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 Brownsville (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 Brownsville. 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 southeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors and hospitals were in the next county to the east. 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 east 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.
Brownsville is located in Clay County.
To see how the shape of Alabama's counties may have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.
The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Clay County: Cleburne, Coosa, Randolph, Talladega & Tallapoosa.
Below are the counties that are near Brownsville. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Brownsville:
- Clay County (The home county of Brownsville)
- The following are listed by their distance from Brownsville, with the one closest to Brownsville listed first.
- Hollins
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Hollins is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hollins
- Millerville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Millerville is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millerville
- Chambers Springs
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Chambers Springs is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chambers Springs
- Harkins Crossroads
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Harkins Crossroads is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harkins Crossroads
- Ashland
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Ashland is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,872 people
- Mellow Valley
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Mellow Valley is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mellow Valley
- Erin
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Erin is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Erin
- Lineville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Motley
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Motley is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Motley
- Cragford
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Barfield
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Barfield is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barfield
- Elder
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Elder is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elder
- Haynes Crossroad
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Haynes Crossroad is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haynes Crossroad
- Chambers County
- Abanda
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Abanda is located in Chambers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abanda
- Coosa County
- The following are listed by their distance from Brownsville, with the one closest to Brownsville listed first.
- Goodwater
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Mount Olive
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Mount Olive is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Olive
- Kellyton
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Kellyton is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kellyton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 208 people
- Stewartville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Stewartville is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stewartville
- Ray
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Ray is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ray
- Fishpond
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Fishpond is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fishpond
- Hissop
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Hissop is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hissop
- Weogufka
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Weogufka is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weogufka
- Cottage Grove
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Cottage Grove is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cottage Grove
- Rockford
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Nixburg
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Nixburg is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nixburg
- Pentonville
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Pentonville is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pentonville
- Equality
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Equality is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Equality
- Elmore County
- The following are listed by their distance from Brownsville, with the one closest to Brownsville listed first.
- Seman
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Seman is located in Elmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seman
- Irma ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Irma is located in Elmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Irma
- Jordan
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Jordan is located in Elmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jordan
- Central
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Central is located in Elmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Central
- Randolph County
- The following are listed by their distance from Brownsville, with the one closest to Brownsville listed first.
- Almond
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Almond is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Almond
- Malone Ferry
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Malone Ferry is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Malone Ferry
- Wadley
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Ofelia
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Ofelia is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ofelia
- Forester Chapel
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Forester Chapel is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forester Chapel
- Christiana
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Christiana is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Christiana
- Saint Clair County
- The following are listed by their distance from Brownsville, with the one closest to Brownsville listed first.
- Vincent
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Easonville ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Easonville is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Easonville
- Fountainrun ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Fountainrun is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fountainrun
- Shelby County
- The following are listed by their distance from Brownsville, with the one closest to Brownsville listed first.
- Wilsonville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Harpersville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Merrell Beach
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Merrell Beach is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Merrell Beach
- Pine Grove Village
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Pine Grove Village is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Grove Village
- Calcis
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Calcis is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Calcis
- Talladega County
- The following are listed by their distance from Brownsville, with the one closest to Brownsville listed first.
- Oldfield
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Oldfield is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oldfield
- Sycamore
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Sycamore is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sycamore
- Mignon
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Mignon is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mignon
- Sylacauga
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Chandler Springs
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Chandler Springs is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chandler Springs
- Abihka ‑ Historic
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Abihka is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abihka
- Rendalia
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Rendalia is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rendalia
- Gantts Quarry
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Gantts Quarry is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gantts Quarry
- Comerdale
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Comerdale is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Comerdale
- Oak Grove
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Oak Grove is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Grove
- Population from the 2020 Census: 513 people
- Winterboro
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Winterboro is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winterboro
- Zubers
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Zubers is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zubers
- Alpine
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Tallapoosa County
- The following are listed by their distance from Brownsville, with the one closest to Brownsville listed first.
- Hackneyville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Hackneyville is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hackneyville
- Cowpens
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Cowpens is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cowpens
- Goldville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Goldville is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goldville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 54 people
- Alexander City
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- New Site
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- New Site is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Site
- Population from the 2020 Census: 755 people
- Alkehatchee ‑ Historic
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Alkehatchee is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alkehatchee
- Emuckfaw
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Emuckfaw is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emuckfaw
- Our Town
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Our Town is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Our Town
- Jacksons' Gap
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Daviston
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Matilda
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Matilda is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Matilda
- Benson ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Benson is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benson
- Dadeville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Brownsville, see our County-by-County Page for Brownsville.
Cemeteries Near Brownsville ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Brownsville.
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 Brownsville - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Brownsville covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Brownsville, with the one closest to Brownsville listed first.
- Hatchett Creek Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- O'Neil Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Greenview Memorial Park
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- New Prospect Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Oaks Chapel Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Rock Springs Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Rozelle & Chandler Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Parkdale Methodist Church Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Goodwater Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Marvin Chapel Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Darby Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Crestview Memorial Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Continue List (334 more) ...
- Smyrna Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Dillard Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- New Hope Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
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>
While we didn't find Brownsville in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Brownsville.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Brownsville, with the one closest to Brownsville listed first.
- Goodwater
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Hollins
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Hollins is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hollins
- Mount Olive
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Mount Olive is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Olive
- Hackneyville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Hackneyville is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hackneyville
- Millerville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Millerville is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millerville
- Hatchet Creek
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Hatchet Creek is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hatchet Creek
- Kellyton
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Kellyton is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kellyton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 208 people
- Stewartville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Stewartville is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stewartville
- Oldfield
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Oldfield is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oldfield
- Hanover
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Hanover is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hanover
- Bluff Springs
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Bluff Springs is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bluff Springs
- Sycamore
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Sycamore is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sycamore
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Sylacauga
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Crewsville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Crewsville is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crewsville
- Chandler Springs
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Chandler Springs is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chandler Springs
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Brownsville. See our List of 1890's Communities around Brownsville.
Newspapers Published in Brownsville ...
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 47 newspapers that have been published in the area around Brownsville.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Brownsville, there are papers which were published within 20 miles [32.2 km]<2>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Brownsville.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we first visit 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 Brownsville:
- Websites specific to Alabama
- Pages specific to Clay County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Chambers County
- Coosa County
- Elmore County
- Randolph County
- Saint Clair County
- Shelby County
- Talladega County
- Tallapoosa County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Alabama
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> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' (or point-to-point) distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Brownsville) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |
| <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 Brownsville, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |