RoadsideThoughts
A Gazetteer for the United States and Canada
Home >> State of Wisconsin >> Waukesha County >> Lake Forest >> Tidbits & TriviaIndex...

Tidbits & Trivia

Introduction ...

Below is our collection of tidbits and odds 'n ends for Lake Forest.

Outdoor Activities ...

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

When in Lake Forest, we use the following websites to find information relevant to Lake 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 Lake Forest:
    • 42.901404, -88.156200<1>
    • 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 Lake 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 Waukesha County as the starting point when you click on the link below:
    • Open the eBird sighting report for Waukesha County
    • Since Lake Forest is near Milwaukee County and also Racine County, we have provided a link to their eBird sighting reports:
    • Open the eBird sighting report for Milwaukee County
    • Open the eBird sighting report for Racine 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 Lake Forest

Communities Also Named Lake Forest ...

We found 27 communities that are also named Lake Forest.

Within Wisconsin, the name Lake Forest is unique.

Beyond Wisconsin, we know of 27 communities that are located in the United States and Canada. Of these 27 communities, 26 are located in the United States and one is in Canada.

  • Communities Elsewhere In North America ...
    • Alabama
      • Lake Forest, Baldwin 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 Alabama community of Lake Forest [Baldwin County].
      • Lake Forest, Tuscaloosa County
      • This Lake Forest is located in Tuscaloosa County and lies 671 miles [1,079.9 km]<3> to the south of the Lake Forest that is located in Waukesha County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Tuscaloosa County community of Lake Forest.
    • California
      • Lake Forest, Orange County
      • This Lake Forest is located in Orange County and lies 1,712 miles [2,755.2 km]<3> to the west of the Lake Forest that is located in Waukesha County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Orange County community of Lake Forest.
      • Lake Forest, Placer County
      • This Lake Forest is located in Placer County and lies 1,673 miles [2,692.4 km] to the west of the Lake Forest that is located in Waukesha County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Placer County community of Lake Forest.
    • Florida
      • Lake Forest, Broward County
      • This Lake Forest is located in Broward County and lies 1,252 miles [2,014.9 km]<3> to the south southeast of the Lake Forest that is located in Waukesha County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Broward County community of Lake Forest.
      • Lake Forest, Duval County
      • This Lake Forest is located in Duval County and lies 934 miles [1,503.1 km] to the south southeast of the Lake Forest that is located in Waukesha County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Duval County community of Lake Forest.
      • Lake Forest, Hillsborough County
      • This Lake Forest is located in Hillsborough County and lies 1,071 miles [1,723.6 km] to the south southeast of the Lake Forest that is located in Waukesha County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Hillsborough County community of Lake Forest.
    • Georgia
      • Lake Forest, Cherokee County
      • This Lake Forest is located in Cherokee County and lies 639 miles [1,028.4 km]<3> to the south southeast of the Lake Forest that is located in Waukesha County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Cherokee County community of Lake Forest.
      • Lake Forest, Gwinnett County
      • This Lake Forest is located in Gwinnett County and lies 643 miles [1,034.8 km] to the south southeast of the Lake Forest that is located in Waukesha County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Gwinnett County community of Lake Forest.
      • Lake Forest, Hall County
      • This Lake Forest is located in Hall County and lies 644 miles [1,036.4 km] to the south southeast of the Lake Forest that is located in Waukesha County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Hall County community of Lake Forest.
      • Lake Forest, Oconee County
      • This Lake Forest is located in Oconee County and lies 673 miles [1,083.1 km] to the south southeast of the Lake Forest that is located in Waukesha County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Oconee County community of Lake Forest.
    • Illinois
      • Lake Forest, Lake County
      • This Lake Forest is located in Lake County and lies 48 miles [77.2 km]<3> to the south southeast of the Lake Forest that is located in Waukesha County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Lake County community of Lake Forest.
    • Louisiana
      • Lake Forest, Jefferson 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 Lake Forest [Jefferson Parish].
      • Lake Forest, Orleans Parish
      • This Lake Forest is located in Orleans Parish and lies 893 miles [1,437.1 km]<3> to the south of the Lake Forest that is located in Waukesha County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Orleans Parish community of Lake Forest.
    • Manitoba
      • This Lake Forest lies 682 miles [1,097.6 km]<3> to the northwest of the Lake Forest that is located in Waukesha County.
    • Maryland
      • Lake Forest, Anne Arundel County
      • This Lake Forest is located in Anne Arundel County and lies 657 miles [1,057.3 km]<3> to the east southeast of the Lake Forest that is located in Waukesha County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Anne Arundel County community of Lake Forest.
    • Michigan
      • Lake Forest, Antrim 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 Michigan community of Lake Forest [Antrim County].
    • Mississippi
      • Lake Forest, Warren County
      • This Lake Forest is located in Warren County and lies 740 miles [1,190.9 km]<3> to the south southwest of the Lake Forest that is located in Waukesha County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Warren County community of Lake Forest.
    • New Jersey
      • Lake Forest, Morris 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 New Jersey community of Lake Forest [Morris County].
    • North Carolina
      • Lake Forest, Mecklenburg County
      • This Lake Forest is located in Mecklenburg County and lies 663 miles [1,067 km]<3> to the southeast of the Lake Forest that is located in Waukesha County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Mecklenburg County community of Lake Forest.
      • Lake Forest, New Hanover County
      • This Lake Forest is located in New Hanover County and lies 813 miles [1,308.4 km] to the southeast of the Lake Forest that is located in Waukesha County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the New Hanover County community of Lake Forest.
    • South Carolina
      • Lake Forest, Greenville County
      • This Lake Forest is located in Greenville County and lies 636 miles [1,023.5 km]<3> to the south southeast of the Lake Forest that is located in Waukesha County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Greenville County community of Lake Forest.
      • Lake Forest, Spartanburg County
      • This Lake Forest is located in Spartanburg County and lies 643 miles [1,034.8 km] to the south southeast of the Lake Forest that is located in Waukesha County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Spartanburg County community of Lake Forest.
    • Tennessee
      • Lake Forest, Hamilton County
      • This Lake Forest is located in Hamilton County and lies 532 miles [856.2 km]<3> to the south southeast of the Lake Forest that is located in Waukesha County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Hamilton County community of Lake Forest.
    • Texas
      • Lake Forest, Harris 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 Texas community of Lake Forest [Harris County].
      • Lake Forest, Tarrant County
      • This Lake Forest is located in Tarrant County and lies 854 miles [1,374.4 km]<3> to the southwest of the Lake Forest that is located in Waukesha County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Tarrant County community of Lake Forest.
    • Virginia
      • Lake Forest, Suffolk City
      • This Lake Forest is located in Suffolk City and lies 746 miles [1,200.6 km]<3> to the east southeast of the Lake Forest that is located in Waukesha County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Suffolk City community of Lake Forest.

