RoadsideThoughts
A Gazetteer for the United States and Canada
Home >> State of West Virginia >> Monongalia County >> Sunset Beach >> Tidbits & TriviaIndex...

Outdoor Activities ...

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

When in Sunset Beach, we use the following websites to find information relevant to Sunset Beach 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 Sunset Beach:
    • 39.679524, -79.856446
    • 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 Sunset Beach
  • 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 Monongalia County as the starting point when you click on the link below:
    • Open the eBird sighting report for Monongalia County
    • Since Sunset Beach is near Fayette County and also Greene County, we have provided a link to their eBird sighting reports:
    • Open the eBird sighting report for Fayette County
    • Open the eBird sighting report for Greene 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 Sunset Beach

Communities Also Named Sunset Beach ...

We found 26 communities that are also named Sunset Beach.

Within West Virginia, the name Sunset Beach is unique.

Beyond West Virginia, we know of 26 communities that are located in the United States and Canada. Of these 26 communities, 22 are located in the United States and eight are in Canada.

  • Communities Elsewhere In North America ...
    • Alberta
      • This Sunset Beach lies 1,863 miles [2,998.2 km]<1> to the northwest of the Sunset Beach that is located in Monongalia County.
    • British Columbia
      • This Sunset Beach lies 2,204 miles [3,547 km]<1> to the west northwest of the Sunset Beach that is located in Monongalia County.
    • California
      • Orange County
      • This Sunset Beach is located in Orange County and lies 2,138 miles [3,440.8 km]<1> to the west of the Sunset Beach that is located in Monongalia County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Orange County community of Sunset Beach.
      • Santa Cruz 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 California community of Sunset Beach [Santa Cruz County].
    • Florida
      • Hillsborough County
      • This Sunset Beach is located in Hillsborough County and lies 826 miles [1,329.3 km]<1> to the south southwest of the Sunset Beach that is located in Monongalia County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Hillsborough County community of Sunset Beach.
      • Pinellas County
      • This Sunset Beach is located in Pinellas County and lies 840 miles [1,351.8 km] to the south southwest of the Sunset Beach that is located in Monongalia County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Pinellas County community of Sunset Beach.
    • Hawaii
      • This Sunset Beach lies 4,662 miles [7,502.8 km]<1> to the west of the Sunset Beach that is located in Monongalia County.
    • Maryland
      • Anne Arundel County
      • This Sunset Beach is located in Anne Arundel County and lies 181 miles [291.3 km]<1> to the east of the Sunset Beach that is located in Monongalia County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Anne Arundel County community of Sunset Beach.
    • Michigan
      • Jackson County
      • This Sunset Beach is located in Jackson County and lies 281 miles [452.2 km]<1> to the northwest of the Sunset Beach that is located in Monongalia County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Jackson County community of Sunset Beach.
      • Schoolcraft County
      • This Sunset Beach is located in Schoolcraft County and lies 542 miles [872.3 km] to the northwest of the Sunset Beach that is located in Monongalia County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Schoolcraft County community of Sunset Beach.
    • New Jersey
      • Cape May County
      • This Sunset Beach is located in Cape May County and lies 265 miles [426.5 km]<1> to the east of the Sunset Beach that is located in Monongalia County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Cape May County community of Sunset Beach.
      • Gloucester County
      • This Sunset Beach is located in Gloucester County and lies 252 miles [405.6 km] to the east of the Sunset Beach that is located in Monongalia County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Gloucester County community of Sunset Beach.
    • New York
      • Niagara County
      • This Sunset Beach is located in Niagara County and lies 256 miles [412 km]<1> to the north of the Sunset Beach that is located in Monongalia County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Niagara County community of Sunset Beach.
      • Orleans County
      • This Sunset Beach is located in Orleans County and lies 267 miles [429.7 km] to the north northeast of the Sunset Beach that is located in Monongalia County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Orleans County community of Sunset Beach.
    • North Carolina
      • Brunswick County
      • This Sunset Beach is located in Brunswick County and lies 406 miles [653.4 km]<1> to the south of the Sunset Beach that is located in Monongalia County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Brunswick County community of Sunset Beach.
    • Ohio
      • Mahoning County
      • This Sunset Beach is located in Mahoning County and lies 115 miles [185.1 km]<1> to the north northwest of the Sunset Beach that is located in Monongalia County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Mahoning County community of Sunset Beach.
    • Ontario
      • This Sunset Beach lies 235 miles [378.2 km]<1> to the northwest of the Sunset Beach that is located in Monongalia County.
    • Oregon
      • Clatsop County
      • This Sunset Beach is located in Clatsop County and lies 2,243 miles [3,609.8 km]<1> to the west northwest of the Sunset Beach that is located in Monongalia County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Clatsop County community of Sunset Beach.
    • Saskatchewan
      • This Sunset Beach lies 1,334 miles [2,146.9 km]<1> to the northwest of the Sunset Beach that is located in Monongalia County.
    • Washington
      • Grays Harbor County
      • This Sunset Beach is located in Grays Harbor County and lies 2,251 miles [3,622.6 km]<1> to the west northwest of the Sunset Beach that is located in Monongalia County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Grays Harbor County community of Sunset Beach.
      • Island County
      • This Sunset Beach is located in Island County and lies 2,171 miles [3,493.9 km] to the west northwest of the Sunset Beach that is located in Monongalia County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Island County community of Sunset Beach.
      • Mason County
      • This Sunset Beach is located in Mason County and lies 2,188 miles [3,521.2 km] to the west northwest of the Sunset Beach that is located in Monongalia County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Mason County community of Sunset Beach.
      • Pierce County
      • This Sunset Beach is located in Pierce County and lies 2,174 miles [3,498.7 km] to the west northwest of the Sunset Beach that is located in Monongalia County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Pierce County community of Sunset Beach.
      • Thurston County
      • This Sunset Beach is located in Thurston County and lies 2,193 miles [3,529.3 km] to the west northwest of the Sunset Beach that is located in Monongalia County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Thurston County community of Sunset Beach.
    • Wisconsin
      • Calumet County
      • This Sunset Beach is located in Calumet County and lies 529 miles [851.3 km]<1> to the northwest of the Sunset Beach that is located in Monongalia County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Calumet County community of Sunset Beach.
      • Dodge County
      • This Sunset Beach is located in Dodge County and lies 534 miles [859.4 km] to the west northwest of the Sunset Beach that is located in Monongalia County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Dodge County community of Sunset Beach.

