RoadsideThoughts
A Gazetteer for the United States and Canada
Home >> State of Tennessee >> Knox County >> Kensington >> Tidbits & TriviaIndex...

Outdoor Activities ...

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

When in Kensington, we use the following websites to find information relevant to Kensington 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 Kensington:
    • 35.884803, -84.056021
    • 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 Kensington
  • 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 Knox County as the starting point when you click on the link below:
    • Open the eBird sighting report for Knox County
    • Since Kensington is near Blount County and also Anderson County, we have provided a link to their eBird sighting reports:
    • Open the eBird sighting report for Blount County
    • Open the eBird sighting report for Anderson 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 Kensington

Communities Also Named Kensington ...

We found 28 communities that are also named Kensington.

Within Tennessee, the name Kensington is unique.

Beyond Tennessee, we know of 28 communities that are located in the United States and Canada. Of these 28 communities, 26 are located in the United States and two are in Canada.

  • Communities Elsewhere In North America ...
    • Arizona
      • Maricopa County
      • This Kensington is located in Maricopa County and lies 1,586 miles [2,552.4 km]<1> to the west of the Kensington that is located in Knox County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Maricopa County community of Kensington.
    • California
      • Contra Costa County
      • This Kensington is located in Contra Costa County and lies 2,100 miles [3,379.6 km]<1> to the west northwest of the Kensington that is located in Knox County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Contra Costa County community of Kensington.
    • Connecticut
      • Hartford County
      • This Kensington is located in Hartford County and lies 725 miles [1,166.8 km]<1> to the northeast of the Kensington that is located in Knox County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Hartford County community of Kensington.
    • Georgia
      • Chatham County
      • Although located in Chatham County, we don't know the location within the county.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Chatham County community of Kensington.
      • Columbia County
      • This Kensington is located in Columbia County and lies 196 miles [315.4 km]<1> to the south southeast of the Kensington that is located in Knox County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Columbia County community of Kensington.
      • Walker County
      • This Kensington is located in Walker County and lies 106 miles [170.6 km] to the southwest of the Kensington that is located in Knox County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Walker County community of Kensington.
    • Illinois
      • Cook County
      • This Kensington is located in Cook County and lies 443 miles [712.9 km]<1> to the north northwest of the Kensington that is located in Knox County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Cook County community of Kensington.
      • Will County
      • This Kensington is located in Will County and lies 446 miles [717.8 km] to the north northwest of the Kensington that is located in Knox County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Will County community of Kensington.
    • Kansas
      • Smith County
      • This Kensington is located in Smith County and lies 858 miles [1,380.8 km]<1> to the west northwest of the Kensington that is located in Knox County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Smith County community of Kensington.
    • Kentucky
      • Boone County
      • This Kensington is located in Boone County and lies 210 miles [338 km]<1> to the north of the Kensington that is located in Knox County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Boone County community of Kensington.
    • Maryland
      • Anne Arundel County
      • This Kensington is located in Anne Arundel County and lies 465 miles [748.3 km]<1> to the east northeast of the Kensington that is located in Knox County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Anne Arundel County community of Kensington.
      • Montgomery County
      • This Kensington is located in Montgomery County and lies 439 miles [706.5 km] to the east northeast of the Kensington that is located in Knox County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Montgomery County community of Kensington.
    • Michigan
      • Oakland 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 Kensington [Oakland County].
      • Wayne County
      • This community is historic<3> and although located in Wayne County, we don't know where within the county.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Wayne County community of Kensington.
    • Minnesota
      • Douglas County
      • This Kensington is located in Douglas County and lies 912 miles [1,467.7 km]<1> to the northwest of the Kensington that is located in Knox County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Douglas County community of Kensington.
    • New Hampshire
      • Rockingham County
      • This Kensington is located in Rockingham County and lies 850 miles [1,367.9 km]<1> to the northeast of the Kensington that is located in Knox County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Rockingham County community of Kensington.
    • New York
      • Erie 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 New York community of Kensington [Erie County].
      • Kings County
      • This Kensington is located in Kings County and lies 637 miles [1,025.2 km]<1> to the northeast of the Kensington that is located in Knox County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Kings County community of Kensington.
      • Nassau County
      • This Kensington is located in Nassau County and lies 653 miles [1,050.9 km] to the northeast of the Kensington that is located in Knox County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Nassau County community of Kensington.
    • Ohio
      • Columbiana County
      • This Kensington is located in Columbiana County and lies 374 miles [601.9 km]<1> to the north northeast of the Kensington that is located in Knox County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Columbiana County community of Kensington.
    • Pennsylvania
      • Philadelphia County
      • This Kensington is located in Philadelphia County and lies 562 miles [904.5 km]<1> to the east northeast of the Kensington that is located in Knox County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Philadelphia County community of Kensington.
      • Westmoreland 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 Pennsylvania community of Kensington [Westmoreland County].
    • Prince Edward Island
      • This Kensington lies 1,281 miles [2,061.6 km]<1> to the northeast of the Kensington that is located in Knox County.
    • Quebec
      • This Kensington lies 811 miles [1,305.2 km]<1> to the northeast of the Kensington that is located in Knox County.
    • South Carolina
      • Berkeley County
      • This Kensington is located in Berkeley County and lies 306 miles [492.5 km]<1> to the southeast of the Kensington that is located in Knox County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Berkeley County community of Kensington.
      • Georgetown County
      • This Kensington is located in Georgetown County and lies 320 miles [515 km] to the east southeast of the Kensington that is located in Knox County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Georgetown County community of Kensington.
      • Orangeburg County
      • This Kensington is located in Orangeburg County and lies 242 miles [389.5 km] to the southeast of the Kensington that is located in Knox County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Orangeburg County community of Kensington.
    • Virginia
      • Norfolk City
      • 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 Virginia community of Kensington [Norfolk City].

