Brownsville

Illinois ghost towns cluster around the old lead district and the coal fields that fed Chicago.

Brownsville is a ghost town in Jackson County, Illinois, United States. Brownsville, located close to a salt creek that empties into the Big Muddy River, is the former county seat of Jackson County. It is 3.25 miles (5.23 km) due west of Murphysboro and 0.75 miles (1.21 km) south of Illinois Route 149. It was moved when the courthouse and downtown burned to the ground in 1843, and the county seat was then moved to Murphysboro.

The on-the-ground condition of Brownsville is unverified — it's listed here with unknown status. That could mean standing buildings, or an empty field. Go prepared for either, and consider sharing what you find so the record improves.

Nobody has confirmed the access situation, so treat any visit as reconnaissance: verify land ownership first, and be ready to admire from the road.

Here's the honest truth: access to Brownsville is unverified. We couldn't confirm whether the site sits on public land, private property, or something in between — so verify land ownership and local rules before visiting, and respect private property at all times. The mapped point for Brownsville is roughly 37.7714, -89.3841 — use it as a starting point and cross-reference a current topographic map before leaving pavement.

Ghost-town etiquette is simple: take only photographs. Removing artifacts is illegal on public lands and disrespectful everywhere else — and on federal land it can be a serious offense.