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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 Browns (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 Browns. 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 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.

Browns is located in Cocke County.

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

The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Cocke County: Haywood (NC), Madison (NC), Greene, Hamblen, Jefferson & Sevier.

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

  • Cocke County     (The home county of Browns)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Browns, with the one closest to Browns listed first.
    • Naillon ‑ Historic
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Naillon is located in Cocke County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Naillon
    • Hartford
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Tom Town
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Tom Town is located in Cocke County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tom Town
    • Wilton Springs
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Wilton Springs is located in Cocke County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilton Springs
    • Cosby
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • Nough
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Nough is located in Cocke County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nough
    • Edwina
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
      • Edwina is located in Cocke County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edwina
    • West Myers
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
      • West Myers is located in Cocke County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Myers
      • Estimated population in 2014: 2,282 people
    • Birdsville ‑ Historic
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Birdsville is located in Cocke County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Birdsville
    • Bridgeport
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
      • Bridgeport is located in Cocke County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bridgeport
    • Del Rio
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Carson Springs
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Carson Springs is located in Cocke County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carson Springs
    • Jaybird
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
      • Jaybird is located in Cocke County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jaybird
      • Estimated population in 2014: 3,299 people
  • Greene County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Browns, with the one closest to Browns listed first.
    • Sirenburg ‑ Historic
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Sirenburg is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sirenburg
    • Cedar Creek
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Cedar Creek is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Creek
    • Bright Hope
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • Bright Hope is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bright Hope
    • Little Chucky ‑ Historic
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Little Chucky is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little Chucky
    • Warrensburg
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Warrensburg is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Warrensburg
    • Beulah
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • Beulah is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beulah
    • Midway
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
    • Camp Creek
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Camp Creek is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Camp Creek
    • Mosheim
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
    • Greeneville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Water Fork Mill
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Water Fork Mill is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Water Fork Mill
      • Estimated population in 2014: 445 people
  • Hamblen County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Browns, with the one closest to Browns listed first.
    • Monte Vista Estates
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Monte Vista Estates is located in Hamblen County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monte Vista Estates
      • Estimated population in 2014: 2,860 people
    • Silver City
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Silver City is located in Hamblen County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Silver City
  • Jefferson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Browns, with the one closest to Browns listed first.
    • Baneberry
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Leadvale
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • Leadvale is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leadvale
    • Dandridge
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
    • White Pine
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Edna
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Edna is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edna
    • Flat Gap
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Flat Gap is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flat Gap
    • Piedmont
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Piedmont is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Piedmont
    • Alena ‑ Historic
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Alena is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alena
    • Cook Mill
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Cook Mill is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cook Mill
      • Estimated population in 2014: 31,335 people
    • Dumplin
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Dumplin is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dumplin
    • Rock Town
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Rock Town is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock Town
    • Rocky Valley
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Rocky Valley is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rocky Valley
      • Estimated population in 2014: 1,771 people
    • Talbott
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Sevier County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Browns, with the one closest to Browns listed first.
    • Pittman Center
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
      • Pittman Center is located in Sevier County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pittman Center
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 545 people
    • East Fork
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
      • East Fork is located in Sevier County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Fork
    • Harrisburg
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
      • Harrisburg is located in Sevier County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harrisburg
      • Estimated population in 2014: 6,219 people
    • Gatlinburg
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
    • Middle Creek
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
      • Middle Creek is located in Sevier County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Middle Creek
    • Millican Grove
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
      • Millican Grove is located in Sevier County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millican Grove
    • Chalet Village
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • Chalet Village is located in Sevier County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chalet Village
    • Pigeon Forge
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
    • Sevierville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
    • Starkeytown
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • Starkeytown is located in Sevier County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Starkeytown
      • Estimated population in 2014: 431 people
    • Catlettsburg
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Catlettsburg is located in Sevier County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Catlettsburg
    • Elkmont ‑ Historic
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Elkmont is located in Sevier County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elkmont
    • Waldens Creek
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Waldens Creek is located in Sevier County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waldens Creek
  • Buncombe County (NC)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Browns, with the one closest to Browns listed first.
    • Sandymush
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
      • Sandymush is located in Buncombe County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandymush
      • Sandymush has also been known as:
      • Sandy Mush
    • Newfound
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Newfound is located in Buncombe County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newfound
    • Leicester
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
    • Alexander
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
    • Glady
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Glady is located in Buncombe County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glady
    • Candler
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Acton
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Acton is located in Buncombe County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Acton
    • Enka
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Haywood County (NC)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Browns, with the one closest to Browns listed first.
    • Mount Sterling
      (Less than 2 miles to the south)
      • Mount Sterling is located in Haywood County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Sterling
    • Teague ‑ Historic
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Teague is located in Haywood County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Teague
    • Maggie Valley
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
    • Lake Junaluska
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Clyde
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Clyde is located in Haywood County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clyde
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,308 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Clyde <1>
    • Waynesville
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
    • Hazelwood
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • Hazelwood is located in Haywood County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hazelwood
    • West Canton
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
      • West Canton is located in Haywood County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Canton
    • Canton
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
      • Canton is located in Haywood County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canton
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 4,369 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Canton <1>
    • Bethel
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Bethel is located in Haywood County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bethel
    • Morning Star
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Morning Star is located in Haywood County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morning Star
    • Sonoma ‑ Historic
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Sonoma is located in Haywood County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sonoma
    • Lavinia ‑ Historic
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Lavinia is located in Haywood County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lavinia
  • Jackson County (NC)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Browns, with the one closest to Browns listed first.
    • Paint Town
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
      • Paint Town is located in Jackson County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paint Town
    • Balsam
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
    • Addie
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Addie is located in Jackson County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Addie
    • Whittier
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Ruby City
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Ruby City is located in Jackson County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ruby City
    • Wilmot
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Wilmot is located in Jackson County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilmot
    • Dillsboro
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
    • Sylva
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Sylva is located in Jackson County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sylva
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,739 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Sylva <1>
    • Webster
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Webster is located in Jackson County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Webster
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 386 people
  • Madison County (NC)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Browns, with the one closest to Browns listed first.
    • Lynch ‑ Historic
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
      • Lynch is located in Madison County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lynch
    • Trust
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
      • Trust is located in Madison County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trust
    • Bluff
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
      • Bluff is located in Madison County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bluff
    • Spring Creek
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
      • Spring Creek is located in Madison County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Creek
    • Hot Springs
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Stackhouse
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
      • Stackhouse is located in Madison County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stackhouse
    • Walnut
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
      • Walnut is located in Madison County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walnut
    • Hurricane
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Hurricane is located in Madison County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hurricane
    • Allenstand
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Allenstand is located in Madison County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allenstand
    • Marshall
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
    • Rollins
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
      • Rollins is located in Madison County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rollins
    • Chapel Hill
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Chapel Hill is located in Madison County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chapel Hill
    • White Rock
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • White Rock is located in Madison County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Rock
  • Swain County (NC)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Browns, with the one closest to Browns listed first.
    • Oconaluftee Indian Village
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
    • Cherokee
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Bryson City
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)

