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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 Crystal Bay (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 Crystal Bay. 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 southwest 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 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 west 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.

Crystal Bay is located in Hennepin 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 Hennepin County: Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Ramsey, Scott, Sherburne & Wright.

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

  • Hennepin County     (The home county of Crystal Bay)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Crystal Bay, with the one closest to Crystal Bay listed first.
    • Orono
      (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
      • Orono is located in Hennepin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orono
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 8,348 people
    • Minnetonka Beach
      (Less than 2 miles to the south)
      • Minnetonka Beach is located in Hennepin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Minnetonka Beach
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 584 people
    • Long Lake
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
    • Shorewood
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
    • Tonka Bay
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
      • Tonka Bay is located in Hennepin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tonka Bay
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,551 people
    • Spring Park
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Woodland
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
      • Woodland is located in Hennepin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodland
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 487 people
    • Wayzata
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Excelsior
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
    • Greenwood
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
      • Greenwood is located in Hennepin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenwood
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 937 people
    • Deephaven
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Mound
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
      • Mound is located in Hennepin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mound
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 9,404 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Mound <1>
    • Maple Plain
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
  • Anoka County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Crystal Bay, with the one closest to Crystal Bay listed first.
    • Columbia Heights
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Fridley
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Hilltop
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Hilltop is located in Anoka County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hilltop
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 764 people
    • Anoka
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Coon Creek
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Coon Creek is located in Anoka County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coon Creek
    • Spring Lake Park
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Coon Rapids
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Ramsey
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
    • Blaine
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
    • Lexington
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
    • Andover
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Circle Pines
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Ham Lake
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
  • Carver County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Crystal Bay, with the one closest to Crystal Bay listed first.
    • Chanhassen
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • Victoria
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Hazeltine
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
      • Hazeltine is located in Carver County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hazeltine
    • Chaska
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
    • Carver
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
    • Dahlgren
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Dahlgren is located in Carver County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dahlgren
    • Waconia
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Watertown
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
    • Cologne
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Hydes Lake
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Hydes Lake is located in Carver County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hydes Lake
    • Mayer
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
    • Hazelton
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
      • Hazelton is located in Carver County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hazelton
    • Gotha
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Gotha is located in Carver County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gotha
  • Dakota County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Crystal Bay, with the one closest to Crystal Bay listed first.
    • Burnsville
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Nicols
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Nicols is located in Dakota County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nicols
    • Mendota
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
    • Eagan
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
      • Eagan is located in Dakota County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eagan
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 65,975 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Eagan <1>
    • Lilydale
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
      • Lilydale is located in Dakota County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lilydale
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 838 people
    • Mendota Heights
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
    • West Saint Paul
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
    • Apple Valley
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
    • Sunfish Lake
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
    • Inver Grove Heights
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
    • Lakeville
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
    • South Saint Paul
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
    • Rosemount
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
  • McLeod County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Crystal Bay, with the one closest to Crystal Bay listed first.
    • Lester Prairie
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
    • Winsted
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
    • Plato
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Glencoe
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Silver Lake
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
  • Ramsey County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Crystal Bay, with the one closest to Crystal Bay listed first.
    • Lauderdale
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
      • Lauderdale is located in Ramsey County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lauderdale
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,484 people
    • Falcon Heights
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
    • New Brighton
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Mounds View
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Roseville
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
    • Arden Hills
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Cardigan Junction
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
      • Cardigan Junction is located in Ramsey County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cardigan Junction
    • Saint Paul
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
    • Shoreview
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
    • Little Canada
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
    • North Oaks
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
    • Vadnais Heights
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
    • Gem Lake
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • Gem Lake is located in Ramsey County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gem Lake
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 536 people
  • Scott County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Crystal Bay, with the one closest to Crystal Bay listed first.
    • Shakopee
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
    • Marystown
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
      • Marystown is located in Scott County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marystown
    • Savage
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Prior Lake
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
    • Jordan
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
    • Credit River
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Credit River is located in Scott County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Credit River
    • Belle Plaine
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
    • Saint Patrick
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Saint Patrick is located in Scott County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Patrick
    • Cedar Lake
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Cedar Lake is located in Scott County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Lake
    • New Prague
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
    • Union Hill
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Union Hill is located in Scott County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union Hill
    • New Market
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Elko New Market
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Elko New Market is located in Scott County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elko New Market
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 4,733 people
  • Sherburne County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Crystal Bay, with the one closest to Crystal Bay listed first.
    • Elk River
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
    • Big Lake
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
    • Salida
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Salida is located in Sherburne County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Salida
  • Sibley County
    • Green Isle
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
  • Washington County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Crystal Bay, with the one closest to Crystal Bay listed first.
    • Newport
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
    • Landfall
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Landfall is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Landfall
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 733 people
    • Saint Paul Park
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
    • Birchwood Village
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Birchwood Village is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Birchwood Village
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 880 people
    • Oakdale
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Oakdale is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakdale
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 27,773 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Oakdale <1>
    • Pine Springs
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Pine Springs is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Springs
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 390 people
  • Wright County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Crystal Bay, with the one closest to Crystal Bay listed first.
    • Delano
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Rockford
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Hanover
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
    • Saint Michael
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
    • Montrose
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
    • Albertville
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
    • Buffalo
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Waverly
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
    • Otsego
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
    • Rassat
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Rassat is located in Wright County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rassat
    • Howard Lake
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
    • Monticello
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Smith Lake
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Smith Lake is located in Wright County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smith Lake

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

Cemeteries Near Crystal Bay ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Crystal Bay.

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 Crystal Bay - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • Maxwell Family Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
  • St. Georges Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
  • Summit Park Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
  • Long Lake Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
  • Oak Hill Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
  • Resurrection Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Greenlawn Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Woodside Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Holy Name Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Christ Lutheran Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Union Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • Mound Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
  • Continue List   (299 more) ...
    • Halsted Family Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
    • Anna Mason Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
    • Aspden Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 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>

While we didn't find Crystal Bay in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Crystal Bay.

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

  • Minnetonka Beach
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
    • Minnetonka Beach is located in Hennepin County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Minnetonka Beach
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 584 people
  • Spring Park
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
  • Long Lake
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
  • Excelsior
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
  • Woodland
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
    • Woodland is located in Hennepin County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodland
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 487 people
  • Wayzata
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Ditter
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Ditter is located in Hennepin County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ditter
  • Minnetonka
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
  • Maple Plain
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
  • Minnetrista
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
  • Chanhassen
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • Minnetonka Mills
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Minnetonka Mills is located in Hennepin County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Minnetonka Mills
  • Continue List   (13 more) ...
    • Hamel
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Victoria
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Plymouth
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)

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

Newspapers Published in Crystal Bay ...

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 394 newspapers that have been published in the area around Crystal Bay.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Crystal Bay, there are papers which were published within 21 miles [33.8 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Crystal Bay.

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 Crystal Bay:

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 Crystal Bay, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<4>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' (or point-to-point) distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Crystal Bay) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.