RoadsideThoughts
A Gazetteer for the United States and Canada
Home >> State of Virginia >> Cumberland County >> Oak Forest >> Tidbits & TriviaIndex...

Outdoor Activities ...

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

When in Oak Forest, we use the following websites to find information relevant to Oak Forest 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 Oak Forest:
    • 37.536538, -78.193887
    • 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 Oak Forest
  • 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 Cumberland County as the starting point when you click on the link below:
    • Open the eBird sighting report for Cumberland County
    • Since Oak Forest is near Powhatan County and also Buckingham County, we have provided a link to their eBird sighting reports:
    • Open the eBird sighting report for Powhatan County
    • Open the eBird sighting report for Buckingham 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 Oak Forest

Communities Also Named Oak Forest ...

We found 26 communities that are also named Oak Forest.

There are two communities within Virginia that are also named Oak Forest.

Beyond Virginia, we know of 24 communities that are located in the United States.

  • Communities Located In Virginia ...
    • Chesterfield County
      • This Oak Forest is located in Chesterfield County and lies 44 miles [70.8 km]<1> to the east southeast of the Oak Forest that is located in Cumberland County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Chesterfield County community of Oak Forest.
    • Hanover County
      • This Oak Forest is located in Hanover County and lies 47 miles [75.6 km]<1> to the east northeast of the Oak Forest that is located in Cumberland County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Hanover County community of Oak Forest.
  • Communities Elsewhere In North America ...
    • Alabama
      • Jefferson County
      • This Oak Forest is located in Jefferson County and lies 553 miles [890 km]<1> to the west southwest of the Oak Forest that is located in Cumberland County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Jefferson County community of Oak Forest.
    • Arkansas
      • Lee County
      • This Oak Forest is located in Lee County and lies 732 miles [1,178 km]<1> to the west of the Oak Forest that is located in Cumberland County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Lee County community of Oak Forest.
      • Lonoke County
      • This Oak Forest is located in Lonoke County and lies 786 miles [1,264.9 km] to the west of the Oak Forest that is located in Cumberland County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Lonoke County community of Oak Forest.
      • Phillips County
      • This Oak Forest is located in Phillips County and lies 723 miles [1,163.6 km] to the west southwest of the Oak Forest that is located in Cumberland County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Phillips County community of Oak Forest.
      • Pulaski County
      • This Oak Forest is located in Pulaski County and lies 810 miles [1,303.6 km] to the west of the Oak Forest that is located in Cumberland County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Pulaski County community of Oak Forest.
    • Florida
      • Hillsborough County
      • This Oak Forest is located in Hillsborough County and lies 700 miles [1,126.5 km]<1> to the south southwest of the Oak Forest that is located in Cumberland County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Hillsborough County community of Oak Forest.
    • Georgia
      • Chatham County
      • This Oak Forest is located in Chatham County and lies 414 miles [666.3 km]<1> to the south southwest of the Oak Forest that is located in Cumberland County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Chatham County community of Oak Forest.
      • Clayton County
      • This Oak Forest is located in Clayton County and lies 440 miles [708.1 km] to the southwest of the Oak Forest that is located in Cumberland County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Clayton County community of Oak Forest.
    • Illinois
      • Cook County
      • This Oak Forest is located in Cook County and lies 580 miles [933.4 km]<1> to the west northwest of the Oak Forest that is located in Cumberland County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Cook County community of Oak Forest.
    • Indiana
      • Franklin County
      • This Oak Forest is located in Franklin County and lies 393 miles [632.5 km]<1> to the west northwest of the Oak Forest that is located in Cumberland County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Franklin County community of Oak Forest.
    • Kentucky
      • Allen County
      • This Oak Forest is located in Allen County and lies 438 miles [704.9 km]<1> to the west of the Oak Forest that is located in Cumberland County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Allen County community of Oak Forest.
    • Louisiana
      • East Baton Rouge Parish
      • This Oak Forest is located in East Baton Rouge Parish and lies 882 miles [1,419.4 km]<1> to the west southwest of the Oak Forest that is located in Cumberland County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the East Baton Rouge Parish community of Oak Forest.
      • Terrebonne Parish
      • This Oak Forest is located in Terrebonne Parish and lies 912 miles [1,467.7 km] to the west southwest of the Oak Forest that is located in Cumberland County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Terrebonne Parish community of Oak Forest.
    • Maryland
      • Baltimore County
      • This Oak Forest is located in Baltimore County and lies 142 miles [228.5 km]<1> to the north northeast of the Oak Forest that is located in Cumberland County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Baltimore County community of Oak Forest.
    • North Carolina
      • Buncombe County
      • This Oak Forest is located in Buncombe County and lies 278 miles [447.4 km]<1> to the west southwest of the Oak Forest that is located in Cumberland County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Buncombe County community of Oak Forest.
      • Iredell 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 North Carolina community of Oak Forest [Iredell County].
      • Johnston County
      • This Oak Forest is located in Johnston County and lies 151 miles [243 km] to the south of the Oak Forest that is located in Cumberland County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Johnston County community of Oak Forest.
      • Wayne County
      • This Oak Forest is located in Wayne County and lies 151 miles [243 km] to the south of the Oak Forest that is located in Cumberland County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Wayne County community of Oak Forest.
    • Pennsylvania
      • Greene County
      • This Oak Forest is located in Greene County and lies 193 miles [310.6 km]<1> to the northwest of the Oak Forest that is located in Cumberland County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Greene County community of Oak Forest.
    • South Carolina
      • Charleston County
      • This Oak Forest is located in Charleston County and lies 343 miles [552 km]<1> to the south southwest of the Oak Forest that is located in Cumberland County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Charleston County community of Oak Forest.
      • Florence County
      • This Oak Forest is located in Florence County and lies 249 miles [400.7 km] to the south southwest of the Oak Forest that is located in Cumberland County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Florence County community of Oak Forest.
      • Spartanburg County
      • This Oak Forest is located in Spartanburg County and lies 278 miles [447.4 km] to the southwest of the Oak Forest that is located in Cumberland County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Spartanburg County community of Oak Forest.
    • Texas
      • Gonzales County
      • This Oak Forest is located in Gonzales County and lies 1,243 miles [2,000.4 km]<1> to the west southwest of the Oak Forest that is located in Cumberland County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Gonzales County community of Oak Forest.
      • Harris County
      • This Oak Forest is located in Harris County and lies 1,122 miles [1,805.7 km] to the west southwest of the Oak Forest that is located in Cumberland County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Harris County community of Oak Forest.

