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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 North 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 North 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.

Name Variations for North Bristol ...

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.

Although we can't give a definitive list, hopefully the following will give you a feel for the variations that might have occurred.

For example, a typical abbreviation for North Bristol: N. Bristol

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 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.

North Bristol is located in Dane County.

To see how the shape of Wisconsin's counties have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.

The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Dane County: Columbia, Dodge, Green, Iowa, Jefferson, Rock & Sauk.

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

  • Dane County     (The home county of North Bristol)
    • The following are listed by their distance from North Bristol, with the one closest to North Bristol listed first.
    • East Bristol
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
    • Sun Prairie
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Sun Prairie have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sun Prairie
      • Sun Prairie is located in Dane County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 35,119 people
    • DeForest
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • Windsor
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Morrisonville
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • Burke
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Burke. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burke
      • Burke is located in Dane County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Burke
      • From North Bristol to Burke
    • Pierceville
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Marshall
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Darwin ‑ Historic
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Darwin. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Darwin
      • Darwin is located in Dane County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Darwin
      • From North Bristol to Darwin
    • Cottage Grove
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
    • Mendota
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Mendota. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mendota
      • Mendota is located in Dane County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Mendota
      • From North Bristol to Mendota
    • Maple Bluff
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Maple Bluff have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maple Bluff
      • Maple Bluff is located in Dane County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,307 people
  • Columbia County
    • The following are listed by their distance from North Bristol, with the one closest to North Bristol listed first.
    • Keyeser
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Keyeser. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keyeser
      • Keyeser is located in Columbia County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Keyeser
      • From North Bristol to Keyeser
    • North Leeds
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Otsego
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • Arlington
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Doylestown
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
    • Columbus
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Fall River
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Rio
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Rio have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rio
      • Rio is located in Columbia County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,047 people
    • Poynette
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Englewood
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Wyocena
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
    • Lodi
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
  • Dodge County
    • The following are listed by their distance from North Bristol, with the one closest to North Bristol listed first.
    • Astico
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
    • Reeseville
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
    • Lowell
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Lowell have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lowell
      • Lowell is located in Dodge County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 322 people
    • Randolph
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Randolph have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Randolph
      • Randolph is located in Dodge County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,738 people
    • Beaver Dam
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Beaver Dam have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaver Dam
      • Beaver Dam is located in Dodge County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 16,303 people
    • Clyman
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Clyman have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clyman
      • Clyman is located in Dodge County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 396 people
    • Fox Lake
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Fox Lake have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fox Lake
      • Fox Lake is located in Dodge County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,440 people
    • Juneau
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
    • Minnesota Junction
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Burnett
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Green Lake County
  • Jefferson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from North Bristol, with the one closest to North Bristol listed first.
    • Waterloo
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Waterloo have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waterloo
      • Waterloo is located in Jefferson County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,322 people
    • Lake Mills
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Lake Mills have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Mills
      • Lake Mills is located in Jefferson County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 6,014 people
    • Lake Ripley
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Milford
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Grellton
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
    • Watertown
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
    • Johnson Creek
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Jefferson
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Jefferson have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jefferson
      • Jefferson is located in Jefferson County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 8,037 people
    • Carcajou
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Lake Koshkonong
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Lake Koshkonong have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Koshkonong
      • Lake Koshkonong is located in Jefferson County
    • Farmington
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Fort Atkinson
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Fort Atkinson have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fort Atkinson
      • Fort Atkinson is located in Jefferson County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 12,372 people
  • Rock County
    • The following are listed by their distance from North Bristol, with the one closest to North Bristol listed first.
    • Cooksville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
    • Edgerton
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
    • Union
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Union. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union
      • Union is located in Rock County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Union
      • From North Bristol to Union
  • Sauk County
    • The following are listed by their distance from North Bristol, with the one closest to North Bristol listed first.
    • Merrimac
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Merrimac have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Merrimac
      • Merrimac is located in Sauk County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 441 people
    • Moon Valley
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
    • Sauk City
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Sauk City have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sauk City
      • Sauk City is located in Sauk County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,498 people
    • Prairie du Sac village
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
    • Baraboo
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)

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

Cemeteries Near North Bristol ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of North 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.

If you need information about a burial or interment, photos, transcripts, how to contact the cemetery or local authorities, please visit our selection of Genealogy Websites (see below).

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

The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from North Bristol, with the one closest to North Bristol 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.<4>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that North Bristol had a population of 58 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service.

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

  • Keyeser
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Keyeser. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keyeser
    • Keyeser is located in Columbia County
    • Google driving directions:
    • From your current location to Keyeser
    • From North Bristol to Keyeser
  • East Bristol
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Sun Prairie
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Sun Prairie have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sun Prairie
    • Sun Prairie is located in Dane County
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 35,119 people
  • DeForest
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
  • Leeds
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Leeds have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leeds
    • Leeds is located in Columbia County
  • Windsor
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
  • North Leeds
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Morrisonville
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
  • Deansville
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Deansville have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deansville
    • Deansville is located in Dane County
  • Burke
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Burke. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burke
    • Burke is located in Dane County
    • Google driving directions:
    • From your current location to Burke
    • From North Bristol to Burke
  • Pierceville
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
  • Otsego
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...
    • Lowville
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Lowville have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lowville
      • Lowville is located in Columbia County
    • Arlington
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Norway Grove
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Norway Grove have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norway Grove
      • Norway Grove is located in Dane County

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

Newspapers Published in North 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 207 newspapers that have been published in the area around North Bristol.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of North Bristol, there are papers which were published within 23 miles [37 km]<5>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for North 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 either 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 North Bristol:

Unfortunately, we don't know of a website for North Bristol. If you can help, please contact us through our Feedback Page.

The official website for Dane County: www.co.dane.wi.us/

The official website for State of Wisconsin: https://www.wisconsin.gov/

Footnotes ...

<1>An 'estimated' location is one where we have been given GPS coordinates, but are unable to verify the accuracy of those coordinates. That said, we have some confidence that we have placed the marker near the actual location. A typical reason for being unable to verify a location is that it might be on private property or maybe historic and gone without an obvious trace.
<2>The location has been supplied by the Geographic Names Information System - which is maintained by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). While these values should be definitive, we found that accuracy can vary and you should double-check the location if accuracy is required.
<3>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.
<4>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 North Bristol, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<5>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- North Bristol) to Point B.Our distance measurements begin at a specific point in North Bristol. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 43.2678, Longitude: -89.2117       In this case, the coordinates for North Bristol have been provided by the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS).




 

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This page was last modified/updated: 29 Apr 2025