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

Outdoor Activities ...

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

When in Shirlington, we use the following websites to find information relevant to Shirlington 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 Shirlington:
    • 38.841779, -77.088312
    • 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 Shirlington
  • 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 Shirlington ...

We found one communities that share the name Shirlington.

Within Virginia, the name Shirlington is unique.

Beyond Virginia, there is another community also named Shirlington in the United States.

  • Communities Elsewhere In North America ...
    • Georgia
      • Bibb County
      • This Shirlington is located in Bibb County and lies 550 miles [885.1 km]<1> to the southwest of the Shirlington that is located in Arlington County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Bibb County community of Shirlington.

Curious and Interesting Names Near Shirlington ...

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.

  • Brad Lee
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Brad Lee have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brad Lee
    • Brad Lee is located in Alexandria City
  • Cannon
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Cannon have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cannon
    • Cannon is located in Fairfax County
  • Chapel Hill
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Chapel Hill have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chapel Hill
    • Chapel Hill is located in Alexandria City
  • Cherrydale
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cherrydale
    • Cherrydale is located in Arlington County
  • Clover
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Clover have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clover
    • Clover is located in Alexandria City
  • College Park
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for College Park have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for College Park
    • College Park is located in Alexandria City
  • Colonial Village
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Colonial Village have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colonial Village
    • Colonial Village is located in Arlington County
  • Delta
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Delta have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delta
    • Delta is located in Alexandria City
  • Dominion Heights
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Dominion Heights have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dominion Heights
    • Dominion Heights is located in Arlington County
  • Dominion Hills
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Dominion Hills have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dominion Hills
    • Dominion Hills is located in Arlington County
  • Duke Gardens
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Duke Gardens have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duke Gardens
    • Duke Gardens is located in Alexandria City
  • Fair Haven
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Fair Haven have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fair Haven
    • Fair Haven is located in Fairfax County
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Glen Forest
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Glen Forest have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glen Forest
      • Glen Forest is located in Fairfax County
    • Governors Grove
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Governors Grove have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Governors Grove
      • Governors Grove is located in Fairfax County
    • Green Valley
      (Less than 2 miles to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Green Valley have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Valley
      • Green Valley is located in Arlington County
    • Lacey Forest
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Lacey Forest have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lacey Forest
      • Lacey Forest is located in Arlington County
    • Lyon Park
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Lyon Park have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lyon Park
      • Lyon Park is located in Arlington County
    • Lyon Village
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Lyon Village have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lyon Village
      • Lyon Village is located in Arlington County
    • Piney Court
      (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Piney Court have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Piney Court
      • Piney Court is located in Alexandria City
    • Ravenwood
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Ravenwood have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ravenwood
      • Ravenwood is located in Fairfax County
    • Ridgeview
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Ridgeview have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ridgeview
      • Ridgeview is located in Fairfax County
    • Rose Hill
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Rose Hill have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rose Hill
      • Rose Hill is located in Fairfax County
    • Seminary Valley
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Seminary Valley have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seminary Valley
      • Seminary Valley is located in Alexandria City
    • Varsity Park
      (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Varsity Park have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Varsity Park
      • Varsity Park is located in Alexandria City
    • Virginia Heights
      (Less than 2 miles to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Virginia Heights have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Virginia Heights
      • Virginia Heights is located in Arlington County
    • Virginia Highlands
      (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Virginia Highlands have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Virginia Highlands
      • Virginia Highlands is located in Arlington County

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

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

  • Arlington, which is the Seat of Arlington County, lies just to the North Northwest.
  • Richmond, which is the State Capital of Virginia, lies 91 miles [146.5 km]<1> to the south southwest (SSW). If you could drive a straight line from Shirlington 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 6 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 just to the northeast (NE).
  • The shortest distance<4> to Jerusalem (specifically the Temple Mount and the Dome of the Rock) is 5,902 miles [9,498.3 km] and it lies to the northeast (NE).<5>
  • The distance to the Great Mosque of Mecca (specifically the Ka'bah - or Kaaba ) is 6,607 miles [10,632.9 km] and it lies to the east northeast (ENE).<6>
  • The distance to Saint Peter's Basilica (The Vatican) is 4,484 miles [7,216.3 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 things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Shirlington) to Point B.Our distance measurements begin at a specific point in Shirlington. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 38.8418, Longitude: -77.0883       In this case, the coordinates for Shirlington have been provided by the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS).
<2>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.
<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 Shirlington to the Middle East to be East and South, the Great Circle Route actually lies to the North and East.
<5>The calculated bearing (or angle) to Jerusalem is 307.923 degrees.
<6>The calculated bearing (or angle) to Mecca is 303.469 degrees.
<7>The calculated bearing (or angle) to the Vatican is 304.757 degrees.