Curious and Interesting Names Near Oak Forest ...

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.

  • Ballsville
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Ballsville is located in Powhatan County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ballsville
  • Bush Park ‑ Historic
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Bush Park is located in Cumberland County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bush Park
  • Felixville ‑ Historic
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Felixville is located in Cumberland County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Felixville
  • Hatcher
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • Hatcher is located in Cumberland County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hatcher
  • Hatchers
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Hatchers is located in Powhatan County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hatchers
  • Hideaway Lake
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Hideaway Lake is located in Powhatan County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hideaway Lake
  • Hillcrest
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
    • Hillcrest is located in Cumberland County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hillcrest
  • Sunny Side
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Sunny Side is located in Cumberland County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunny Side
  • Tally ‑ Historic
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Tally is located in Cumberland County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tally
  • Tobaccoville
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Tobaccoville is located in Powhatan County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tobaccoville
  • Union Hill
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • Union Hill is located in Buckingham County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union Hill

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

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

  • Cumberland, which is the Seat of Cumberland County, lies just to the Southwest.
  • Richmond, which is the State Capital of Virginia, lies 41 miles [66 km]<1> to the east (E). If you could walk a straight line from Oak Forest to Richmond, with an average speed<3> of 2.2 miles [3.5 km] per hour, it would take about three full days to make the trip. A horse and buggy averaging 3.2 miles [5.1 km] per hour would take just about two full days.
  • The White House (Washington, DC) is 113 miles [181.9 km] to the north northeast (NNE). Driving, with an average speed of 63 miles [101.4 km] per hour, would take about two hours, a buggy would take 5 days and walking would take 7 days.
  • The shortest distance<4> to Jerusalem (specifically the Temple Mount and the Dome of the Rock) is 6,005 miles [9,664.1 km] and it lies to the northeast (NE).<5>
  • The distance to the Great Mosque of Mecca (specifically the Ka'bah - or Kaaba ) is 6,707 miles [10,793.9 km] and it lies to the northeast (NE).<6>
  • The distance to Saint Peter's Basilica (The Vatican) is 4,585 miles [7,378.8 km] and it lies to the northeast (NE).<7>'

Footnotes ...

<1>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' (or point-to-point) distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Oak Forest) 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 Oak Forest 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>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 Oak Forest 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 Oak Forest. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 37.5365, Longitude: -78.1939       In this case, the coordinates for Oak Forest have been provided by the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS).
<5>The calculated bearing (or angle) to Jerusalem is 308.639 degrees.
<6>The calculated bearing (or angle) to Mecca is 304.085 degrees.
<7>The calculated bearing (or angle) to the Vatican is 305.696 degrees.