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

Cemeteries Near Browns ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Browns.

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 Browns - one of the links might be able to help.

If not found below, our Cemetery List for Browns covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.

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

  • Phillips Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
  • Mack Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
  • Johnson Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
  • Sutton Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Sutton Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Harrell Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Abe McMillan Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • Davis Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Ball Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Campbell Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Campbell Cemetery
    • To give a relative sense of its location, the Campbell Cemetery is located 4 miles [6.4 km]<3> to the southeast of Cosby.
    • The Campbell Cemetery has also been known as:
    • McCoy Cemetery
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2654499 <2>
  • Hicks Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Hall Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
  • Continue List   (651 more) ...
    • Tritt Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
    • Gunter Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
    • Clark Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)

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 Browns in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Browns.

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

  • Mount Sterling
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
    • Mount Sterling is located in Haywood County (NC)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Sterling
  • Naillon ‑ Historic
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Naillon is located in Cocke County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Naillon
  • Wilton Springs
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Wilton Springs is located in Cocke County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilton Springs
  • Nough
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Nough is located in Cocke County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nough
  • Edwina
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • Edwina is located in Cocke County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edwina
  • Cataloochee
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • Cataloochee is located in Haywood County (NC)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cataloochee
  • Teague ‑ Historic
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Teague is located in Haywood County (NC)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Teague
  • Palm ‑ Historic
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Palm is located in Haywood County (NC)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Palm
  • Jonestown ‑ Historic
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Jonestown is located in Cocke County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jonestown
  • Birdsville ‑ Historic
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Birdsville is located in Cocke County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Birdsville
  • Fines Creek
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Fines Creek is located in Haywood County (NC)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fines Creek
  • Del Rio
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Continue List   (16 more) ...
    • Bridgeport
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
      • Bridgeport is located in Cocke County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bridgeport
    • Lynch ‑ Historic
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
      • Lynch is located in Madison County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lynch
    • Carson Springs
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Carson Springs is located in Cocke County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carson Springs

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

Newspapers Published in Browns ...

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 20 newspapers that have been published in the area around Browns.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Browns, there are papers which were published within 20 miles [32.2 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Browns.

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 Browns:

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>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Browns) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.
<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 Browns, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.