How it became

Bristol is located in the western half of Day County on the main line of the Burlington Northern Railroad on US Highway 12. Like to many other small towns of the upper Midwest, Bristol came into being as a result of railroad expansion.

 

In the last 1870s, the site which was to become Bristol was know to railroad graders as Station 70. C.P. Prior, a district railroad surveyor and townsite agent, is given credit for naming Bristol in 1881. He named the town after Bristol, England. It was incorporated as a village in 1889 and as a city in 1921.

 

The people who settled in and around Bristol were mostly of Norwegian, Swedish and German descent.

 

The Brokaw House was the first structure in Bristol. It was built in 1882 and rebuilt throughout the years. Television journalist Tom Brokaw is a great-grandson of Richard P. Brokaw.

 

These days, sponsored by the Bristol Commercial Club, Bristol's annual Zucchini Fest takes place at the end of July. The festival begins with a free-will dinner in the community center on Main Street and then continues with a cook-off contest of recipes involving zucchini, games for children and bingo.

 

A famous warning is heard every year: "Make sure you lock your car doors or you will leave Zucchini Fest with more zucchini in your vehicle than you probably ever wanted."

 

Head over to Bristol for Zucchini Fest if you are looking to have a good time with family and friends.

 

 

 

City Information

 

City of Bristol

 

City Hall

204 1st Ave. E., Bristol, SD 57219

605-492-3225

 

Bristol Community Center

605-492-3655

 

Fire Department

605-492-3131

 

Pool

492-3245