Our Genealogy Helper
Introduction ...
We have a couple of goals for our Gazetteer:
- That it be a tool which helps us with planning our trips.
- We're trying to shape our Gazetteer as a tool to help us understand the community in which our ancestors lived, the community that was part of their daily lives.
- On our trips, we try to visit those places where our ancestors left their footprints.
By learning about Bristol (and the surrounding area) during the time that our ancestors lived, we hope to have a better understanding of both their community and its relationship to their lifes. We hope that this tool helps to give us an insight into their world.
As we add data and organize our Gazetteer to help with our family research, we will be adding to this our Genealogical Helper for Bristol. While we don't have information that is specific to any given person or family, we intend to expand our understanding about where and how people lived.
Neighboring Parishes ...
When searching for family records, we have frequently made the mistake of not checking the neighboring parishes.
For example, we have great-grandparents who lived in the southwest corner of their home parish. During their lives, most doctors and hospitals were in the next parish to the west. Almost all of the nearby churches and cemeteries were in the parish to the south.
So when searching for records, we had our best success by looking in neighboring parishes instead of the parish in which they lived: their home parish contained property and probate records; the parish to the west contained birth and death records; the parish to the south contained their burial records. If we hadn't included the neighboring parishes, we would have missed many valuable sources of information.
If you're in a similar situation, we hope that the following information helps.
Bristol is located in Saint Landry Parish.
To see how the shape of Louisiana's parishes may have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.
The following parishes adjoin and form the boundaries of Saint Landry Parish: Acadia, Avoyelles, Evangeline, Lafayette, Pointe Coupee & Saint Martin.
Below are the parishes that are near Bristol. For each of these parishes, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Bristol:
- Saint Landry Parish (The home parish of Bristol)
- The following are listed by their distance from Bristol, with the one closest to Bristol listed first.
- Cankton
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Cankton is located in Saint Landry Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cankton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 504 people
- Lewisburg
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Lewisburg is located in Saint Landry Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lewisburg
- Sunset
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Grand Coteau
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Frozard
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Frozard is located in Saint Landry Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frozard
- Lawtell
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Opelousas
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Leonville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Arnaudville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Portage
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Portage is located in Saint Landry Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Portage
- Port Barre
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Washington
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Eunice
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Acadia Parish
- The following are listed by their distance from Bristol, with the one closest to Bristol listed first.
- Higginbotham
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Higginbotham is located in Acadia Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Higginbotham
- Church Point
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Castille
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Castille is located in Acadia Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Castille
- Branch
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Rayne
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Ellis
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Ellis is located in Acadia Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellis
- Crowley
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Ebenezer
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Ebenezer is located in Acadia Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ebenezer
- Iota
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Iota is located in Acadia Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iota
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,428 people
- Egan
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Estherwood
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Evangeline
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Morse
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Evangeline Parish
- The following are listed by their distance from Bristol, with the one closest to Bristol listed first.
- Chataignier
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Ville Platte
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Tyrone
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Tyrone is located in Evangeline Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tyrone
- Mamou
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Unatex
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Unatex is located in Evangeline Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Unatex
- Duralde
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Duralde is located in Evangeline Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duralde
- Reddell
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Basile
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Lafayette Parish
- The following are listed by their distance from Bristol, with the one closest to Bristol listed first.
- Ossun
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Ossun is located in Lafayette Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ossun
- Carencro
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Stekey
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Stekey is located in Lafayette Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stekey
- Duson
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Scott
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Lafayette
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Ridge
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Ridge is located in Lafayette Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ridge
- Milton
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Broussard
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Billeaud
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Billeaud is located in Lafayette Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Billeaud
- Youngsville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Pointe Coupee Parish
- The following are listed by their distance from Bristol, with the one closest to Bristol listed first.
- East Krotz Springs
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- East Krotz Springs is located in Pointe Coupee Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Krotz Springs
- Elliot City ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Elliot City is located in Pointe Coupee Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elliot City
- Saint Martin Parish
- The following are listed by their distance from Bristol, with the one closest to Bristol listed first.
- Breaux Bridge
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Cecilia
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Henderson
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Parks
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Duchamp
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Duchamp is located in Saint Martin Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duchamp
- Levert
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Levert is located in Saint Martin Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Levert
- Cade
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Saint John
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Saint John is located in Saint Martin Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint John
- Delacroix
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Delacroix is located in Saint Martin Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delacroix
- Isle Labbe
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Isle Labbe is located in Saint Martin Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Isle Labbe
- Saint Martinville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Banker Plantation
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Banker Plantation is located in Saint Martin Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Banker Plantation
- Catahoula Cove
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Catahoula Cove is located in Saint Martin Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Catahoula Cove
- Vermilion Parish
- The following are listed by their distance from Bristol, with the one closest to Bristol listed first.