Curious and Interesting Names Near Lake 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.

  • Elm Grove
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
    • Elm Grove is also located in Waukesha County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elm Grove
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 6,137 people
  • Franklin
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Franklin is located in Milwaukee County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Franklin
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 35,925 people
  • Greenfield
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Greenfield is located in Milwaukee County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenfield
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 37,183 people
  • Harbor Heights
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Harbor Heights is located in Racine County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harbor Heights
  • Kneeland
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Kneeland is located in Racine County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kneeland
  • Potter Lake
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Potter Lake is located in Walworth County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Potter Lake
  • Prospect
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
    • Prospect is also located in Waukesha County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prospect
  • Raymond
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Raymond is located in Racine County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Raymond
  • Union Church
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • Union Church is located in Milwaukee County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union Church
  • Wind Lake
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Wind Lake is located in Racine County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wind Lake

How Far From Lake Forest 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 included the distance from a community such as Lake Forest to various places of note, such as the White House.

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

  • Waukesha, which is the Seat of Waukesha County, lies just to the North Northwest.
  • Madison, which is the State Capital of Wisconsin, lies 63 miles [101.4 km]<3> to the west northwest (WNW). If you could walk a straight line from Lake Forest to Madison, with an average speed<4> of 2.2 miles [3.5 km] per hour, it would take most of three days to make the trip. A horse and buggy averaging 3.2 miles [5.1 km] per hour would take about three full days.
  • The White House (Washington, DC) is 642 miles [1,033.2 km] to the east southeast (ESE). Driving, with an average speed of 63 miles [101.4 km] per hour, would take just over a day, a buggy would take 25 days and walking would take 37 days.
  • The shortest distance<5> to Jerusalem (specifically the Temple Mount and the Dome of the Rock) is 6,152 miles [9,900.7 km] and it lies to the northeast (NE).<6>
  • The distance to the Great Mosque of Mecca (specifically the Ka'bah - or Kaaba ) is 6,894 miles [11,094.8 km] and it lies to the northeast (NE).<7>
  • The distance to Saint Peter's Basilica (The Vatican) is 4,781 miles [7,694.3 km] and it lies to the northeast (NE).<8>

Footnotes ...

<1>GPS Coordinates for Lake Forest:
     Decimal: 42.90140, -88.156200
     DDMMSS: 42° 54' 5", -88° 9' 22"
<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 Lake 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>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' (or 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- Lake Forest) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.
<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 Lake 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 Lake Forest. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 42.9014, Longitude: -88.1562       In this case, the coordinates for Lake Forest have been provided by the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS).
<6>The calculated bearing (or angle) to Jerusalem is 314.777 degrees.
<7>The calculated bearing (or angle) to Mecca is 311.865 degrees.
<8>The calculated bearing (or angle) to the Vatican is 308.529 degrees.