Curious and Interesting Names Near Sunset Beach ...

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.

  • Canyon
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
    • Canyon is located in Monongalia County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canyon
  • Cheat Lake
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
    • Cheat Lake is located in Monongalia County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cheat Lake
  • Cheat Neck
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
    • Cheat Neck is located in Monongalia County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cheat Neck
  • Cornish
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
    • Cornish is located in Fayette County (PA)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cornish
  • Crystal
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Crystal is located in Fayette County (PA)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crystal
  • Fieldcrest
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
    • Fieldcrest is located in Monongalia County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fieldcrest
  • Greystone
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
    • Greystone is located in Monongalia County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greystone
  • Hoard
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Hoard is located in Monongalia County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hoard
  • Ices Ferry
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
    • Ices Ferry is located in Monongalia County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ices Ferry
  • Jerome Park
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
    • Jerome Park is located in Monongalia County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jerome Park
  • Locust Hill
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
    • Locust Hill is located in Fayette County (PA)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Locust Hill
  • Park Hills
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
    • Park Hills is located in Monongalia County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Park Hills
  • Continue List   (7 more) ...
    • Pioneer Rocks
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
      • Pioneer Rocks is located in Monongalia County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pioneer Rocks
    • Richard
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
      • Richard is located in Monongalia County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richard
    • Rosedale
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
      • Rosedale is located in Monongalia County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rosedale
    • Sprucetown
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
      • Sprucetown is located in Fayette County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sprucetown
    • Stewartstown
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Stewartstown is located in Monongalia County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stewartstown
    • Tanglewood
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
      • Tanglewood is located in Monongalia County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tanglewood
    • Walnut Hill
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
      • Walnut Hill is located in Greene County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walnut Hill

How Far From Sunset Beach to ...

We spend a lot of time looking through Gazetteers that were published in the late 1800's and early 1900's. Many of the Gazetteers include the distance from a community such as Sunset Beach to various places of note, such as the White House.

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

  • Morgantown, which is the Seat of Monongalia County, lies just to the West Southwest.
  • Charleston, which is the State Capital of West Virginia, lies 132 miles [212.4 km]<1> to the southwest (SW). If you could drive a straight line from Sunset Beach to Charleston, with an average speed<3>of 63 miles [101.4 km] per hour, it would take less than three hours to make the trip. A comfortable walk of 2.2 miles [3.5 km] per hour would take 8 days. A horse and buggy averaging 3.2 miles [5.1 km] per hour would take 6 days.
  • The White House (Washington, DC) is 160 miles [257.5 km] to the east southeast (ESE). Driving would take less than three hours, a buggy would take 7 days and walking would take 9 days.
  • The shortest distance<4> to Jerusalem (specifically the Temple Mount and the Dome of the Rock) is 5,981 miles [9,625.5 km] and it lies to the northeast (NE).<5>
  • The distance to the Great Mosque of Mecca (specifically the Ka'bah - or Kaaba ) is 6,696 miles [10,776.2 km] and it lies to the northeast (NE).<6>
  • The distance to Saint Peter's Basilica (The Vatican) is 4,572 miles [7,357.9 km] and it lies to the northeast (NE).<7>'

Footnotes ...

<1>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Sunset Beach) 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 Sunset Beach 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 Sunset Beach 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 Sunset Beach. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 39.6795, Longitude: -79.8564       In this case, the coordinates for Sunset Beach have been provided by the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS).
<5>The calculated bearing (or angle) to Jerusalem is 309.538 degrees.
<6>The calculated bearing (or angle) to Mecca is 305.432 degrees.
<7>The calculated bearing (or angle) to the Vatican is 305.637 degrees.