- Indian Bayou
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Indian Bayou is located in Vermilion Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indian Bayou
- Maurice
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Andrew
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Andrew is located in Vermilion Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Andrew
- Leroy
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Leroy is located in Vermilion Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leroy
- Meaux
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Meaux is located in Vermilion Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meaux
- Kaplan
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Abbeville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Youngs
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Youngs is located in Vermilion Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Youngs
- Erath
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Perry
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Delcambre
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Bristol, see our Parish-by-Parish Page for Bristol.
Cemeteries Near Bristol ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Bristol.
This is a new section and is likely to have errors. If you find an error, such as a missing cemetery or we have the wrong name, please let us know. If you know of them, we would also appreciate learning about previous or alternate names.
Although we don't have the information ourselves, if you need information about a burial or interment, photos, transcripts, how to contact the cemetery or local authorities, please visit our list of websites on our Genealogy Helper Page for Bristol - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Bristol covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Bristol, with the one closest to Bristol listed first.
- McBride Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Daly Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Mt. Calvary Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- St. Peter RC Church Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for St. Peter RC Church Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the St. Peter RC Church Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located in Carencro.
- The St. Peter RC Church Cemetery has also been known as:
- St. Peter Catholic Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #1965383 <2>
- St. Charles Borromeo Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for St. Charles Borromeo Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the St. Charles Borromeo Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located outside and to the northeast of Grand Coteau.
- The St. Charles Borromeo Cemetery has also been known as:
- Grand Coteau Cemetery
- St. Charles Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #68777 <2>
- Bellevue Memorial Park
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Baptist Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Montgomery - Wilkins Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Arceneaux Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Branch Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Anderson Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Greenlawn Memorial Park
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (163 more) ...
- Strauss Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Holy Sepulchre Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- St. Edwards Catholic Church Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for St. Edwards Catholic Church Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the St. Edwards Catholic Church Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located 5 miles [8 km]<3> to the west of Church Point.
- The St. Edwards Catholic Church Cemetery has also been known as:
- St. Edwards Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #756472 <2>
Nearby Communities in 1895 ...
We've built the following list with information that came from an Atlas published by Rand McNally in 1895. The Atlas had details such as the population of the community (which appears to have come from the 1890 Census) and whether there was a post office and/or railroad service available. We also indicate if the community no longer exists and is now historic.<4>
While we didn't find Bristol in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Bristol.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Bristol, with the one closest to Bristol listed first.
- Shuteston
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Shuteston is located in Saint Landry Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shuteston
- Sunset
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Church Point
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Carencro
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Grand Coteau
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Frozard
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Frozard is located in Saint Landry Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frozard
- Duson
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Scott
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Leonville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Opelousas
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Rayne
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Lafayette
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Arnaudville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Prudhomme
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Prudhomme is located in Acadia Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prudhomme
- Ridge
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Ridge is located in Lafayette Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ridge
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Bristol. See our List of 1890's Communities around Bristol.
Newspapers Published in Bristol ...
An ongoing effort between the Library of Congress and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) has resulted in the National Digital Newspaper Program (NDNP).
To share their results, the partnership has created the Chronicling America website. The goal of this partnership is to assemble a database about the current and historic newspapers of the United States. This includes a growing collection of scanned images from selected papers. All of it available to the public on their website.
Using information that we've taken from the Chronicling America website, we've identified 56 newspapers that have been published in the area around Bristol.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Bristol, there are papers which were published within 24 miles [38.6 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Bristol.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we like to start with the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These websites offer the information directly or else point to where you can find it. Their information is open to everyone.
To help you get started, the following links will take you to the pages that are relevant to Bristol:
- Websites specific to Louisiana
- Pages specific to Saint Landry Parish
- Genealogy information for nearby parishes
- Acadia Parish
- Evangeline Parish
- Lafayette Parish
- Pointe Coupee Parish
- Saint Martin Parish
- Vermilion Parish
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Louisiana
Footnotes ...
| <1> | While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program. |
| <2> | The Find-a-Grave website is an excellent research tool with information about a cemetery's location and interments. They also offer a forum for their members which can provide additional help. More information about Find-a-Grave can be found on their website: findagrave.com. |
| <3> | 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- Bristol) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |
| <4> | 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 Bristol, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |