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 southwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals and doctors were in the next county to the west. 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 west 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 Houston 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 Houston County: Benton, Dickson, Humphreys, Montgomery & Stewart.
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:
- Houston County (The home county of Brownsville)
- The following are listed by their distance from Brownsville, with the one closest to Brownsville listed first.
- Erin
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Tennessee Ridge
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Magnolia
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Magnolia is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Magnolia
- McKinnon
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- McKinnon is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McKinnon
- Omega ‑ Historic
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Omega is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Omega
- Benton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Brownsville, with the one closest to Brownsville listed first.
- Faxon
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Faxon is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Faxon
- Big Sandy
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Brevards Ferry
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Brevards Ferry is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brevards Ferry
- Estimated population in 2014: 40,982 people
- Camden
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Cheatham County
- The following are listed by their distance from Brownsville, with the one closest to Brownsville listed first.
- Neptune
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Neptune is located in Cheatham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Neptune
- Henrietta
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Henrietta is located in Cheatham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Henrietta
- Estimated population in 2014: 921 people
- Dickson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Brownsville, with the one closest to Brownsville listed first.
- Slayden
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Slayden is located in Dickson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Slayden
- Population from the 2020 Census: 207 people
- Woods Valley
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Woods Valley is located in Dickson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woods Valley
- Vanleer
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Dunn Chapel
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Dunn Chapel is located in Dickson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunn Chapel
- Tennessee City
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Tennessee City is located in Dickson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tennessee City
- Stayton
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Stayton is located in Dickson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stayton
- Charlotte
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Pond
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Pond is located in Dickson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pond
- White Oak Flat
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- White Oak Flat is located in Dickson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Oak Flat
- Dickson
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Water Valley ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Water Valley is located in Dickson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Water Valley
- Estimated population in 2014: 1,516 people
- Bellsburg
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Bellsburg is located in Dickson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bellsburg
- Pomona
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Pomona is located in Dickson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pomona
- Henry County
- The following are listed by their distance from Brownsville, with the one closest to Brownsville listed first.
- Oak Hill
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Oak Hill is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Hill
- Estimated population in 2014: 4,703 people
- Mount Vista ‑ Historic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Mount Vista is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Vista
- Springville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Manleyville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Manleyville is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Manleyville
- Oakland
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Oakland is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakland
- India
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- India is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for India
- Spring Creek
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Spring Creek is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Creek
- Estimated population in 2014: 2,009 people
- Humphreys County
- The following are listed by their distance from Brownsville, with the one closest to Brownsville listed first.
- Halls Creek
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Halls Creek is located in Humphreys County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Halls Creek
- Trinity
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Trinity is located in Humphreys County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trinity
- Estimated population in 2014: 625 people
- McEwen
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Pigeon Roost
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Pigeon Roost is located in Humphreys County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pigeon Roost
- Estimated population in 2014: 6,132 people
- Waverly
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Bethpage
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Bethpage is located in Humphreys County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bethpage
- Population from the 2010 Census: 288 people
- Plant
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Plant is located in Humphreys County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plant
- Hurricane Mills
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- New Johnsonville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Bakerville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Bakerville is located in Humphreys County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bakerville
- Hustburg
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Hustburg is located in Humphreys County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hustburg
- Montgomery County
- The following are listed by their distance from Brownsville, with the one closest to Brownsville listed first.
- Oakridge
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Oakridge is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakridge
- Estimated population in 2014: 29,303 people
- Oakwood
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Oakwood is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakwood
- Dotsonville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Dotsonville is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dotsonville
- Louise
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Louise is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Louise
- Woodlawn
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- McAllisters Crossroads
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Louise Heights
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Louise Heights is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Louise Heights
- Estimated population in 2014: 5,715 people
- Liverworth
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Liverworth is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liverworth
- Southside
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Clarksville
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Stryker Village
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Stryker Village is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stryker Village
- Wingate West
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Wingate West is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wingate West
- Estimated population in 2014: 954 people
- Saint Bethlehem
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Stewart County
- The following are listed by their distance from Brownsville, with the one closest to Brownsville listed first.
- Cumberland City
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Throckmorton
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Throckmorton is located in Stewart County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Throckmorton
- Estimated population in 2014: 1,692 people
- Indian Mound
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Dover
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Dover is located in Stewart County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dover
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,578 people
- Former name for Dover:
- Monroe
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Dover <1>
- Legate
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Legate is located in Stewart County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Legate
- Parker Town ‑ Historic
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Parker Town is located in Stewart County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parker Town
- Bumpus Mills
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Snider
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Snider is located in Stewart County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Snider
- Calloway County (KY)
- The following are listed by their distance from Brownsville, with the one closest to Brownsville listed first.
- New Concord
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- New Providence
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- New Providence is located in Calloway County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Providence
- Christian County (KY)
- The following are listed by their distance from Brownsville, with the one closest to Brownsville listed first.
- LaFayette
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Garrettsburg
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Garrettsburg is located in Christian County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garrettsburg
- Bennettstown
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Bennettstown is located in Christian County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bennettstown
- Howel
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Howel is located in Christian County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Howel
- Oak Grove
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Herndon
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Herndon is located in Christian County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Herndon
- Newstead
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Newstead is located in Christian County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newstead
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.
- Lowery Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Kennedy Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Gray Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- McMillian Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Erin Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Graveyard Hill Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- John Brake Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Thompson Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Burcham Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- McIntosh Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Barnes Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Beecham Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (922 more) ...
- Erin Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Weaver Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Lockhart Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
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.<2>
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.
- Erin
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Tennessee Ridge
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Cumberland City
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Stewart
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Woolworth
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Woolworth is located in Humphreys County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woolworth
- Indian Mound
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- McKinnon
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- McKinnon is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McKinnon
- Magnolia
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Magnolia is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Magnolia
- Yellow Creek
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Yellow Creek is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yellow Creek
- Sailors Rest ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Sailors Rest is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sailors Rest
- Needmore
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Needmore is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Needmore
- Dover
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Dover is located in Stewart County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dover
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,578 people
- Former name for Dover:
- Monroe
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Dover <1>
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Bellamy ‑ Historic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Bellamy is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bellamy
- Shiloh
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Shiloh is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shiloh
- Danville ‑ Historic
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Danville is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Danville
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 28 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 22 miles [35.4 km]<3>. 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 start with the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These helpful 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 Tennessee
- Pages specific to Houston County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Benton County
- Cheatham County
- Dickson County
- Henry County
- Humphreys County
- Montgomery County
- Stewart County
- Calloway County
- Christian County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Tennessee
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> | 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. |
| <3> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'point-to-point' distance. A straight line distance ignores things 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'. |