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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 Spring (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 Spring. 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 Crystal Spring ...

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 Crystal Spring: Crystal Spg. (or less commonly used: Crystal Spng. or Crystal Sprng.)

You might be interested in other communities that are also named Crystal Spring. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Crystal Spring.

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 northeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors 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.

Crystal Spring is located in Winona 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 Winona County: Fillmore, Houston, Olmsted, Wabasha, Buffalo (WI), La Crosse (WI) & Trempealeau (WI).

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

  • Winona County     (The home county of Crystal Spring)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Crystal Spring, with the one closest to Crystal Spring listed first.
    • Elba
      (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
      • Elba is located in Winona County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elba
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 156 people
    • Altura
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
    • Beaver ‑ Historic
      (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
      • Beaver is located in Winona County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaver
    • Utica
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • Rollingstone
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Lewiston
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Saint Charles
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Minnesota City
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
    • Stockton
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
      • Stockton is located in Winona County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stockton
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 773 people
    • Clyde
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
      • Clyde is located in Winona County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clyde
    • Goodview
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
      • Goodview is located in Winona County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goodview
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 4,127 people
    • Saratoga
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
      • Saratoga is located in Winona County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saratoga
    • Wyattville
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Wyattville is located in Winona County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wyattville
  • Fillmore County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Crystal Spring, with the one closest to Crystal Spring listed first.
    • Chatfield
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
    • Peterson
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
    • Rushford Village
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Rushford Village is located in Fillmore County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rushford Village
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 838 people
    • Rushford
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
    • South Rushford
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
      • South Rushford is located in Fillmore County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Rushford
    • Whalan
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
    • Fountain
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
    • Lanesboro
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
    • Bratsberg
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Bratsberg is located in Fillmore County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bratsberg
    • Fillmore
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Fillmore is located in Fillmore County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fillmore
    • Preston
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
    • Wykoff
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Carimona
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Carimona is located in Fillmore County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carimona
  • Houston County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Crystal Spring, with the one closest to Crystal Spring listed first.
    • Money Creek
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Money Creek is located in Houston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Money Creek
    • Houston
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Yucatan
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Yucatan is located in Houston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yucatan
  • Olmsted County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Crystal Spring, with the one closest to Crystal Spring listed first.
    • Dover
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Eyota
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
      • 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>
    • Viola
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
      • Viola is located in Olmsted County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Viola
    • Potsdam
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
      • Potsdam is located in Olmsted County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Potsdam
    • Predmore
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Predmore is located in Olmsted County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Predmore
    • Simpson
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
      • Simpson is located in Olmsted County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Simpson
    • Rochester
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
    • Oronoco
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
    • Stewartville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Genoa
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Genoa is located in Olmsted County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Genoa
  • Wabasha County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Crystal Spring, with the one closest to Crystal Spring listed first.
    • Weaver
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
      • Weaver is located in Wabasha County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weaver
    • Minneiska
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Plainview
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Elgin
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
      • 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>
    • Kellogg
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
    • Millville
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Wabasha
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
    • Jarrett
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Jarrett is located in Wabasha County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jarrett
    • Hammond
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Hammond is located in Wabasha County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hammond
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 167 people
    • Reads Landing
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
    • Zumbro Falls
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Lake City
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Mazeppa
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Buffalo County (WI)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Crystal Spring, with the one closest to Crystal Spring listed first.
    • Buffalo
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Buffalo is located in Buffalo County (WI)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buffalo
    • Buffalo City
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Buffalo City is located in Buffalo County (WI)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buffalo City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 948 people
    • Cochrane
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Cochrane is located in Buffalo County (WI)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cochrane
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 409 people
    • Fountain City
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
      • Fountain City is located in Buffalo County (WI)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fountain City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 842 people
    • Alma
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
      • Alma is located in Buffalo County (WI)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alma
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 713 people
    • Anchorage ‑ Historic
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Anchorage is located in Buffalo County (WI)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Anchorage
    • Bluff Siding
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
      • Bluff Siding is located in Buffalo County (WI)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bluff Siding
    • Marshland
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
      • Marshland is located in Buffalo County (WI)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marshland
    • Waumandee
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Waumandee is located in Buffalo County (WI)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waumandee
    • Nelson
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • Nelson is located in Buffalo County (WI)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nelson
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 343 people
    • Montana
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Montana is located in Buffalo County (WI)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montana
  • Pepin County (WI)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Crystal Spring, with the one closest to Crystal Spring listed first.
    • Pepin
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Pepin is located in Pepin County (WI)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pepin
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 747 people
    • Lakeport
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • Lakeport is located in Pepin County (WI)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakeport
  • Trempealeau County (WI)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Crystal Spring, with the one closest to Crystal Spring listed first.
    • Wrights Corners
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • Wrights Corners is located in Trempealeau County (WI)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wrights Corners
    • Trempealeau
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • Trempealeau is located in Trempealeau County (WI)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trempealeau
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,663 people
    • Arcadia
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Arcadia is located in Trempealeau County (WI)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arcadia
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,026 people

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

Cemeteries Near Crystal Spring ...

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

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

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

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

  • Berea Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
  • St. Aloysius Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
  • Fairwater Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
  • Hebron Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Whitewater Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Beaver Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
  • Trinity Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Calvary Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Carpenter Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Hillside Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
  • St. John Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Hoosier Ridge Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Continue List   (190 more) ...
    • Young Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • Woodlawn Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Mt. Auburn Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)

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>

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

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

  • Elba
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
    • Elba is located in Winona County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elba
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 156 people
  • Altura
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
  • Oakridge
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Oakridge is located in Winona County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakridge
  • Beaver ‑ Historic
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
    • Beaver is located in Winona County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaver
  • Utica
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • Saint Charles
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
  • Lewiston
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
  • Rollingstone
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
  • Dover
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
  • Whitman
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Whitman is located in Winona County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitman
  • Minneiska
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
  • Weaver
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
    • Weaver is located in Wabasha County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weaver
  • Continue List   (13 more) ...
    • Stockton
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
      • Stockton is located in Winona County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stockton
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 773 people
    • Minnesota City
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
    • Buffalo
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Buffalo is located in Buffalo County (WI)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buffalo

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

Newspapers Published in Crystal Spring ...

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 96 newspapers that have been published in the area around Crystal Spring.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Crystal Spring, 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 Crystal Spring.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we start with 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 Crystal Spring:

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 Crystal Spring, 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' (or 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- Crystal Spring) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.