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 Carroll County.
To see how the shape of Maryland's counties may have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.
The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Carroll County: Baltimore, Frederick, Howard, Adams (PA) & York (PA).
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:
- Carroll County (The home county of Brownsville)
- The following are listed by their distance from Brownsville, with the one closest to Brownsville listed first.
- Harney
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Harney is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harney
- Taneytown
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Crabster ‑ Historic
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Crabster is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crabster
- Fairground Village
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Fairground Village is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairground Village
- Keysville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Keysville is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keysville
- Bruceville
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Bruceville is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bruceville
- Keymar
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Bark Hill
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Bark Hill is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bark Hill
- Tyrone
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Tyrone is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tyrone
- Uniontown
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Uniontown is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Uniontown
- Union Bridge
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Frizzellburg
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Frizzellburg is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frizzellburg
- Frizzellburg has also been known as:
- Frizels
- Baltimore County
- The following are listed by their distance from Brownsville, with the one closest to Brownsville listed first.
- Upperco
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Fowblesburg
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Fowblesburg is located in Baltimore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fowblesburg
- Trenton
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Trenton is located in Baltimore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trenton
- Boring
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Woodensburg
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Woodensburg is located in Baltimore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodensburg
- Glen Morris
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Glen Morris is located in Baltimore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glen Morris
- Reisterstown
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Eklo
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Eklo is located in Baltimore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eklo
- Mount Carmel
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Mount Carmel is located in Baltimore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Carmel
- Shamburg ‑ Historic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Shamburg is located in Baltimore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shamburg
- Glyndon
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Sagamore Village
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Sagamore Village is located in Baltimore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sagamore Village
- Frederick County
- The following are listed by their distance from Brownsville, with the one closest to Brownsville listed first.
- Emmitsburg
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Ladiesburg
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Ladiesburg is located in Frederick County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ladiesburg
- Rocky Ridge
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- New Midway
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- New Midway is located in Frederick County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Midway
- Centerville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Centerville is located in Frederick County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centerville
- Creagerstown
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Creagerstown is located in Frederick County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Creagerstown
- Jimtown
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Jimtown is located in Frederick County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jimtown
- Woodsboro
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Thurmont
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Libertytown
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Libertytown is located in Frederick County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Libertytown
- Oak Orchard
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Oak Orchard is located in Frederick County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Orchard
- Sabillasville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Howard County
- The following are listed by their distance from Brownsville, with the one closest to Brownsville listed first.
- Long Corner
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Long Corner is located in Howard County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Long Corner
- Lisbon
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Timberleigh Village
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Timberleigh Village is located in Howard County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Timberleigh Village
- Cooksville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Marriottsville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Glenwood
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Alpha
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Alpha is located in Howard County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alpha
- West Friendship
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Roxbury Mills
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Roxbury Mills is located in Howard County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roxbury Mills
- Sandy Hill
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Sandy Hill is located in Howard County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandy Hill
- Woodstock
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Montgomery County
- The following are listed by their distance from Brownsville, with the one closest to Brownsville listed first.
- Browningsville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Browningsville is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Browningsville
- Damascus
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Mullinix
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Mullinix is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mullinix
- Hyattstown
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Hyattstown is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hyattstown
- Etchison
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Etchison is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Etchison
- Washington County
- The following are listed by their distance from Brownsville, with the one closest to Brownsville listed first.
- Highfield - Cascade
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Highfield - Cascade is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Highfield - Cascade
- Pen Mar
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Pen Mar is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pen Mar
- Pen Mar has also been known as:
- Pen Mar Park
- Smithsburg
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Cavetown
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Cavetown is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cavetown
- Pondsville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Pondsville is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pondsville
- Greenvale Village
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Greenvale Village is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenvale Village
- Hill Village
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Hill Village is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hill Village
- Chewsville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Chewsville is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chewsville
- Leitersburg
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Leitersburg is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leitersburg
- Mount Aetna
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Mount Aetna is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Aetna
- Mount Lena
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Mount Lena is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Lena
- Robinwood
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Robinwood is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Robinwood
- Adams County (PA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Brownsville, with the one closest to Brownsville listed first.
