RoadsideThoughts
A Gazetteer for the United States and Canada
Home >> State of Virginia >> Fairfax County >> Gum Springs >> Tidbits & TriviaIndex...

Outdoor Activities ...

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

When in Gum Springs, we use the following websites to find information relevant to Gum Springs 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 Gum Springs:
    • 38.740392, -77.082200
    • 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 Gum Springs
  • 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 Fairfax County as the starting point when you click on the link below:
    • Open the eBird sighting report for Fairfax County
    • Since Gum Springs is near Prince George's County and also Alexandria City, we have provided a link to their eBird sighting reports:
    • Open the eBird sighting report for Prince George's County
    • Open the eBird sighting report for Alexandria City
  • 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 Gum Springs

Communities Also Named Gum Springs ...

We found nineteen communities that are also named Gum Springs.

Within Virginia, the name Gum Springs is unique.

Beyond Virginia, we know of nineteen communities that are located in the United States.

  • Communities Elsewhere In North America ...
    • Alabama
      • Blount County
      • This Gum Springs is located in Blount County and lies 622 miles [1,001 km]<1> to the west southwest of the Gum Springs that is located in Fairfax County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Blount County community of Gum Springs.
      • Etowah 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 Gum Springs [Etowah County].
      • Talladega County
      • Although located in Talladega County, we don't know the location within the county.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Talladega County community of Gum Springs.
    • Arkansas
      • Clark County
      • This Gum Springs is located in Clark County and lies 945 miles [1,520.8 km]<1> to the west southwest of the Gum Springs that is located in Fairfax County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Clark County community of Gum Springs.
      • Cleveland County
      • This Gum Springs is located in Cleveland County and lies 905 miles [1,456.5 km] to the west southwest of the Gum Springs that is located in Fairfax County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Cleveland County community of Gum Springs.
      • Newton County
      • This Gum Springs is located in Newton County and lies 902 miles [1,451.6 km] to the west of the Gum Springs that is located in Fairfax County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Newton County community of Gum Springs.
      • Pulaski County
      • This Gum Springs is located in Pulaski County and lies 887 miles [1,427.5 km] to the west southwest of the Gum Springs that is located in Fairfax County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Pulaski County community of Gum Springs.
      • White 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 Arkansas community of Gum Springs [White County].
    • Georgia
      • Bartow County
      • This Gum Springs is located in Bartow County and lies 523 miles [841.7 km]<1> to the west southwest of the Gum Springs that is located in Fairfax County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Bartow County community of Gum Springs.
    • Maryland
      • Montgomery County
      • This Gum Springs is located in Montgomery County and lies 25 miles [40.2 km]<1> to the north northeast of the Gum Springs that is located in Fairfax County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Montgomery County community of Gum Springs.
    • Mississippi
      • Simpson County
      • This Gum Springs is located in Simpson County and lies 859 miles [1,382.4 km]<1> to the west southwest of the Gum Springs that is located in Fairfax County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Simpson County community of Gum Springs.
      • Winston County
      • This Gum Springs is located in Winston County and lies 768 miles [1,236 km] to the west southwest of the Gum Springs that is located in Fairfax County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Winston County community of Gum Springs.
    • North Carolina
      • Chatham County
      • This Gum Springs is located in Chatham County and lies 237 miles [381.4 km]<1> to the south southwest of the Gum Springs that is located in Fairfax County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Chatham County community of Gum Springs.
    • Tennessee
      • Lawrence County
      • This Gum Springs is located in Lawrence County and lies 613 miles [986.5 km]<1> to the west southwest of the Gum Springs that is located in Fairfax County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Lawrence County community of Gum Springs.
      • Lincoln County
      • This Gum Springs is located in Lincoln County and lies 572 miles [920.5 km] to the west southwest of the Gum Springs that is located in Fairfax County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Lincoln County community of Gum Springs.
      • Macon County
      • This Gum Springs is located in Macon County and lies 509 miles [819.2 km] to the west southwest of the Gum Springs that is located in Fairfax County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Macon County community of Gum Springs.
    • Texas
      • Cass County
      • This Gum Springs is located in Cass County and lies 1,038 miles [1,670.5 km]<1> to the west southwest of the Gum Springs that is located in Fairfax County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Cass County community of Gum Springs.
      • Harrison County
      • This Gum Springs is located in Harrison County and lies 1,076 miles [1,731.7 km] to the west southwest of the Gum Springs that is located in Fairfax County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Harrison County community of Gum Springs.
      • Rusk County
      • This Gum Springs is located in Rusk County and lies 1,101 miles [1,771.9 km] to the west southwest of the Gum Springs that is located in Fairfax County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Rusk County community of Gum Springs.