Curious and Interesting Names Near Kensington ...

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.

  • Blue Grass
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
    • Blue Grass is located in Knox County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blue Grass
  • Cactus Cove
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Cactus Cove is located in Blount County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cactus Cove
  • Cedar Bluff
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Cedar Bluff is located in Knox County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Bluff
  • Cedar Springs
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Cedar Springs is located in Knox County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Springs
  • Ebenezer
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
    • Ebenezer is located in Knox County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ebenezer
  • Echo Valley
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
    • Echo Valley is located in Knox County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Echo Valley
  • Fox Fire
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
    • Fox Fire is located in Knox County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fox Fire
  • Fox Hills
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
    • Fox Hills is located in Blount County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fox Hills
  • Galewood
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
    • Galewood is located in Knox County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Galewood
  • Green Valley
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
    • Green Valley is located in Knox County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Valley
  • Gulfwood
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Gulfwood is located in Knox County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gulfwood
  • Henrys Ferry
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
    • Henrys Ferry is located in Knox County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Henrys Ferry
  • Continue List   (5 more) ...
    • Hickory Hills
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Hickory Hills is located in Knox County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hickory Hills
    • Pine Springs
      (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
      • Pine Springs is located in Knox County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Springs
    • Rocky Hill
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Rocky Hill is located in Knox County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rocky Hill
    • Suburban Hills
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
      • Suburban Hills is located in Knox County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Suburban Hills
    • Ten Mile
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Ten Mile is located in Knox County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ten Mile

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

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

  • Knoxville, which is the Seat of Knox County, lies 9 miles [14.5 km]<1> to the northeast. If you could walk a straight line from Kensington to Knoxville, with an average speed<4> of 2.2 miles [3.5 km] per hour, it would take four to five hours to make the trip. A horse and buggy averaging 3.2 miles [5.1 km] per hour would take a little over three hours.
  • Nashville, which is the State Capital of Tennessee, lies 153 miles [246.2 km] to the west (W). Driving, with an average speed of 63 miles [101.4 km] per hour, would take less than three hours, a buggy would take 6 days and walking would take 9 days.
  • The White House (Washington, DC) is 437 miles [703.3 km] to the east northeast (ENE). Driving would take most of a day, a buggy would take 17 days and walking would take 25 days.
  • The shortest distance<5> to Jerusalem (specifically the Temple Mount and the Dome of the Rock) is 6,326 miles [10,180.7 km] and it lies to the northeast (NE).<6>
  • The distance to the Great Mosque of Mecca (specifically the Ka'bah - or Kaaba ) is 7,036 miles [11,323.3 km] and it lies to the northeast (NE).<7>
  • The distance to Saint Peter's Basilica (The Vatican) is 4,912 miles [7,905.1 km] and it lies to the northeast (NE).<8>'

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- Kensington) 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 Kensington 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 Kensington, 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 Kensington 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 Kensington. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 35.8848, Longitude: -84.0560       In this case, the coordinates for Kensington have been provided by the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS).
<6>The calculated bearing (or angle) to Jerusalem is 312.124 degrees.
<7>The calculated bearing (or angle) to Mecca is 307.83 degrees.
<8>The calculated bearing (or angle) to the Vatican is 308.611 degrees.