A railroad construction camp on the farm of A. A. Brown became an important shipping point for lumber from Skin Creek, and in 1891 the settlement became known as Brownsville. It had a store, post office, and six residences, and over the years grew to approximately 20 families. The village also included a two room school house for 1st - 7th grade, which started in 1915 and closed in 1964. The Brownsville Community Church broke ground on Oct. 6, 1950 and remained open through June 1972.