Of these 14,000 settlements in the gazetteer, the vast majority of Jews lived in only a small percentage of them. You can narrow the possibilities for your ancestor's town of origin by learning the settlement types, in addition to employing traditional search methods. [See the article 'Don't settle for 'shtetl' in the JGSGB newsletter Shemot Vol. 8 No. 2 for more on that.]
For each mestechko, the table provides 11 of the 17 items of information in the original gazetteer although the 11th, settlement type, is implicit since all of these towns are of the same type (mestechko). The 6 items omitted are police district #, nearest town for postal mail and distance, nearest town for telegram and distance, and distance to the capital city Minsk.
While this gazetteer was published in 1909, the data may be from this date or some years earlier. All of the information presented here is in the context of the 1909 timeframe.
Town names in general are usually not unique. Even within this short table of the larger settlements in Minsk Gubernia there are a few towns with the same name, usually in different districts. What you can't see is that for most of the towns in the table there were multiple settlements with the same or very similar name, but with administrative designations other than mestechko. Online gazetteers and maps may show some or all of these multiple occurrences of a town name and a location for each, but without knowing the settlement type, resolving to the right one can be difficult.
As is sometimes done in modern directories, if a mestechko has a two-word name, it may be a transposition of the actual name. For example in this gazetteer, New York might be listed as York New.
The railway line for the city of Minsk was not given in the original gazetteer, apparently because two railway lines serviced Minsk station, the LR and MB. (Baranovichi was also served by two lines, though). See the Minsk Gubernia district map from about the same time period, and note the alternating black and white segments which form the railway routes.
Accuracy and compleness - The original gazetteer could have mistakes in it. I could have made transciption mistakes. The likely errors, if any, would be missing a mestechko or mispelling a name because the legibility of the microfilmed gazetteer is generally quite poor. If you have a good reason to believe I missed a mestechko let me know, however, as explained above, there was no attempt to extract every 'shtetl'.
The table is in Russian-alphabetical order of mestechko name. Also available is the same table, sorted by uezd (district), then by English-alphabetical mestechko name.
Name |
uezd |
volost |
closest rlwy stn |
rl |
d(rs) |
pop. |
d(uezd) |
d(vol) |
#hms |
Baranovichi |
Nv |
Novo-Myshsk- |
Baranovichi |
MB |
0 |
9777 |
54 |
5 |
950 |
Berezino |
Ig |
Pogostsk- |
Borisov |
MB |
65 |
4264 |
43 |
10 |
619 |
Bobovnya |
Sl |
Telyadovichsk- |
Zamir'ye |
MB |
35 |
196 |
42 |
4 |
28 |
Bogushevichi |
Ig |
Yakshitsk- |
Osipovichi |
LR |
55 |
224 |
30 |
10 |
50 |
Bragin |
Rch |
Braginsk- |
Rechitsa |
P |
106 |
3902 |
109 |
-- |
387 |
Beloruch'ye |
Mn |
Beloruchsk- |
Minsk |
-- |
25 |
154 |
25 |
-- |
28 |
Voinovka |
Pn |
Kukhotskovol'sk- |
Yukhnovichi |
P |
61 |
240 |
82 |
11 |
37 |
Volya Svyataya |
Pn |
Svyatovol'sk- |
Kosovo |
P |
18 |
643 |
60 |
-- |
114 |
Vselyub |
Nv |
Vselyubsk- |
Neman |
P |
21 |
1330 |
12 |
-- |
6 |
Vyzna |
Sl |
Vyznyansk- |
Lyakhovichi |
P |
63 |
1825 |
28 |
-- |
265 |
Gaina |
Br |
Gaino-Slobodsk- |
Vitgenshteinskaya |
MB |
35 |
889 |
56 |
3 |
116 |
Galubichi |
Br |
Dokshitsk- |
Podsvil'ye |
N |
4 |
104 |
135 |
30 |
21 |
Glusk |
Bb |
Glusk- |
Bobruisk |
LR |
47 |
6680 |
47 |
-- |
870 |
Govezno |
Sl |
Goveznyansk- |
Zamir'ye |
MB |
9 |
216 |
79 |
1 |
25 |
Gorvol |
Rch |
Gorvol'sk- |
Rechitsa |
P |
31 |
1618 |
29 |
-- |
167 |
Gorodishchye |
Nv |
Gorodishchsk- |
Baranovichi |
P |
20 |
2900 |
35 |
-- |
245 |
Gorodnaya |
Pn |
Terebezhovsk- |
Goryn |
P |
23 |
6278 |
99 |
18 |
? |
Gorodok |
Bb |
Gorodkovsk- |
Bobruisk |
LR |
31 |
578 |
31 |
-- |
75 |
Gorodok |
Mn |
Semkovo-Gorodetsk- |
Minsk |
-- |
14 |
430 |
14 |
-- |
49 |
Gorodok Ostroshitskiy |
Mn |
Ostroshitsko-Gorodetsk- |
Kolodishchi |
MB |
15 |
617 |
21 |
-- |
154 |
Gresk |
Sl |
Gresk- |
Rudensk |
LR |
59 |
1519 |
16 |
-- |
273 |
Grozovo |
Sl |
Grozovsk- |
Zamir'ye |
MB |
57 |
1032 |
21 |
-- |
177 |
David-Gorodok |
Mz |
Khorsk- |
Lakhva |
P |
22 |
13217 |
185 |
2 |
1386 |
Delyatichi |
Nv |
Lyubchansk- |
Neman |
P |
35 |
1614 |
23 |
5 |
229 |
Dukora |
Ig |
Dukorsk- |
Rudensk |
LR |
11 |
1444 |
35 |
-- |
251 |
Yel'sk-Karolin |
Mz |
Karolinsk- |
Mozyr |
P |
43 |
910 |
31 |
-- |
167 |
Yeremichi |
Nv |
Yeremichsk- |
Zamir'ye |
MB |
33 |
1240 |
39 |
-- |
172 |
Zaslavl |
Mn |
Zaslavsk- |
Izyaslavl |
LR |
0.25 |
608 |
25 |
-- |
110 |
Zembin |
Br |
Zembinsk- |
Borisov |
MB |
30 |
1189 |
25 |
-- |
123 |
Ivenets |
Mn |
Ivenetsk- |
Izyaslavl |
LR |
36 |
2767 |
59 |
-- |
425 |
Ishkol'dz |
Nv |
Gorodeisk- |
Pogorel'tsy |
MB |
10 |
606 |
59 |
15 |
143 |
Kazimirovo |
Bb |
Stepsk- |
Krasnyi-Bereg |
LR |
5 |
541 |
36 |
15 |
53 |
Kalinkovichi |
Rch |
Dudichsk- |
Mozyr |
P |
1.5 |
2022 |
77 |
6 |
196 |
Kamen |
Mn |
Ivenetsk- |
Izyaslavl |
LR |
42 |
980 |
65 |
6 |
110 |
Kletsk |
Sl |
Kletsk- |
Pogorel'tsy |
MB |
22 |
7468 |
63 |
-- |
579 |
Klichev |
Ig |
Dolzhansk- |
Bobruisk |
LR |
50 |
2550 |
75 |
30 |
117 |
Kozhan-Gorodok |
Pn |
Kozhan-Gorodetsk- |
Lakhva |
P |
5 |
2963 |
104 |
-- |
532 |
Koidanov |
Mn |
Koidanovsk- |
Koidanov |
MB |
2 |
4696 |
40 |
-- |
518 |
