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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 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 northeast 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 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.

Brownsville is located in Albemarle County.

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

The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Albemarle County: Augusta, Buckingham, Fluvanna, Greene, Louisa, Nelson, Orange & Rockingham.

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:

  • Albemarle County     (The home county of Brownsville)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Brownsville, with the one closest to Brownsville listed first.
    • Crozet
      (Less than 2 miles to the north)
    • Foothill Village
      (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
      • Foothill Village is located in Albemarle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Foothill Village
    • Yancey Mills
      (Less than 2 miles to the west)
      • Yancey Mills is located in Albemarle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yancey Mills
    • Batesville
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
    • Ivy
      (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
    • White Hall
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
      • White Hall is located in Albemarle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Hall
    • Decca ‑ Historic
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Decca is located in Albemarle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Decca
    • Ednam Village
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
      • Ednam Village is located in Albemarle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ednam Village
    • Mountfair
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
      • Mountfair is located in Albemarle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mountfair
    • North Garden
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Huntington Village
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
      • Huntington Village is located in Albemarle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huntington Village
    • University Heights
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
      • University Heights is located in Albemarle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for University Heights
  • Amherst County
  • Augusta County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Brownsville, with the one closest to Brownsville listed first.
    • Dooms
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Dooms is located in Augusta County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dooms
    • Crimora
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Sampson
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Sampson is located in Augusta County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sampson
    • Lyndhurst
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
    • Sherando
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
      • Sherando is located in Augusta County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sherando
    • Fishersville
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
    • Lipscomb
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
      • Lipscomb is located in Augusta County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lipscomb
    • Grottoes
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Brand
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
      • Brand is located in Augusta County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brand
    • Stuarts Draft
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
    • Verona
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Jolivue
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • Jolivue is located in Augusta County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jolivue
  • Buckingham County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Brownsville, with the one closest to Brownsville listed first.
    • Axtell
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • Axtell is located in Buckingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Axtell
    • Manteo
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Manteo is located in Buckingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Manteo
    • Centenary
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Centenary is located in Buckingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centenary
    • Glenmore
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Glenmore is located in Buckingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glenmore
    • Bridgeport
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Bridgeport is located in Buckingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bridgeport
  • Charlottesville City
    • The following are listed by their distance from Brownsville, with the one closest to Brownsville listed first.
    • Belmont
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
      • Belmont is located in Charlottesville City
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belmont
    • Charlottesville
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
    • Locust Grove
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
      • Locust Grove is located in Charlottesville City
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Locust Grove
  • Fluvanna County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Brownsville, with the one closest to Brownsville listed first.
    • Antioch
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Antioch is located in Fluvanna County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Antioch
    • Lake Monticello
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Lake Monticello is located in Fluvanna County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Monticello
    • Nicholas
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
      • Nicholas is located in Fluvanna County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nicholas
    • Weber City
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Greene County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Brownsville, with the one closest to Brownsville listed first.
    • Cedarmere ‑ Historic
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Cedarmere is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedarmere
    • Amicus
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
      • Amicus is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amicus
    • Quinque
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Quinque is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quinque
    • Stanardsville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Dawsonville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Dawsonville is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dawsonville
    • Kinderhook
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Kinderhook is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kinderhook
  • Harrisonburg City
    • Harrisonburg
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
  • Louisa County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Brownsville, with the one closest to Brownsville listed first.
    • Medlock
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Medlock is located in Louisa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Medlock
    • Meltons
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Meltons is located in Louisa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meltons
  • Madison County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Brownsville, with the one closest to Brownsville listed first.
    • Hood
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Wolftown
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
  • Nelson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Brownsville, with the one closest to Brownsville listed first.
    • Durrett Town
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Durrett Town is located in Nelson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Durrett Town
    • Afton
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • Onan
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Onan is located in Nelson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Onan
    • Greenfield
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Greenfield is located in Nelson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenfield
    • Lodebar
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Lodebar is located in Nelson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lodebar
    • Adial
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Adial is located in Nelson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adial
    • Nellysford
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Faber
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
    • Rockfish
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
      • Rockfish is located in Nelson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockfish
    • Schuyler
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
    • Old Myndus
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
      • Old Myndus is located in Nelson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Myndus
    • Bryant
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Bryant is located in Nelson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bryant
  • Orange County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Brownsville, with the one closest to Brownsville listed first.
    • Barboursville
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
    • Gordonsville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
    • Montpelier Station
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Page County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Brownsville, with the one closest to Brownsville listed first.
    • Verbena
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Verbena is located in Page County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Verbena
    • Shenandoah
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
  • Rockingham County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Brownsville, with the one closest to Brownsville listed first.
    • Goods Mill
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
      • Goods Mill is located in Rockingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goods Mill
    • Berrytown
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • Berrytown is located in Rockingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berrytown
    • Montevideo
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • Montevideo is located in Rockingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montevideo
    • Cross Keys
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
    • McGaheysville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
    • Swift Run
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • Swift Run is located in Rockingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swift Run
    • North River
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
      • North River is located in Rockingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North River
    • Massanutten
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
    • Mount Crawford
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Elkton
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • Elkton is located in Rockingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elkton
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,914 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Elkton <1>
    • Keezletown
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
    • Massanetta Springs
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • Massanetta Springs is located in Rockingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Massanetta Springs
  • Staunton City
    • Staunton
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
  • Waynesboro City
    • Waynesboro
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)

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.

  • Hillsboro Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • Rockgate Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockgate Cemetery
    • To give a relative sense of its location, the Rockgate Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located less than 2 miles<2> to the south of Crozet.
    • The Rockgate Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Rock Gate Cemetery
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #51909 <3>
  • Mt. Plains Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
  • Mt. Salem Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
  • Emmanuel Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • Wild Rose Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
  • St. John the Baptist Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Lebanon Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • Mt. Calvary Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • St. Pauls Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
  • Mt. Olivet Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • Mt. Moriah Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mt. Moriah Cemetery
    • The Mt. Moriah Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Mt. Moriah Methodist Church Cemetery
    • Mt. Moriah UMC Cemetery
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #51282 <3>
  • Continue List   (325 more) ...
    • Sandridge Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
    • Mooreland Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Oak Union 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 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.

  • Yancey Mills
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
    • Yancey Mills is located in Albemarle County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yancey Mills
  • Crozet
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  • Greenwood
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • Batesville
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Ivy
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
  • Millington
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Millington is located in Albemarle County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millington
  • Avon
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Avon is located in Nelson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avon
  • Doylesville
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • Doylesville is located in Albemarle County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Doylesville
  • Afton
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
  • Onan
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Onan is located in Nelson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Onan
  • North Garden
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
  • Dooms
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Dooms is located in Augusta County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dooms
  • Continue List   (16 more) ...
    • Free Union
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Greenfield
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Greenfield is located in Nelson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenfield
    • Covesville
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
      • Covesville is located in Albemarle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Covesville

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 62 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 12 miles [19.3 km]<2>. 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 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:

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>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- Brownsville) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.
<3>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.
<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 Brownsville, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.