Curious and Interesting Names Near Gum Springs ...

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.

  • Cactus Hill
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
    • Cactus Hill is located in Prince George's County (MD)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cactus Hill
  • Cannon
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
    • Cannon is located in Fairfax County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cannon
  • Fair Haven
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
    • Fair Haven is located in Fairfax County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fair Haven
  • Fort Hunt
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
    • Fort Hunt is located in Fairfax County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fort Hunt
  • Governors Grove
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
    • Governors Grove is located in Fairfax County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Governors Grove
  • Hayfield
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
    • Hayfield is located in Fairfax County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hayfield
  • Hunter
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
    • Hunter is located in Fairfax County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hunter
  • Marlin Forest
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Marlin Forest is located in Fairfax County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marlin Forest
  • Memorial Heights
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
    • Memorial Heights is located in Fairfax County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Memorial Heights
  • Ridgeview
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
    • Ridgeview is located in Fairfax County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ridgeview
  • Riverside Gardens
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
    • Riverside Gardens is located in Fairfax County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riverside Gardens
  • Riverview
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
    • Riverview is located in Prince George's County (MD)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riverview
  • Continue List   (9 more) ...
    • Riverwood
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
      • Riverwood is located in Fairfax County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riverwood
    • Rose Hill
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Rose Hill is located in Fairfax County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rose Hill
    • Silver Springs
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Silver Springs is located in Fairfax County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Silver Springs
    • Spring Bank
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
      • Spring Bank is located in Fairfax County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Bank
    • Sunnyview
      (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
      • Sunnyview is located in Fairfax County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunnyview
    • Virginia Hills
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
      • Virginia Hills is located in Fairfax County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Virginia Hills
    • Woodland Park
      (Less than 2 miles to the south)
      • Woodland Park is located in Fairfax County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodland Park
    • Woodlawn
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Woodlawn is located in Fairfax County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodlawn
    • Yacht Haven
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Yacht Haven is located in Fairfax County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yacht Haven

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

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

  • Richmond, which is the State Capital of Virginia, lies 84 miles [135.2 km]<1> to the south southwest (SSW). If you could drive a straight line from Gum Springs to Richmond, with an average speed<3>of 63 miles [101.4 km] per hour, it would take less than two hours to make the trip. A comfortable walk of 2.2 miles [3.5 km] per hour would take 5 days. A horse and buggy averaging 3.2 miles [5.1 km] per hour would take most of three days.
  • The White House (Washington, DC) is 11 miles [17.7 km] to the north northeast (NNE). The buggy would take nearly four hours and walking would take five to six hours.
  • The shortest distance<4> to Jerusalem (specifically the Temple Mount and the Dome of the Rock) is 5,906 miles [9,504.8 km] and it lies to the northeast (NE).<5>
  • The distance to the Great Mosque of Mecca (specifically the Ka'bah - or Kaaba ) is 6,610 miles [10,637.8 km] and it lies to the east northeast (ENE).<6>
  • The distance to Saint Peter's Basilica (The Vatican) is 4,488 miles [7,222.7 km] and it lies to the northeast (NE).<7>'

Footnotes ...

<1>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'point-to-point' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Gum Springs) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.
<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 Gum Springs, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<3>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.
<4>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 Gum Springs 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 Gum Springs. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 38.7404, Longitude: -77.0822       In this case, the coordinates for Gum Springs have been provided by the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS).
<5>The calculated bearing (or angle) to Jerusalem is 307.926 degrees.
<6>The calculated bearing (or angle) to Mecca is 303.456 degrees.
<7>The calculated bearing (or angle) to the Vatican is 304.794 degrees.