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Our Genealogy Helper

Introduction ...

So far, we found very little information about Browntown. The little that we've found leads us believe that the community is historic.<1>

We've added Browntown to our Gazetteer with the hope that we can develop more information. If you can help us with Browntown, please Contact Us.

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 Browntown (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 Browntown. 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 northeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals were in the next county to the east. 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 east 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.

Although our information shows that the community of Browntown is historic, it would have been located within present day Josephine County.

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

The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Josephine County: Del Norte (CA), Siskiyou (CA), Curry, Douglas & Jackson.

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

  • Josephine County     (The home county of Browntown)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Browntown, with the one closest to Browntown listed first.
    • Waldo ‑ Historic
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Waldo. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<2>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waldo
      • Waldo is located in Josephine County
    • Brown City ‑ Historic
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Brown City have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brown City
      • Brown City is located in Josephine County
    • Cave Junction
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Cave Junction have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cave Junction
      • Cave Junction is located in Josephine County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,986 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Cave Junction <4>
    • O'Brien
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
    • Kerby
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Selma
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
    • Williams
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Wilderville
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
    • Murphy
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
    • New Hope
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Hope
      • New Hope is located in Josephine County
    • Redwood
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Redwood have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Redwood
      • Redwood is located in Josephine County
    • Fruitdale
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Fruitdale have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fruitdale
      • Fruitdale is located in Josephine County
  • Jackson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Browntown, with the one closest to Browntown listed first.
    • Copper ‑ Historic
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Copper. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<2>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Copper
      • Copper is located in Jackson County
    • Provolt
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Provolt
      • Provolt is located in Jackson County
    • Applegate
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Ruch
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Buncom
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buncom
      • Buncom is located in Jackson County
    • Sterlingville ‑ Historic
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Sterlingville. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<2>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sterlingville
      • Sterlingville is located in Jackson County
    • Rogue River
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Rogue River have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rogue River
      • Rogue River is located in Jackson County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,340 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Rogue River <4>
  • Del Norte County (CA)
    • Gasquet
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
  • Siskiyou County (CA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Browntown, with the one closest to Browntown listed first.
    • Happy Camp
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
    • Seiad Valley
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)

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

Cemeteries Near Browntown ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Browntown.

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 Browntown covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.

The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Browntown, with the one closest to Browntown listed first.

  • Laurel Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Laurel Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Laurel Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Deer Creek Cemetery
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Deer Creek Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Deer Creek Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Selma Cemetery
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Selma Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Selma Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Hartley Cemetery
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Hartley Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Hartley Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Steamboat Cemetery
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Steamboat Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Steamboat Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #39456 <5>
  • Sparlin Cemetery
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Sparlin Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Sparlin Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Gotcher Cemetery
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Gotcher Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Gotcher Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Wilderville Cemetery
    (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Wilderville Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Wilderville Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Missouri Flat Cemetery
    (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Missouri Flat Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Missouri Flat Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Sloan Cemetery
    (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Sloan Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Sloan Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Tokay Heights Cemetery
    (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Tokay Heights Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Tokay Heights Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Granite Hill Cemetery
    (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Granite Hill Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Granite Hill Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Continue List   (9 more) ...
    • Hawthorne Memorial Gardens Cemetery
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Hawthorne Memorial Gardens Cemetery
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Hawthorne Memorial Gardens Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Ferrydale Cemetery
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Ferrydale Cemetery
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Ferrydale Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Logtown Cemetery
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Logtown Cemetery
      • To give a relative sense of its location, the Logtown Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located less than 2 miles<6> to the southwest of Ruch.
      • The Logtown Cemetery has also been known as:
      • Log Town Cemetery
      • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #39053 <5>

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.

Browntown itself is historic and was described in the Rand McNally Atlas as having a post office and no railroad service.

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

  • Althouse ‑ Historic
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Althouse have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Althouse
    • Althouse is located in Josephine County
  • Waldo ‑ Historic
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Waldo. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<2>
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waldo
    • Waldo is located in Josephine County
  • Kerby
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
  • Williams
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
  • Steamboat
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Steamboat have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Steamboat
    • Steamboat is located in Jackson County
  • Murphy
    (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
  • Wilderville
    (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
  • Happy Camp
    (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
  • Applegate
    (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Seiad Valley
    (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
  • Grants Pass
    (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
  • Draper ‑ Historic
    (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Draper have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Draper
    • Draper is located in Jackson County
  • Gasquet
    (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)

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

Newspapers Published in Browntown ...

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 30 newspapers that have been published in the area around Browntown.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Browntown, there are papers which were published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<6>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Browntown.

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 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 Browntown:

The official website for Josephine County: www.co.josephine.or.us/

The official website for State of Oregon: https://www.oregon.gov/

Footnotes ...

<1>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 Browntown, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<2>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.
<3>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.
<4>While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program.
<5>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.
<6>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 from Point A (ie- Browntown) to Point B.Our distance measurements begin at a specific point in Browntown. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 42.0840, Longitude: -123.5173       In this case, the coordinates for Browntown have been provided by the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS).




 

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This page was last modified/updated: 29 Apr 2025