Located in Western Tennessee, Brownsville is a city that is part of Haywood County. The city itself is named for General Jacob Jennings Brown, an officer who served during the War of 1812.
Brownsville has a strong history in cotton production, as it was first a city that focused on planting and selling cotton. Utilizing nearby tributaries of the Mississippi River, the people of Brownsville could easily send cotton to different markets for sale. In order to maintain the cotton plantations, owners enslaved African Americans. At the time, African Americans made up the vast majority of those living in Brownsville.
Today, Brownsville is known for its popular railroad hubs, music (specifically the Tina Turner Museum), and its history, as several buildings erected during the 1800s and 1900s are still standing and in working order.
Demographics
Similar to other surrounding cities, Brownsville has a population that has been decreasing over the past number of years. As of 2016, it was estimated that 9,782 people lived in the city, which is a 5% decrease since 2010.
As it has been historically, Brownsville is predominately African American, with 60.72% of the population being of this race. Approximately 36.52% are Caucasian, and 3.61% are Hispanic or Latino. Less than 3% of the population is a combination of Native American, Asian, Pacific Islander, or from two or more races.
The average income for a family in Brownsville is $33,782, with men bringing in $30, 313 on average and women taking home $22,030 yearly.
Of the 4,105 households in the city, 35.4% have children below age 18, 38.8% had married couples living in them, and 27.3% with a female householder without a husband present. The majority of people living in Brownsville are between 0 and 18, and for every 100 females there are 80 males.
Brownsville and Drugs
Brownsville is no stranger to the opioid crisis facing the United States, as people throughout this area are abusing fentanyl at higher rates than ever before. In 2017, 500 people died due to fentanyl overdose in the state of Tennessee. And while fentanyl is being regularly abused by people throughout the state and in Brownsville, rates of prescription painkiller abuse are decreasing. Rates of heroin abuse are also minimizing, particularly because of the interest in and desire to use fentanyl.
Fentanyl is a prescription painkiller that is used to treat severe physical pain. When it is consumed in any manner other than for controlled medical purposes, it can be extremely dangerous. This is because fentanyl is 80-100 times more powerful than morphine. Sadly, not only are people abusing this potent substance willingly, but they are also abusing it without even knowing it, as dealers nationwide use fentanyl to cut their stash of other opioid-based substances. Doing this allows dealers to make more money off of their inventory, however, makes it impossible for users to know what they are consuming.
Outside of opioids, the city of Brownsville is also home to several other illicit substances including cocaine, crack, meth, and ecstasy. In fact, in 2018, nearly 30 people were arrested for possession of drugs such as these, as well as distribution. Each one of these drugs can produce severe side effects in users, ranging from detachment from one’s surroundings and gastrointestinal problems to full-on psychosis and death. Cocaine and crack are heavily associated with cardiovascular problems including heart attack and cardiomyopathy, and ecstasy (which is also a stimulant substance) has been known to cause extreme fevers and dehydration. Meth, which contains several poisonous chemicals such as acetone and battery fluid, can damage the structure of the brain, leaving permanent emotional and cognitive damage.
Do You Need Help?
If you are addicted to drugs and are living in or around the Brownsville area, do not waste one more day continuing to use. Reach out and ask for the help that can save your life before it is too late.