Komarin |
Rch |
Iolchansk- |
Rechitsa |
P |
140 |
614 |
140 |
7 |
104 |
Kopatkevichi |
Mz |
Kopatkevichsk- |
Ptich |
P |
18 |
2510 |
58 |
-- |
440 |
Kopyl |
Sl |
Potseikovsk- |
Zamir'ye |
MB |
40 |
5968 |
38 |
9 |
1178 |
Kopelichi |
Nv |
Kopelichsk- |
Zamir'ye |
MB |
39.5 |
3752 |
21 |
-- |
375 |
Krasnoluki |
Br |
Krasnoluksk- |
Borisov |
MB |
56 |
615 |
52 |
-- |
94 |
Krivoshin |
Nv |
Krivoshinsk- |
Lyakhovichi |
P |
21 |
523 |
84 |
-- |
75 |
Kroshin |
Nv |
Stvolovichsk- |
Pogorel'tsy |
MB |
10 |
1380 |
57 |
10 |
156 |
Lapichi |
Ig |
Pogorel'sk- |
Tal'ka |
LR |
13 |
695 |
40 |
10 |
98 |
Lakhva |
Mz |
Lakhovsk- |
Lakhva |
P |
2 |
2876 |
173 |
-- |
455 |
Lel'chitsy |
Mz |
Lel'chitsk- |
Koptsevichi |
P |
82 |
1216 |
79 |
-- |
170 |
Lenin |
Mz |
Leninsk- |
Mikashevichi |
P |
16 |
1019 |
162 |
-- |
196 |
Lipsk |
Nv |
Krivoshinsk- |
Lyakhovichi |
P |
26 |
1154 |
89 |
5 |
176 |
Logishin |
Pn |
Logishinsk- |
Pinsk |
P |
28 |
3351 |
28 |
5 |
565 |
Logoisk |
Br |
Logoisk- |
Vitgenshteinskaya |
MB |
28 |
1469 |
45 |
-- |
250 |
Loev |
Rch |
Loevsk- |
Rechitsa |
P |
57 |
5466 |
57 |
-- |
761 |
Losha |
Ig |
Slob.-Pyrashevsk- |
Negoreloye |
MB |
35 |
270 |
90 |
7 |
70 |
Lyuban |
Bb |
Zabolotsk- |
Urechye |
LR |
18 |
2048 |
100 |
-- |
339 |
Lyubeshov |
Pn |
Lyubeshovsk- |
Yukhnovichi |
P |
49 |
978 |
70 |
-- |
147 |
Lyubonichi |
Bb |
Lyubonichsk- |
Berezina |
LR |
21 |
489 |
21 |
1 |
64 |
Lyubcha |
Nv |
Lyubchansk- |
Novogrudok |
P |
44 |
3752 |
23 |
-- |
437 |
Lyady |
Ig |
Smilovichsk- |
Rudensk |
LR |
27 |
66 |
24 |
6 |
10 |
Lyakhovichi |
Sl |
Lyakhovichsk- |
Lyakhovichi |
P |
7 |
1106 |
84 |
-- |
211 |
Medvedichi |
Sl |
Medvedichsk- |
Lyakhovichi |
P |
5 |
841 |
82 |
-- |
131 |
Mir |
Nv |
Mirsk- |
Zamir'ye |
MB |
15 |
5381 |
45 |
-- |
518 |
Mogil'no |
Ig |
Mogil'nyansk- |
Negoreloye |
MB |
21 |
1070 |
110 |
-- |
184 |
Mysh Novaya |
Nv |
Novo-Myshsk- |
Baranovichi |
MB |
6 |
3862 |
49 |
-- |
320 |
Narovl |
Rch |
Narovlyansk- |
Mozyr |
P |
46 |
1528 |
120 |
-- |
162 |
Negnevichi |
Nv |
Negnevichsk- |
Novogrudok |
P |
41 |
581 |
18 |
-- |
97 |
Nobel |
Pn |
Morochansk- |
Yukhnovichi |
P |
46 |
1765 |
53 |
10 |
202 |
Ozarichi |
Bb |
Ozarichsk- |
Mozyr |
P |
42 |
2025 |
95 |
-- |
230 |
Okolovo |
Br |
Prusevichsk- |
Borisov |
MB |
52 |
221 |
49 |
11 |
41 |
Parichi |
Bb |
Parichsk- |
Krasnyi-Bereg |
LR |
30 |
4485 |
47 |
-- |
520 |
Pesochno |
Ig |
Mogil'nyansk- |
Negoreloye |
MB |
28 |
1714 |
120 |
10 |
271 |
Petrikov |
Mz |
Petrikovsk- |
Koitsevichi |
P |
21 |
8882 |
60 |
-- |
994 |
Pleshchenitsy |
Br |
Pleshchenitsk- |
Borisov |
MB |
55 |
881 |
52 |
-- |
120 |
Pobolovo |
Bb |
Turkovsk- |
Krasnyi-Bereg |
LR |
6 |
532 |
44 |
12 |
112 |
Pogost-Zagorodskiy |
Pn |
Pogost-Zagorodsk- |
Parokhonsk |
P |
12 |
668 |
49 |
-- |
105 |
Pogost-Zarechnyi |
Pn |
