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 Bear Valley (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 Bear Valley. 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.
Name Variations for Bear Valley ...
When searching records, keep in mind that names and their spelling can change over time. Our sources include documents like maps, railroad schedules, Travel, Express and Shipping Guides. Many of these documents date from the 1800's and it's common to find spelling differences.
For example, a typical abbreviation for Bear Valley: Bear Vly. (or less commonly used: Bear Vally. or Bear Vlly.)
You might be interested in other communities that are also named Bear Valley. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Bear Valley.
If you have information about these names (such as the reason for the change, date of change, the origin of the name), please Contact Us.
Neighboring Counties ...
When searching for family records, we have frequently made the mistake of not checking the neighboring counties.
For example, we have great-grandparents who lived in the southeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals and doctors were in the next county to the east. Almost all of the nearby churches and cemeteries were in the county to the south.
So when searching for records, we had our best success by looking in neighboring counties instead of the county in which they lived: their home county contained property and probate records; the county to the east contained birth and death records; the county to the south contained their burial records. If we hadn't included the neighboring counties, we would have missed many valuable sources of information.
If you're in a similar situation, we hope that the following information helps.
Bear Valley is located in Wabasha County.
To see how the shape of Minnesota's counties may have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.
The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Wabasha County: Goodhue, Olmsted, Winona, Buffalo (WI) & Pepin (WI).
Below are the counties that are near Bear Valley. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Bear Valley:
- Wabasha County (The home county of Bear Valley)
- The following are listed by their distance from Bear Valley, with the one closest to Bear Valley listed first.
- Zumbro Falls
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Mazeppa
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Hammond
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Hammond is located in Wabasha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hammond
- Population from the 2020 Census: 167 people
- Jarrett
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Jarrett is located in Wabasha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jarrett
- Millville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Lake City
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Elgin
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Plainview
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Reads Landing
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Wabasha
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Kellogg
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Weaver
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Weaver is located in Wabasha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weaver
- Dakota County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bear Valley, with the one closest to Bear Valley listed first.
- Miesville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- New Trier
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- New Trier is located in Dakota County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Trier
- Population from the 2020 Census: 106 people
- Randolph
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Randolph is located in Dakota County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Randolph
- Population from the 2020 Census: 444 people
- Dodge County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bear Valley, with the one closest to Bear Valley listed first.
- Concord
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Concord is located in Dodge County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Concord
- Mantorville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Kasson
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- West Concord
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Dodge Center
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Goodhue County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bear Valley, with the one closest to Bear Valley listed first.
- Bellechester
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Bellechester is located in Goodhue County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bellechester
- Population from the 2020 Census: 177 people
- Goodhue
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Zumbrota
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Pine Island
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Frontenac
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Roscoe
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Roscoe is located in Goodhue County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roscoe
- Wanamingo
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Hader
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Hader is located in Goodhue County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hader
- Belle Creek
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Belle Creek is located in Goodhue County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belle Creek
- White Rock
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- White Rock is located in Goodhue County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Rock
- Red Wing
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Welch
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Olmsted County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bear Valley, with the one closest to Bear Valley listed first.
- Oronoco
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Potsdam
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Potsdam is located in Olmsted County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Potsdam
- Genoa
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Genoa is located in Olmsted County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Genoa
- Post Town
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Post Town is located in Olmsted County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Post Town
- Viola
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Viola is located in Olmsted County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Viola
- Rochester
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Byron
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Shanty Town
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Shanty Town is located in Olmsted County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shanty Town
- Eyota
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Predmore
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Predmore is located in Olmsted County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Predmore
- Simpson
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Simpson is located in Olmsted County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Simpson
- Rock Dell
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Rock Dell is located in Olmsted County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock Dell
- Rice County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bear Valley, with the one closest to Bear Valley listed first.
- Moland
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Moland is located in Rice County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moland
- Nerstrand
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Winona County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bear Valley, with the one closest to Bear Valley listed first.
