RoadsideThoughts
A Gazetteer for the United States and Canada
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The Commemorative
Quarter for
Tennessee

The Commemorative Quarter for Tennessee





Outdoor Activities ...

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

When in Big Spring, we use the following websites to find information relevant to Big Spring 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 Spring:
    • 36.248942, -86.177212
    • 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 Big Spring
  • 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 Big Spring ...

We found 21 communities that share the name Big Spring.

There are two communities within Tennessee that are also named Big Spring.

Beyond Tennessee, we know of another nineteen communities that are located throughout in the United States.

  • Communities Located In Tennessee ...
    • Carter County
      • This Big Spring is located in Carter County and lies 219 miles [352.4 km]<1> to the east of the Big Spring that is located in Wilson County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Carter County community of Big Spring.
    • Meigs County
      • This Big Spring is located in Meigs County and lies 92 miles [148.1 km]<1> to the southeast of the Big Spring that is located in Wilson County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Meigs County community of Big Spring.
  • Communities Elsewhere In North America ...
    • Alabama
      • Marshall 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 Alabama community of Big Spring [Marshall County].
    • Georgia
      • Gordon 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 Georgia community of Big Spring [Gordon County].
      • Hancock 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 Big Spring [Hancock County].
      • Walker 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 Georgia community of Big Spring [Walker County].
    • Iowa
      • Wayne 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 Iowa community of Big Spring [Wayne County].
    • Kentucky
      • Meade County
      • This Big Spring is located in Meade County and lies 107 miles [172.2 km]<1> to the north of the Big Spring that is located in Wilson County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Meade County community of Big Spring.
    • Maryland
      • Baltimore County
      • This Big Spring is located in Baltimore County and lies 560 miles [901.2 km]<1> to the east northeast of the Big Spring that is located in Wilson County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Baltimore County community of Big Spring.
      • Washington County
      • This Big Spring is located in Washington County and lies 505 miles [812.7 km] to the east northeast of the Big Spring that is located in Wilson County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Washington County community of Big Spring.
    • Michigan
      • Ottawa 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 Big Spring [Ottawa County].
    • Minnesota
      • Fillmore County
      • This Big Spring is located in Fillmore County and lies 593 miles [954.3 km]<1> to the north northwest of the Big Spring that is located in Wilson County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Fillmore County community of Big Spring.
    • Missouri
      • Montgomery County
      • This Big Spring is located in Montgomery County and lies 339 miles [545.6 km]<1> to the west northwest of the Big Spring that is located in Wilson County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Montgomery County community of Big Spring.
    • North Carolina
      • Jackson 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 North Carolina community of Big Spring [Jackson County].
    • Oklahoma
      • Hughes 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 Oklahoma community of Big Spring [Hughes County].
    • Pennsylvania
      • Centre County
      • This Big Spring is located in Centre County and lies 555 miles [893.2 km]<1> to the northeast of the Big Spring that is located in Wilson County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Centre County community of Big Spring.
      • Cumberland County
      • This Big Spring is located in Cumberland County and lies 545 miles [877.1 km] to the east northeast of the Big Spring that is located in Wilson County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Cumberland County community of Big Spring.
      • Franklin 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 Big Spring [Franklin County].
    • Texas
      • Howard County
      • This Big Spring is located in Howard County and lies 915 miles [1,472.5 km]<1> to the west southwest of the Big Spring that is located in Wilson County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Howard County community of Big Spring.
    • Virginia
      • Page County
      • This Big Spring is located in Page County and lies 457 miles [735.5 km]<1> to the east northeast of the Big Spring that is located in Wilson County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Page County community of Big Spring.
    • Wisconsin
      • Adams County
      • This Big Spring is located in Adams County and lies 544 miles [875.5 km]<1> to the north northwest of the Big Spring that is located in Wilson County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Adams County community of Big Spring.

Curious and Interesting Names Near Big Spring ...

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.

  • Centerville
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centerville
    • Centerville is located in Wilson County
    • Estimated population in 2014: 3,595 people
  • Flat Rock
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Flat Rock have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flat Rock
    • Flat Rock is located in Smith County
  • Grant
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Grant have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grant
    • Grant is located in Smith County
  • Greenwood
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenwood
    • Greenwood is located in Wilson County
  • Hunters Point
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Hunters Point have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hunters Point
    • Hunters Point is located in Wilson County
  • Hunters Point Ferry
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Hunters Point Ferry have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hunters Point Ferry
    • Hunters Point Ferry is located in Wilson County
  • Jennings ‑ Historic
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Jennings have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jennings
    • Jennings is located in Wilson County
  • Providence
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Providence have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Providence
    • Providence is located in Trousdale County
  • Rock City
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Rock City have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock City
    • Rock City is located in Smith County
  • Rome Ferry
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Rome Ferry have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rome Ferry
    • Rome Ferry is located in Smith County
  • Spring Creek ‑ Historic
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Spring Creek have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Creek
    • Spring Creek is located in Wilson County
  • Tuckers Crossroads
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Tuckers Crossroads have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tuckers Crossroads
    • Tuckers Crossroads is located in Wilson County

How Far From Big Spring 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 Big Spring 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 Big Spring once stood, the straight-line distance beginning in Big Spring and extending to:

  • Lebanon, which is the Seat of Wilson County, lies just to the West Southwest.
  • Nashville, which is the State Capital of Tennessee, lies 33 miles [53.1 km]<1> to the west (W). If you could walk a straight line from Big Spring to Nashville, with an average speed<5> of 2.2 miles [3.5 km] per hour, it would take most of two days to make the trip. A horse and buggy averaging 3.2 miles [5.1 km] per hour would take just over a day.
  • The White House (Washington, DC) is 532 miles [856.2 km] to the east northeast (ENE). Driving, with an average speed of 63 miles [101.4 km] per hour, would take just over a day, a buggy would take 21 days and walking would take 31 days.
  • The shortest distance<6> to Jerusalem (specifically the Temple Mount and the Dome of the Rock) is 6,396 miles [10,293.4 km] and it lies to the northeast (NE).<7>
  • The distance to the Great Mosque of Mecca (specifically the Ka'bah - or Kaaba ) is 7,113 miles [11,447.3 km] and it lies to the northeast (NE).<8>
  • The distance to Saint Peter's Basilica (The Vatican) is 4,989 miles [8,029 km] and it lies to the northeast (NE).<9>

The official website for Wilson County: www.wilsoncountytn.com/

The official website for State of Tennessee: https://www.tn.gov/

Footnotes ...

<1>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Big Spring) to Point B.Our distance measurements begin at a specific point in Big Spring. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 36.2489, Longitude: -86.1772       In this case, the coordinates for Big Spring 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 Big Spring, 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 Mile's to see Pete ... Mile's 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 Spring 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 Big Spring 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 313.426 degrees.
<8>The calculated bearing (or angle) to Mecca is 309.378 degrees.
<9>The calculated bearing (or angle) to the Vatican is 309.409 degrees.




 

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This page was last modified/updated: 07 Apr 2024