RoadsideThoughts
A Gazetteer for the United States and Canada
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Outdoor Activities ...

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

When in California, we use the following websites to find information relevant to California 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 California:
    • 37.909018, -79.586988
    • 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 California
  • 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 California ...

We found twenty communities that share the name California.

Within Virginia, the name California is unique.

Beyond Virginia, we know of another twenty communities that are located throughout in the United States and Canada. Of these twenty communities, nineteen are located in the United States and two are in Canada.

  • Communities Elsewhere In North America ...
    • Georgia
      • Paulding County
      • This California is located in Paulding County and lies 398 miles [640.5 km]<1> to the southwest of the California that is located in Rockbridge County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Paulding County community of California.
    • Iowa
      • Harrison 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 Iowa community of California [Harrison County].
    • Kansas
      • Coffey 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 California [Coffey County].
    • Kentucky
      • Campbell County
      • This California is located in Campbell County and lies 262 miles [421.6 km]<1> to the west northwest of the California that is located in Rockbridge County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Campbell County community of California.
    • Louisiana
      • Madison 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 California [Madison Parish].
    • Maine
      • Aroostook County
      • This California is located in Aroostook County and lies 859 miles [1,382.4 km]<1> to the northeast of the California that is located in Rockbridge County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Aroostook County community of California.
    • Maryland
      • Saint Mary's County
      • This California is located in Saint Mary's County and lies 169 miles [272 km]<1> to the east of the California that is located in Rockbridge County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Saint Mary's County community of California.
      • Wicomico County
      • This California is located in Wicomico County and lies 218 miles [350.8 km] to the east of the California that is located in Rockbridge County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Wicomico County community of California.
    • Michigan
      • Branch County
      • This California is located in Branch County and lies 388 miles [624.4 km]<1> to the northwest of the California that is located in Rockbridge County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Branch County community of California.
    • Missouri
      • Moniteau County
      • This California is located in Moniteau County and lies 704 miles [1,133 km]<1> to the west of the California that is located in Rockbridge County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Moniteau County community of California.
    • North Carolina
      • Dare County
      • This California is located in Dare County and lies 256 miles [412 km]<1> to the east southeast of the California that is located in Rockbridge County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Dare County community of California.
      • Hertford County
      • This California is located in Hertford County and lies 179 miles [288.1 km] to the southeast of the California that is located in Rockbridge County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Hertford County community of California.
      • Madison County
      • This California is located in Madison County and lies 214 miles [344.4 km] to the southwest of the California that is located in Rockbridge County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Madison County community of California.
      • Pitt County
      • This California is located in Pitt County and lies 193 miles [310.6 km] to the southeast of the California that is located in Rockbridge County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Pitt County community of California.
    • Ohio
      • Hamilton County
      • This California is located in Hamilton County and lies 273 miles [439.4 km]<1> to the west northwest of the California that is located in Rockbridge County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Hamilton County community of California.
    • Ontario
      • This California lies 529 miles [851.3 km]<1> to the north northeast of the California that is located in Rockbridge County.
    • Pennsylvania
      • Bucks County
      • This California is located in Bucks County and lies 287 miles [461.9 km]<1> to the northeast of the California that is located in Rockbridge County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Bucks County community of California.
      • Luzerne 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 California [Luzerne County].
      • Montour County
      • This California is located in Montour County and lies 266 miles [428.1 km] to the north northeast of the California that is located in Rockbridge County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Montour County community of California.
      • Washington County
      • This California is located in Washington County and lies 149 miles [239.8 km] to the north of the California that is located in Rockbridge County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Washington County community of California.

Curious and Interesting Names Near California ...

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.

  • Cedar Grove
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Cedar Grove have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Grove
    • Cedar Grove is located in Rockbridge County
  • Crane
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Crane have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crane
    • Crane is located in Bath County
  • Denmark
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Denmark have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Denmark
    • Denmark is located in Rockbridge County
  • Fredericksburg
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Fredericksburg have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fredericksburg
    • Fredericksburg is located in Rockbridge County
  • Green Valley
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Green Valley have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Valley
    • Green Valley is located in Bath County
  • Longdale
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Longdale have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Longdale
    • Longdale is located in Alleghany County
  • Longdale Furnace
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Longdale Furnace have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Longdale Furnace
    • Longdale Furnace is located in Alleghany County
  • Maple Grove
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Maple Grove have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maple Grove
    • Maple Grove is located in Rockbridge County
  • Mudtown
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Mudtown have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mudtown
    • Mudtown is located in Lexington City
  • Nicelytown
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Nicelytown have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nicelytown
    • Nicelytown is located in Alleghany County
  • Sycamore Valley
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Sycamore Valley have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sycamore Valley
    • Sycamore Valley is located in Rockbridge County
  • Timber Ridge
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Timber Ridge have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Timber Ridge
    • Timber Ridge is located in Rockbridge County

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

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

  • Richmond, which is the State Capital of Virginia, lies 120 miles [193.1 km]<1> to the east southeast (ESE). If you could drive a straight line from California to Richmond, with an average speed<4>of 63 miles [101.4 km] per hour, it would take about two hours to make the trip. A comfortable walk of 2.2 miles [3.5 km] per hour would take 7 days. A horse and buggy averaging 3.2 miles [5.1 km] per hour would take 5 days.
  • The White House (Washington, DC) is 153 miles [246.2 km] to the east northeast (ENE). Driving would take less than three hours, a buggy would take 6 days and walking would take 9 days.
  • The shortest distance<5> to Jerusalem (specifically the Temple Mount and the Dome of the Rock) is 6,048 miles [9,733.3 km] and it lies to the northeast (NE).<6>
  • The distance to the Great Mosque of Mecca (specifically the Ka'bah - or Kaaba ) is 6,755 miles [10,871.1 km] and it lies to the northeast (NE).<7>
  • The distance to Saint Peter's Basilica (The Vatican) is 4,631 miles [7,452.9 km] and it lies to the northeast (NE).<8>

Unfortunately, we don't know of a website for California. If you can help, please contact us through our Feedback Page.

The official website for Rockbridge County: www.co.rockbridge.va.us/

The official website for State of Virginia: https://www.virginia.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 from Point A (ie- California) to Point B.Our distance measurements begin at a specific point in California. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 37.9090, Longitude: -79.5870       In this case, the coordinates for California have been provided by the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS).
<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 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 California 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>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.
<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 California to the Middle East to be East and South, the Great Circle Route actually lies to the North and East.
<6>The calculated bearing (or angle) to Jerusalem is 309.445 degrees.
<7>The calculated bearing (or angle) to Mecca is 305.059 degrees.
<8>The calculated bearing (or angle) to the Vatican is 306.141 degrees.




 

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This page was last modified/updated: 22 Apr 2025