- Beaver ‑ Historic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Beaver is located in Winona County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaver
- Elba
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Elba is located in Winona County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elba
- Population from the 2020 Census: 156 people
- Saint Charles
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Buffalo County (WI)
- The following are listed by their distance from Bear Valley, with the one closest to Bear Valley listed first.
- Nelson
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Nelson is located in Buffalo County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nelson
- Population from the 2020 Census: 343 people
- Savoy ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Savoy is located in Buffalo County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Savoy
- Alma
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Alma is located in Buffalo County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alma
- Population from the 2020 Census: 713 people
- Maxville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Maxville is located in Buffalo County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maxville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 302 people
- Buffalo City
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Buffalo City is located in Buffalo County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buffalo City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 948 people
- Buffalo
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Buffalo is located in Buffalo County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buffalo
- Pepin County (WI)
- The following are listed by their distance from Bear Valley, with the one closest to Bear Valley listed first.
- Stockholm
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Stockholm is located in Pepin County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stockholm
- Population from the 2020 Census: 64 people
- Lakeport
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Lakeport is located in Pepin County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakeport
- Pepin
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Pepin is located in Pepin County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pepin
- Population from the 2020 Census: 747 people
- Barry Corner
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Barry Corner is located in Pepin County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barry Corner
- Lund
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Lund is located in Pepin County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lund
- Ella
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Ella is located in Pepin County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ella
- Pierce County (WI)
- The following are listed by their distance from Bear Valley, with the one closest to Bear Valley listed first.
- Bay City
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Bay City is located in Pierce County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bay City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 488 people
- Maiden Rock
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Maiden Rock is located in Pierce County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maiden Rock
- Population from the 2020 Census: 119 people
- Hager City
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Hager City is located in Pierce County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hager City
- Moeville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Moeville is located in Pierce County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moeville
- Plum City
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Plum City is located in Pierce County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plum City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 603 people
- Ellsworth
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Ellsworth is located in Pierce County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellsworth
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,272 people
- Trimbelle
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Trimbelle is located in Pierce County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trimbelle
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Bear Valley, see our County-by-County Page for Bear Valley.
Cemeteries Near Bear Valley ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Bear Valley.
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 Bear Valley - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Bear Valley covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Bear Valley, with the one closest to Bear Valley listed first.
- Bear Valley Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- St. John's Lutheran Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Mazeppa Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- St.s Peter & Paul Catholic Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- St. James Lutheran Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Chester Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- English Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Trinity Lutheran Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Dale Pleasant Prairie Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Black Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- German Methodist Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Continue List (222 more) ...
- Zumbrota East Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- St. Peter's German Lutheran Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Norwegian Methodist Episcopal Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
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.<3>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, Bear Valley had a post office and no railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Bear Valley, with the one closest to Bear Valley listed first.
- Mazeppa
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Zumbro Falls
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Bellechester
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Bellechester is located in Goodhue County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bellechester
- Population from the 2020 Census: 177 people
- Oak Center
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Oak Center is located in Wabasha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Center
- South Troy
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- South Troy is located in Wabasha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Troy
- Hammond
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Hammond is located in Wabasha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hammond
- Population from the 2020 Census: 167 people
- Jarrett
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Jarrett is located in Wabasha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jarrett
- Forest Mills
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Forest Mills is located in Goodhue County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest Mills
- Millville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Goodhue
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- White Willow
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- White Willow is located in Goodhue County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Willow
- Zumbrota
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Pine Island
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Oronoco
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Belvidere Mills
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Belvidere Mills is located in Goodhue County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belvidere Mills
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Bear Valley. See our List of 1890's Communities around Bear Valley.
Newspapers Published in Bear Valley ...
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 101 newspapers that have been published in the area around Bear Valley.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Bear Valley, there are papers which were published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Bear Valley.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we first turn to the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These professional and volunteer 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 Bear Valley:
- Websites specific to Minnesota
- Pages specific to Wabasha County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Dakota County
- Dodge County
- Goodhue County
- Olmsted County
- Rice County
- Winona County
- Buffalo County
- Pepin County
- Pierce County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Minnesota
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> | 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 Bear Valley, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <4> | 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- Bear Valley) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |