History of Brownsville

Brownsville was founded in 1765 as people were migrating west.  There were two significant periods of history. During the early 1800’s and when the first road paid for by the United States Government was built through Brownsville (circa 1818) called the National Road.  Check National Road Heritage Corridor website for more info.

The town grew in prominence and was believed that Pittsburgh could not amount to much because it was too close to Brownsville.  History tells us this did not happen and during the mid 1800’s Brownsville began to decline when the railroad became the mode of transportation replacing the National Road the main artery through Brownsville.   Brownsville resurged again in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s when the need for Coal dictated the need for workers and the migration of Europeans to work in the coal mines and coke oven industries.  With the employees for the coal mines, coke ovens and railroads the population of Brownsville again grew to great dimensions. This created a very diversified ethnic population that still exists in our community. 

Brownsville has diverse architectural styles.  The many churches tell the rich spiritual background of the residents.  The rich history is displayed in the two Historic Districts and the five individually listed sites on the National Register of Historic Places.  Brownsville is a community of diverse ethnic groups.  Population is approximately 2,804.  The town is separated by the Dunlap Creek with the Northside Market Street on the north of the creek and Southside High Street and Water Street leading to the south of the creek.  Brownsville is located on the National Road overlooking the Monongahela River.  The downtown is now suffering the demise of the coal industry and exiting of businesses.

Glenn Tunney's Your Brownsville and Mine

For more history on Brownsville check out Mr Tunney's columns about Brownsville!

http://freepages.history.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~glenntunneycolumn/index.htm

Copyright 2008 Brownsville, PA