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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 Brownwood (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 Brownwood. 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 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.

Brownwood is located in Harris County.

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

The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Harris County: Brazoria, Chambers, Fort Bend, Galveston, Liberty, Montgomery & Waller.

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

  • Harris County     (The home county of Brownwood)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Brownwood, with the one closest to Brownwood listed first.
    • Highlands
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Channelview
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Morgan's Point
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
      • Morgan's Point is located in Harris County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morgan's Point
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 337 people
    • Deer Park
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
    • Cedar Bayou
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
      • Cedar Bayou is located in Harris County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Bayou
    • Chaparral Village
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
      • Chaparral Village is located in Harris County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chaparral Village
    • La Porte
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • Cloverleaf
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • Gateway Village
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
      • Gateway Village is located in Harris County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gateway Village
    • Barrett
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • Sheldon
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Sheldon is located in Harris County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sheldon
    • Pasadena
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
  • Brazoria County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Brownwood, with the one closest to Brownwood listed first.
    • Woodcreek
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Woodcreek is located in Brazoria County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodcreek
    • Brookside Village
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Pearland
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Westwood Village
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Westwood Village is located in Brazoria County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westwood Village
    • West Oaks Village
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
      • West Oaks Village is located in Brazoria County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Oaks Village
    • Fairway Village
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
      • Fairway Village is located in Brazoria County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairway Village
    • Alvin
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Alvin is located in Brazoria County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alvin
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 27,140 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Alvin <1>
    • Hillcrest
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Hillcrest is located in Brazoria County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hillcrest
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 706 people
    • Manvel
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Manvel is located in Brazoria County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Manvel
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 13,867 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Manvel <1>
    • Iowa Colony
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Iowa Colony is located in Brazoria County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iowa Colony
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 4,888 people
  • Chambers County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Brownwood, with the one closest to Brownwood listed first.
    • Baytown
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
    • Shoreacres
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
      • Shoreacres is located in Chambers County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shoreacres
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,578 people
    • Beach City
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
      • Beach City is located in Chambers County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beach City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,825 people
    • Mont Belvieu
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Seabrook
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
    • Cove
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
      • Cove is located in Chambers County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cove
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 586 people
    • Old River - Winfree
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Old River - Winfree is located in Chambers County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old River - Winfree
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,453 people
    • Wallisville
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
    • Anahuac
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
    • Smith Point
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Smith Point is located in Chambers County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smith Point
    • Turtle Bayou
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
      • Turtle Bayou is located in Chambers County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Turtle Bayou
    • Double Bayou
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
      • Double Bayou is located in Chambers County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Double Bayou
  • Fort Bend County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Brownwood, with the one closest to Brownwood listed first.
    • Fresno
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Arcola
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Arcola is located in Fort Bend County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arcola
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,775 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Arcola <1>
    • Missouri City Estates
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Missouri City Estates is located in Fort Bend County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Missouri City Estates
  • Galveston County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Brownwood, with the one closest to Brownwood listed first.
    • Clear Lake Shores
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
    • Kemah
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
      • Kemah is located in Galveston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kemah
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,048 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Kemah <1>
    • South Shore Village
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
      • South Shore Village is located in Galveston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Shore Village
    • Bacliff
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
    • League City
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
    • Quaker Village
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Quaker Village is located in Galveston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quaker Village
    • Friendswood
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
    • Parkwood Village
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
      • Parkwood Village is located in Galveston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parkwood Village
    • San Leon
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Dickinson
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
    • Carmel Village
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Carmel Village is located in Galveston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carmel Village
    • Arcadia
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Arcadia is located in Galveston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arcadia
  • Liberty County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Brownwood, with the one closest to Brownwood listed first.
    • Stilson
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
      • Stilson is located in Liberty County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stilson
    • Dayton
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Moss Bluff
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Moss Bluff is located in Liberty County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moss Bluff
    • Gum Grove
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • Gum Grove is located in Liberty County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gum Grove
    • Liberty
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Ames
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Ames is located in Liberty County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ames
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,275 people
    • Kenefick
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Kenefick is located in Liberty County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kenefick
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 722 people
    • Dayton Lakes
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Dayton Lakes is located in Liberty County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dayton Lakes
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 107 people
    • Raywood
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Montgomery County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Brownwood, with the one closest to Brownwood listed first.
    • Porter
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
    • New Caney
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
    • Roman Forest
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Roman Forest is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roman Forest
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,035 people
    • Woodbranch
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Woodbranch is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodbranch
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,498 people

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

Cemeteries Near Brownwood ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Brownwood.

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

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

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

  • DeZavalla Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
  • Hill of Rest Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Betheny Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Earthman Memory Gardens
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
  • San Jacinto Memorial Park
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
  • La Porte Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
  • Cedarhurst Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedarhurst Cemetery
    • To give a relative sense of its location, the Cedarhurst Cemetery is located in La Porte.
    • The Cedarhurst Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Cedar Hurst Cemetery
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2277733 <2>
  • Cedar Crest Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
  • Morgan Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
  • Sacred Heart Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
  • Crosby Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
  • Busch Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
  • Continue List   (138 more) ...
    • Evergreen Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • Harrington Cemetery
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Seabrook Cemetery
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)

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

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

  • Lynchburg
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
    • Lynchburg is located in Harris County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lynchburg
  • Cedar Bayou
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Cedar Bayou is located in Harris County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Bayou
  • Red Bluff
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Red Bluff is located in Harris County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Bluff
  • Sheldon
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Sheldon is located in Harris County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sheldon
  • Crosby
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
  • Genoa
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Genoa is located in Harris County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Genoa
  • Mont Belvieu
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Harrisburg
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
    • Harrisburg is located in Harris County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harrisburg
  • Magnolia Park
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
    • Magnolia Park is located in Harris County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Magnolia Park
  • Houston
    (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
  • Wallisville
    (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
  • Huffman
    (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
  • Continue List   (13 more) ...
    • Dickinson
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
    • Pierce Junction
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
      • Pierce Junction is located in Harris County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pierce Junction
    • Moss Bluff
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Moss Bluff is located in Liberty County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moss Bluff

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

Newspapers Published in Brownwood ...

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 35 newspapers that have been published in the area around Brownwood.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Brownwood, there are papers which were published within 12 miles [19.3 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Brownwood.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we begin with 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 Brownwood:

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 Brownwood, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<4>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- Brownwood) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.