- Kingsdale
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Kingsdale is located in Adams County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kingsdale
- Greenmount
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Greenmount is located in Adams County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenmount
- Littlestown
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Lake Heritage
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Lake Heritage is located in Adams County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Heritage
- Bonneauville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Bonneauville is located in Adams County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bonneauville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,837 people
- Whitehall
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Whitehall is located in Adams County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitehall
- Zora
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Zora is located in Adams County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zora
- Gettysburg
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Carroll Valley
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Fairfield
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Jacks Mountain
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Jacks Mountain is located in Adams County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jacks Mountain
- Seven Stars
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Seven Stars is located in Adams County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seven Stars
- Cumberland County (PA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Brownsville, with the one closest to Brownsville listed first.
- Hunters Run
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Hunters Run is located in Cumberland County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hunters Run
- Huntsdale
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Huntsdale is located in Cumberland County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huntsdale
- Montsera
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Montsera is located in Cumberland County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montsera
- Mount Holly Springs
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Lees Cross Roads
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Lees Cross Roads is located in Cumberland County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lees Cross Roads
- Barnitz
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Barnitz is located in Cumberland County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barnitz
- Shippensburg
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Franklin County (PA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Brownsville, with the one closest to Brownsville listed first.
- Blue Ridge Summit
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Monterey
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Monterey is located in Franklin County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monterey
- Beartown
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Beartown is located in Franklin County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beartown
- Pen Mar
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Pen Mar is located in Franklin County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pen Mar
- Rouzerville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Rouzerville is located in Franklin County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rouzerville
- Wayne Heights
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Wayne Heights is located in Franklin County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wayne Heights
- Caledonia Park
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Caledonia Park is located in Franklin County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caledonia Park
- Nunnery
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Nunnery is located in Franklin County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nunnery
- Waynesboro
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Mont Alto
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Mount Union
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Mount Union is located in Franklin County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Union
- Quincy
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- York County (PA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Brownsville, with the one closest to Brownsville listed first.
- Pennville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Pennville is located in York County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pennville
- Bandanna
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Bandanna is located in York County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bandanna
- Hanover
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Parkville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Parkville is located in York County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parkville
- West Manheim
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- West Manheim is located in York County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Manheim
- Blackrock
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Blackrock is located in York County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blackrock
- Valley Junction
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Valley Junction is located in York County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Valley Junction
- Brodbecks
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Brodbecks is located in York County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brodbecks
- Glenville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Glenville is located in York County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glenville
- Jefferson
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- La Bott
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- La Bott is located in York County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Bott
- Strickhousers
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Strickhousers is located in York County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Strickhousers
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.
- Baptist Road Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Piney Creek Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Sunrise Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- St. Joseph Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Grace Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Trinity Lutheran Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trinity Lutheran Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Trinity Lutheran Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located in Taneytown.
- The Trinity Lutheran Cemetery has also been known as:
- Trinity Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #81702 <2>
- Mountainview Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Piney Creek Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Mt. Joy Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Union Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Mt. Pleasant Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- St. James Reformed Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Continue List (367 more) ...
- Elias Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Toms Creek Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Emmitsburg Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
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.<3>
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.
- Bridgeport
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Bridgeport is located in Frederick County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bridgeport
- Taneytown
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Harney
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Harney is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harney
- Crabster ‑ Historic
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Crabster is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crabster
- Galt
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Galt is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Galt
- Keysville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Keysville is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keysville
- Sharretts ‑ Historic
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Sharretts is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sharretts
- Barlow
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Barlow is located in Adams County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barlow
- Bruceville
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Bruceville is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bruceville
- Trevanion
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Trevanion is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trevanion
- Kingsdale
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Kingsdale is located in Adams County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kingsdale
- Fairplay
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Fairplay is located in Adams County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairplay
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Motters
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Motters is located in Frederick County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Motters
- Middleburg
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Middleburg is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Middleburg
- Mayberry
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Mayberry is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mayberry
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 22 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 8 miles [12.9 km]<4>. 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 turn to 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 Maryland
- Pages specific to Carroll County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Baltimore County
- Frederick County
- Howard County
- Montgomery County
- Washington County
- Adams County
- Cumberland County
- Franklin County
- York County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Maryland
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> | 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. |
| <3> | 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. |
| <4> | 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 from Point A (ie- Brownsville) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |