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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 Bellechester (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 Bellechester. 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 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 northeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors and hospitals were in the next county to the east. Almost all of the nearby churches and cemeteries were in the county to the north.

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 north 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.

Bellechester is primarily located in Goodhue County. A portion of Bellechester extends into 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 Goodhue County: Dakota, Dodge, Olmsted, Rice, Wabasha, Pepin (WI) & Pierce (WI).

Below are the counties that are near Bellechester. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Bellechester:

  • Goodhue County     (The home county of Bellechester)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bellechester, with the one closest to Bellechester listed first.
    • Goodhue
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
    • Zumbrota
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Frontenac
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Red Wing
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
    • White Rock
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
      • White Rock is located in Goodhue County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Rock
    • Pine Island
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Belle Creek
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
      • Belle Creek is located in Goodhue County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belle Creek
    • Hader
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
      • Hader is located in Goodhue County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hader
    • Wanamingo
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
    • Roscoe
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Roscoe is located in Goodhue County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roscoe
    • Welch
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Cannon Falls
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Dakota County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bellechester, with the one closest to Bellechester listed first.
    • Miesville
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
    • New Trier
      (26 miles [41.8 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
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Randolph is located in Dakota County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Randolph
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 444 people
    • Hampton
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Hastings
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Vermillion
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Dodge County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bellechester, with the one closest to Bellechester listed first.
    • Concord
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Concord is located in Dodge County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Concord
    • Mantorville
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
    • West Concord
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Kasson
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Dodge Center
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Olmsted County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bellechester, with the one closest to Bellechester listed first.
    • Oronoco
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
    • Potsdam
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Potsdam is located in Olmsted County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Potsdam
    • Genoa
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
      • Genoa is located in Olmsted County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Genoa
    • Post Town
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
      • Post Town is located in Olmsted County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Post Town
    • Byron
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
      • Byron is located in Olmsted County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Byron
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 5,691 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Byron <1>
    • Rochester
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
    • Viola
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Viola is located in Olmsted County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Viola
    • Shanty Town
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Shanty Town is located in Olmsted County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shanty Town
    • Eyota
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Eyota is located in Olmsted County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eyota
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,992 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Eyota <1>
  • Rice County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bellechester, with the one closest to Bellechester listed first.
    • Nerstrand
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
    • Moland
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Moland is located in Rice County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moland
  • Wabasha County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bellechester, with the one closest to Bellechester listed first.
    • Mazeppa
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • Zumbro Falls
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Lake City
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Hammond
      (12 miles [19.3 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
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Jarrett is located in Wabasha County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jarrett
    • Millville
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Reads Landing
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
    • Elgin
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Elgin is located in Wabasha County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elgin
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,080 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Elgin <1>
    • Plainview
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Wabasha
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
    • Kellogg
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
    • Weaver
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Weaver is located in Wabasha County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weaver
  • Winona County
    • Beaver ‑ Historic
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Beaver is located in Winona County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaver
  • Buffalo County (WI)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bellechester, with the one closest to Bellechester listed first.
    • Nelson
      (25 miles [40.2 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
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Savoy is located in Buffalo County (WI)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Savoy
    • 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
    • Alma
      (29 miles [46.7 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
  • Pepin County (WI)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bellechester, with the one closest to Bellechester listed first.
    • Stockholm
      (14 miles [22.5 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 east)
      • Lakeport is located in Pepin County (WI)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakeport
    • Pepin
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
      • Pepin is located in Pepin County (WI)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pepin
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 747 people
    • Lund
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
      • Lund is located in Pepin County (WI)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lund
    • Barry Corner
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Barry Corner is located in Pepin County (WI)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barry Corner
    • Ella
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Ella is located in Pepin County (WI)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ella
    • Arkansaw
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Arkansaw is located in Pepin County (WI)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arkansaw
  • Pierce County (WI)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bellechester, with the one closest to Bellechester listed first.
    • Bay City
      (15 miles [24.1 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
    • Hager City
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
      • Hager City is located in Pierce County (WI)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hager City
    • Maiden Rock
      (16 miles [25.7 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
    • Moeville
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • Moeville is located in Pierce County (WI)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moeville
    • Plum City
      (23 miles [37 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
      (25 miles [40.2 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
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • Trimbelle is located in Pierce County (WI)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trimbelle
    • Beldenville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • Beldenville is located in Pierce County (WI)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beldenville
    • Waverly
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Waverly is located in Pierce County (WI)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waverly
    • El Paso
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • El Paso is located in Pierce County (WI)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for El Paso
    • Morton Corner
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Morton Corner is located in Pierce County (WI)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morton Corner
    • Prescott
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Prescott is located in Pierce County (WI)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prescott
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 4,279 people

For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Bellechester, see our County-by-County Page for Bellechester.

Cemeteries Near Bellechester ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Bellechester.

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 Bellechester - one of the links might be able to help.

If not found below, our Cemetery List for Bellechester covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.

The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Bellechester, with the one closest to Bellechester listed first.

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.<2>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, Bellechester had a post office and no railroad service. In 2020, Bellechester had a population of 177 people.

These communities are listed based on their distance from Bellechester, with the one closest to Bellechester listed first.

  • Bear Valley
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Bear Valley is located in Wabasha County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bear Valley
  • Oak Center
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
    • Oak Center is located in Wabasha County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Center
  • Belvidere Mills
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
    • Belvidere Mills is located in Goodhue County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belvidere Mills
  • Goodhue
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
  • Mazeppa
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • White Willow
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • White Willow is located in Goodhue County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Willow
  • Zumbro Falls
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Claybank
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Claybank is located in Goodhue County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Claybank
  • Hay Creek
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • Hay Creek is located in Goodhue County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hay Creek
  • Forest Mills
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Forest Mills is located in Goodhue County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest Mills
  • Zumbrota
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
  • Ryan
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
    • Ryan is located in Goodhue County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ryan
  • Continue List   (16 more) ...
    • South Troy
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
      • South Troy is located in Wabasha County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Troy
    • Hammond
      (12 miles [19.3 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
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Jarrett is located in Wabasha County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jarrett

We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Bellechester. See our List of 1890's Communities around Bellechester.

Newspapers Published in Bellechester ...

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 98 newspapers that have been published in the area around Bellechester.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Bellechester, there are papers which were published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Bellechester.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we begin with the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These helpful 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 Bellechester:

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>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 Bellechester, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<3>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Bellechester) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.