Morochansk- |
Yukhnovichi |
P |
54 |
656 |
68 |
15 |
120 |
Pogost |
Ig |
Pogostsk- |
Borisov |
MB |
75 |
1605 |
53 |
-- |
229 |
Pogost |
Sl |
Pogostsk- |
Urechye |
LR |
21 |
793 |
31 |
-- |
154 |
Polonka |
Nv |
Novo-Myshsk- |
Zherbilovka |
P |
3 |
495 |
49 |
13 |
56 |
Pukhovichi |
Ig |
Pukhovichsk- |
Pukhovichi |
LR |
8 |
2225 |
32 |
-- |
418 |
Rakov |
Mn |
Rakovsk- |
Izyaslavl |
LR |
17 |
4960 |
35 |
-- |
740 |
Romanovo |
Sl |
Romanovsk- |
Urechye |
LR |
47 |
1481 |
23 |
-- |
260 |
Rubezhevichi |
Mn |
Rubezhevichsk- |
Negoreloye |
MB |
18 |
1102 |
58 |
-- |
144 |
Samokhvalovichi |
Mn |
Samokhvalovichsk- |
Fanipol |
MB |
10 |
477 |
18 |
-- |
61 |
Sverzhen |
Mn |
Sverzhensk- |
Stolptsy |
MB |
5 |
2432 |
77 |
-- |
487 |
Svisloch |
Bb |
Svislochsk- |
Osipovichi |
LR |
30 |
1970 |
40 |
-- |
190 |
Semezhevo |
Sl |
Kievichsk- |
Lyakhovichi |
P |
46 |
2513 |
38 |
3 |
458 |
Sinyavka |
Sl |
Sinyavsk- |
Lyakhovichi |
P |
11 |
869 |
68 |
-- |
168 |
Skrygalovo |
Mz |
Slob.-Skrygalovsk- |
Ptich |
P |
8 |
1284 |
34 |
14 |
204 |
Smilovichi |
Ig |
Smilovichsk- |
Rudensk |
LR |
21 |
3335 |
27 |
-- |
454 |
Smolevichi |
Br |
Smolevichsk- |
Vitgenshteinskaya |
MB |
0 |
1017 |
37 |
-- |
118 |
Snov |
Nv |
Snovsk- |
Pogorel'tsy |
MB |
6 |
465 |
70 |
-- |
115 |
Starobin |
Sl |
Starobinsk- |
Urechye |
LR |
39 |
1773 |
35 |
-- |
280 |
Stvolovichi |
Nv |
Stvolovichsk- |
Baranovichi |
P |
10 |
858 |
47 |
-- |
95 |
Stolin |
Pn |
Stolinsk- |
Goryn |
P |
6 |
4709 |
70 |
-- |
471 |
Stolptsy |
Mn |
Stolpetsk- |
Stolptsy |
MB |
0.5 |
1454 |
76 |
-- |
209 |
Telekhany |
Pn |
Telekhansk- |
Pinsk |
P |
52 |
1120 |
52 |
-- |
230 |
Timkovichi |
Sl |
Timkovichsk- |
Zamir'ye |
MB |
38 |
1680 |
40 |
-- |
328 |
Turets |
Nv |
Yeremichsk- |
Zamir'ye |
MB |
34 |
1893 |
34 |
5 |
363 |
Turov |
Mz |
Turovsk- |
Zhitkovichi |
P |
28 |
6431 |
135 |
-- |
675 |
Uzda |
Ig |
Uzdensk- |
Negoreloye |
MB |
21 |
1939 |
105 |
-- |
318 |
Uzlyany |
Ig |
Perezhirsk- |
Rudensk |
LR |
10 |
868 |
54 |
7 |
105 |
Urechye |
Bb |
Gorkovsk- |
Urechye |
LR |
1 |
175 |
89 |
14 |
60 |
Khoiniki |
Rch |
Khoiniksk- |
Rechitsa |
P |
16 |
2891 |
65 |
-- |
338 |
Kholmech |
Rch |
Kholmechsk- |
Rechitsa |
P |
29 |
913 |
29 |
-- |
167 |
Kholopenichi |
Br |
Kholopenichsk- |
Krupki |
MB |
28 |
2196 |
50 |
-- |
255 |
Kholun |
Ig |
Pogorel'sk- |
Osipovichi |
LR |
20 |
561 |
55 |
18 |
74 |
Khotaevichi |
Br |
Pleshchenitsk- |
Borisov |
MB |
62 |
322 |
59 |
7 |
61 |
Tsirin |
Nv |
Tsirinsk- |
Pogorel'tsy |
MB |
21 |
624 |
35 |
-- |
110 |
Chernyavka |
Br |
Velyatichsk- |
Priyamino |
MB |
24 |
434 |
39 |
12 |
85 |
Shatsk |
Ig |
Shatsk- |
Rudensk |
LR |
28 |
2350 |
73 |
-- |
240 |
Es'mony |
Br |
Es'monsk- |
Slavnoye |
MB |
35 |
421 |
82 |
-- |
66 |
Yurevichi |
Rch |
Yurevichsk- |
Mozyr |
P |
30 |
2600 |
92 |
-- |
270 |