, please visit our profile page for the Stephenson County community of Florence.
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Allen 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 Florence [Allen County].
- Lyon 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 Florence [Lyon County].
- Marion County
- This Florence is located in Marion County and lies 540 miles [869 km]<1> to the southeast of the Florence that is located in Pennington County.
- For more information, please visit our profile page for the Marion County community of Florence.
- Kentucky
- Boone County
- This Florence is located in Boone County and lies 1,048 miles [1,686.6 km]<1> to the east southeast of the Florence that is located in Pennington County.
- For more information, please visit our profile page for the Boone County community of Florence.
- McCracken 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 Kentucky community of Florence [McCracken County].
- Louisiana
- Catahoula Parish
- 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 Louisiana community of Florence [Catahoula Parish].
- Saint Mary Parish
- This Florence is located in Saint Mary Parish and lies 1,190 miles [1,915.1 km]<1> to the southeast of the Florence that is located in Pennington County.
- For more information, please visit our profile page for the Saint Mary Parish community of Florence.
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Manistee 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 Florence [Manistee County].
- Saint Joseph 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 Florence [Saint Joseph County].
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Buchanan 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 Missouri community of Florence [Buchanan County].
- Morgan County
- This Florence is located in Morgan County and lies 677 miles [1,089.5 km]<1> to the east southeast of the Florence that is located in Pennington County.
- For more information, please visit our profile page for the Morgan County community of Florence.
- Montana
- Nebraska
- New Jersey
- Burlington County
- This Florence is located in Burlington County and lies 1,501 miles [2,415.6 km]<1> to the east of the Florence that is located in Pennington County.
- For more information, please visit our profile page for the Burlington County community of Florence.
- Camden County
- This Florence is located in Camden County and lies 1,505 miles [2,422.1 km] to the east of the Florence that is located in Pennington County.
- For more information, please visit our profile page for the Camden County community of Florence.
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- Guilford County
- This Florence is located in Guilford County and lies 1,371 miles [2,206.4 km]<1> to the east southeast of the Florence that is located in Pennington County.
- For more information, please visit our profile page for the Guilford County community of Florence.
- Pamlico County
- This Florence is located in Pamlico County and lies 1,562 miles [2,513.8 km] to the east southeast of the Florence that is located in Pennington County.
- For more information, please visit our profile page for the Pamlico County community of Florence.
- Nova Scotia
- This Florence lies 2,095 miles [3,371.6 km]<1> to the east northeast of the Florence that is located in Pennington County.
- Ohio
- Belmont County
- This Florence is located in Belmont County and lies 1,208 miles [1,944.1 km]<1> to the east of the Florence that is located in Pennington County.
- For more information, please visit our profile page for the Belmont County community of Florence.
- Erie County
- This Florence is located in Erie County and lies 1,097 miles [1,765.5 km] to the east of the Florence that is located in Pennington County.
- For more information, please visit our profile page for the Erie County community of Florence.
- Madison County
- This Florence is located in Madison County and lies 1,076 miles [1,731.7 km] to the east of the Florence that is located in Pennington County.
- For more information, please visit our profile page for the Madison County community of Florence.
- Noble County
- This Florence is located in Noble County and lies 1,177 miles [1,894.2 km] to the east of the Florence that is located in Pennington County.
- For more information, please visit our profile page for the Noble County community of Florence.
- Oklahoma
- Ontario
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Northampton 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 Pennsylvania community of Florence [Northampton County].
- Washington County
- This Florence is located in Washington County and lies 1,215 miles [1,955.4 km]<1> to the east of the Florence that is located in Pennington County.
- For more information, please visit our profile page for the Washington County community of Florence.
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Rutherford County
- This Florence is located in Rutherford County and lies 1,073 miles [1,726.8 km]<1> to the east southeast of the Florence that is located in Pennington County.
- For more information, please visit our profile page for the Rutherford County community of Florence.
- Washington 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 Tennessee community of Florence [Washington County].
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Preston County
- This community is historic<2> and we have very little information. For the information that we do have, please visit our profile page for the West Virginia community of Florence [Preston County].
- Randolph County
- This community is historic and we have very little information. For the information that we do have, please visit our profile page for the West Virginia community of Florence [Randolph County].
- Wisconsin
Curious and Interesting Names Near Florence ...
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.
- Benchmark
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast) - Cheyenne Crossing
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Cheyenne Crossing have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cheyenne Crossing
- Cheyenne Crossing is located in Lawrence County
- Copper Camp ‑ Historic
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Copper Camp have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Copper Camp
- Copper Camp is located in Pennington County
- Diamond City ‑ Historic
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Diamond City have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Diamond City
- Diamond City is located in Lawrence County
- Greenwood
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenwood
- Greenwood is located in Lawrence County
- Greenwood has also been known as:
- Laflin
- Gregory ‑ Historic
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast) - Mystic
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mystic
- Mystic is located in Pennington County
- Redfern
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast) - Silver City
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Silver City have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Silver City
- Silver City is located in Pennington County
- Estimated population in 2014: 60 people
How Far From Florence to ...
We spend a lot of time looking through Gazetteers & Almanacs that were published in the late 1800's and early 1900's. Many of the Gazetteers include the distance from a community such as Florence to various places of note, such as the White House.
With a nod to our favorite Gazetteers and using the location of where the historic community of Florence once stood, the straight-line distance beginning in Florence and extending to:
- Rapid City, which is the Seat of Pennington County, lies 27 miles [43.5 km]<1> to the east. If you could walk a straight line from Florence to Rapid City, with an average speed<5> of 2.2 miles [3.5 km] per hour, it would take just about two full days to make the trip. A horse and buggy averaging 3.2 miles [5.1 km] per hour would take just over a day.
- Pierre, which is the State Capital of South Dakota, lies 171 miles [275.2 km] to the east (E). Driving, with an average speed of 63 miles [101.4 km] per hour, would take about three hours, a buggy would take 7 days and walking would take 10 days.
- The White House (Washington, DC) is 1,422 miles [2,288.5 km] to the east (E). Driving would take most of three days, a buggy would take 56 days and walking would take 81 days.
- The shortest distance<6> to Jerusalem (specifically the Temple Mount and the Dome of the Rock) is 6,586 miles [10,599.1 km] and it lies to the north northeast (NNE).<7>
- The distance to the Great Mosque of Mecca (specifically the Ka'bah - or Kaaba ) is 7,351 miles [11,830.3 km] and it lies to the northeast (NE).<8>
- The distance to Saint Peter's Basilica (The Vatican) is 5,300 miles [8,529.5 km] and it lies to the northeast (NE).<9>
Off-the-Road Links ...
The official website for Pennington County: www.co.pennington.sd.us/
The official website for State of South Dakota: sd.gov/
Footnotes ...
| <1> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Florence) to Point B.Our distance measurements begin at a specific point in Florence. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 44.1358, Longitude: -103.7802 In this case, the coordinates for Florence have been provided by the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS). |
| <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 Florence, 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 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 Florence 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> | 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 Florence 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 325.944 degrees. |
| <8> | The calculated bearing (or angle) to Mecca is 324.833 degrees. |
| <9> | The calculated bearing (or angle) to the Vatican is 316.698 degrees. |