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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 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 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 northwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors were in the next county to the west. 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 west 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.

Bristol is located in Fillmore 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 Fillmore County: Howard (IA), Winneshiek (IA), Houston, Mower, Olmsted & Winona.

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

  • Fillmore County     (The home county of Bristol)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bristol, with the one closest to Bristol listed first.
    • Granger
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Granger is located in Fillmore County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Granger
    • York
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
      • York is located in Fillmore County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for York
    • Harmony
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Carimona
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
      • Carimona is located in Fillmore County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carimona
    • Preston
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Etna
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Etna is located in Fillmore County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Etna
    • Canton
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
    • Wykoff
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Fountain
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
    • Ostrander
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
    • Fillmore
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
      • Fillmore is located in Fillmore County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fillmore
    • Spring Valley
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
  • Houston County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bristol, with the one closest to Bristol listed first.
    • Riceford
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
      • Riceford is located in Houston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riceford
    • Yucatan
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
      • Yucatan is located in Houston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yucatan
    • Spring Grove
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
    • Willington Grove
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Willington Grove is located in Houston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willington Grove
    • Bee
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Bee is located in Houston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bee
  • Mower County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bristol, with the one closest to Bristol listed first.
    • Le Roy
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
    • Grand Meadow
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Racine
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Taopi
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
      • Taopi is located in Mower County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Taopi
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 65 people
    • Adams
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
    • Elkton
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Elkton is located in Mower County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elkton
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 148 people
    • Dexter
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Johnsburg
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Johnsburg is located in Mower County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Johnsburg
  • Olmsted County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bristol, with the one closest to Bristol listed first.
    • Stewartville
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Predmore
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Predmore is located in Olmsted County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Predmore
    • High Forest
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • High Forest is located in Olmsted County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for High Forest
    • Simpson
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Simpson is located in Olmsted County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Simpson
    • Dover
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
    • Eyota
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • 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>
  • Winona County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bristol, with the one closest to Bristol listed first.
    • Troy
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Troy is located in Winona County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Troy
    • Saratoga
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • Saratoga is located in Winona County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saratoga
    • Clyde
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • Clyde is located in Winona County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clyde
    • Saint Charles
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
  • Allamakee County (IA)
    • Quandahl
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Quandahl is located in Allamakee County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quandahl
  • Chickasaw County (IA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bristol, with the one closest to Bristol listed first.
    • Jerico
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Jerico is located in Chickasaw County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jerico
    • Alta Vista
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Deerfield
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Deerfield is located in Chickasaw County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deerfield
  • Howard County (IA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bristol, with the one closest to Bristol listed first.
    • Florenceville
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Florenceville is located in Howard County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Florenceville
    • Forest City ‑ Historic
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
      • Forest City is located in Howard County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest City
    • Lime Springs
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Chester
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
    • Cresco
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
      • Cresco is located in Howard County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cresco
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,744 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Cresco <1>
    • Vernon Springs
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
      • Vernon Springs is located in Howard County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vernon Springs
    • Davis Corners
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Davis Corners is located in Howard County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Davis Corners
    • Protivin
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
    • Riceville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Elma
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Elma is located in Howard County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elma
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 529 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Elma <1>
  • Mitchell County (IA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bristol, with the one closest to Bristol listed first.
    • McIntire
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
      • McIntire is located in Mitchell County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McIntire
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 127 people
    • Meyer
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • Meyer is located in Mitchell County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meyer
    • New Haven
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • New Haven is located in Mitchell County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Haven
    • Little Cedar
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Little Cedar is located in Mitchell County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little Cedar
  • Winneshiek County (IA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bristol, with the one closest to Bristol listed first.
    • Kendallville
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Kendallville is located in Winneshiek County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kendallville
    • Burr Oak
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
    • Bluffton
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Bluffton is located in Winneshiek County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bluffton
    • Ridgeway
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Ridgeway is located in Winneshiek County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ridgeway
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 285 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Ridgeway <1>
    • Hesper
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
      • Hesper is located in Winneshiek County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hesper
    • Decorah
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Decorah is located in Winneshiek County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Decorah
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 7,484 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Decorah <1>
    • Spillville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Highlandville
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • Highlandville is located in Winneshiek County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Highlandville
    • Calmar
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Calmar is located in Winneshiek County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Calmar
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 934 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Calmar <1>
    • Fort Atkinson
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)

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

  • Bristol Center Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
  • Bristol Grove Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • Old Greenleafton Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
  • Saetersdal Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • St. Mathews Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Oak Hill Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Rice Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Greenleafton Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Cedar Hill Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • St. Liguori Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Old Big Spring Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Love Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • Continue List   (263 more) ...
    • Canfield Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
    • Foreston Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
    • Albion Twp. Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)

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 Bristol had a population of 12 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service.

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

  • Granger
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Granger is located in Fillmore County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Granger
  • Florenceville
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Florenceville is located in Howard County (IA)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Florenceville
  • Greenleafton
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Greenleafton is located in Fillmore County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenleafton
  • York
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
    • York is located in Fillmore County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for York
  • Cherry Grove
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Cherry Grove is located in Fillmore County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cherry Grove
  • Forestville
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • Forestville is located in Fillmore County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forestville
  • Lime Springs
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
  • Bonair
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
    • Bonair is located in Howard County (IA)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bonair
  • Harmony
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
  • Carimona
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • Carimona is located in Fillmore County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carimona
  • Kendallville
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Kendallville is located in Winneshiek County (IA)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kendallville
  • Preston
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...
    • Etna
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Etna is located in Fillmore County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Etna
    • Chester
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
    • Cresco
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
      • Cresco is located in Howard County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cresco
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,744 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Cresco <1>

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 107 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 30 miles [48.3 km]<4>. 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 begin 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:

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 Bristol, 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- Bristol) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.