RoadsideThoughts
A Gazetteer for the United States and Canada
Home >> State of Virginia >> Loudoun County >> Ryan >> Tidbits & TriviaIndex...

Outdoor Activities ...

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

When in Ryan, we use the following websites to find information relevant to Ryan and the surrounding area.

  • 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 Ryan:
    • 39.015109, -77.493046
    • 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 Ryan
  • 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 Ryan ...

We found 23 communities that share the name Ryan.

Within Virginia, the name Ryan is unique.

Beyond Virginia, we know of another 23 communities that are located throughout in the United States and Canada. Of these 23 communities, 21 are located in the United States and two are in Canada.

  • Communities Elsewhere In North America ...
    • Alabama
      • Shelby County
      • This Ryan is located in Shelby County and lies 660 miles [1,062.2 km]<1> to the southwest of the Ryan that is located in Loudoun County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Shelby County community of Ryan.
    • Arizona
      • Coconino 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 Arizona community of Ryan [Coconino County].
    • Arkansas
      • Lonoke County
      • This Ryan is located in Lonoke County and lies 849 miles [1,366.3 km]<1> to the west southwest of the Ryan that is located in Loudoun County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Lonoke County community of Ryan.
    • British Columbia
      • This Ryan lies 2,009 miles [3,233.2 km]<1> to the northwest of the Ryan that is located in Loudoun County.
    • California
      • Inyo 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 California community of Ryan [Inyo County].
    • Illinois
      • Vermilion County
      • This Ryan is located in Vermilion County and lies 553 miles [890 km]<1> to the west of the Ryan that is located in Loudoun County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Vermilion County community of Ryan.
    • Iowa
      • Delaware County
      • This Ryan is located in Delaware County and lies 766 miles [1,232.8 km]<1> to the west northwest of the Ryan that is located in Loudoun County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Delaware County community of Ryan.
    • Kansas
      • Doniphan 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 Kansas community of Ryan [Doniphan County].
      • Ford 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 Kansas community of Ryan [Ford County].
      • Rush 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 Kansas community of Ryan [Rush County].
    • Kentucky
      • Fleming County
      • This Ryan is located in Fleming County and lies 325 miles [523 km]<1> to the west of the Ryan that is located in Loudoun County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Fleming County community of Ryan.
    • Michigan
      • Midland County
      • This Ryan is located in Midland County and lies 471 miles [758 km]<1> to the northwest of the Ryan that is located in Loudoun County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Midland County community of Ryan.
    • Minnesota
      • Goodhue County
      • This Ryan is located in Goodhue County and lies 867 miles [1,395.3 km]<1> to the west northwest of the Ryan that is located in Loudoun County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Goodhue County community of Ryan.
    • Nevada
      • Mineral County
      • This community is historic<2> and although located in Mineral County, we don't know where within the county.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Mineral County community of Ryan.
    • North Carolina
      • Robeson 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 Ryan [Robeson County].
    • Ohio
      • Lucas County
      • This Ryan is located in Lucas County and lies 364 miles [585.8 km]<1> to the west northwest of the Ryan that is located in Loudoun County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Lucas County community of Ryan.
    • Oklahoma
      • Jefferson County
      • This Ryan is located in Jefferson County and lies 1,183 miles [1,903.9 km]<1> to the west of the Ryan that is located in Loudoun County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Jefferson County community of Ryan.
    • Ontario
      • 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 Ontario community of Ryan.
    • Texas
      • McLennan 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 Texas community of Ryan [McLennan County].
      • Presidio County
      • This Ryan is located in Presidio County and lies 1,625 miles [2,615.2 km]<1> to the west southwest of the Ryan that is located in Loudoun County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Presidio County community of Ryan.
    • Washington
      • Stevens County
      • This Ryan is located in Stevens County and lies 2,095 miles [3,371.6 km]<1> to the west northwest of the Ryan that is located in Loudoun County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Stevens County community of Ryan.
    • West Virginia
      • Roane County
      • This Ryan is located in Roane County and lies 215 miles [346 km]<1> to the west of the Ryan that is located in Loudoun County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Roane County community of Ryan.
    • Wisconsin
      • Kewaunee 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 Wisconsin community of Ryan [Kewaunee County].

Curious and Interesting Names Near Ryan ...

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.

  • Butler
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Butler have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Butler
    • Butler is located in Loudoun County
  • Cooktown
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Cooktown have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cooktown
    • Cooktown is located in Fairfax County
  • Countryside
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Countryside have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Countryside
    • Countryside is located in Loudoun County
  • Edwards Ferry
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Edwards Ferry have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edwards Ferry
    • Edwards Ferry is located in Montgomery County (MD)
  • Evergreen Mills
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Evergreen Mills have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Evergreen Mills
    • Evergreen Mills is located in Loudoun County
  • German
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for German have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for German
    • German is located in Loudoun County
  • Graves
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Graves have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Graves
    • Graves is located in Loudoun County
  • Little Washington
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Little Washington have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little Washington
    • Little Washington is located in Loudoun County
  • Oak Grove
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Grove
    • Oak Grove is located in Loudoun County
  • Royville
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Royville have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Royville
    • Royville is located in Loudoun County
  • Sugarland Run
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Sugarland Run have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sugarland Run
    • Sugarland Run is located in Loudoun County
  • University Center
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for University Center have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for University Center
    • University Center is located in Loudoun County

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

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

  • Leesburg, which is the Seat of Loudoun County, lies just to the North Northwest.
  • Richmond, which is the State Capital of Virginia, lies 101 miles [162.5 km]<1> to the south (S). If you could drive a straight line from Ryan to Richmond, with an average speed<5>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 6 days. A horse and buggy averaging 3.2 miles [5.1 km] per hour would take three full days.
  • The White House (Washington, DC) is 25 miles [40.2 km] to the east southeast (ESE). The buggy would take most of a day and walking would take just about two full days.
  • The shortest distance<6> to Jerusalem (specifically the Temple Mount and the Dome of the Rock) is 5,912 miles [9,514.4 km] and it lies to the northeast (NE).<7>
  • The distance to the Great Mosque of Mecca (specifically the Ka'bah - or Kaaba ) is 6,618 miles [10,650.6 km] and it lies to the east northeast (ENE).<8>
  • The distance to Saint Peter's Basilica (The Vatican) is 4,495 miles [7,234 km] and it lies to the northeast (NE).<9>

Footnotes ...

<1>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a '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- Ryan) to Point B.Our distance measurements begin at a specific point in Ryan. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 39.0151, Longitude: -77.4930       In this case, the coordinates for Ryan 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 Ryan, 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 Rock Creek to see Pete ... Rock 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 Ryan 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 Ryan 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 308.152 degrees.
<8>The calculated bearing (or angle) to Mecca is 303.755 degrees.
<9>The calculated bearing (or angle) to the Vatican is 304.862 degrees.