We’ve researched over 3,800 ghost towns to show their spread across the country and within each state. Dunlap, Morris CountyPatrick Emerson / CC BY-ND 2.0. Great Plains states such as Kansas, Oklahoma and the Dakotas have the ruins of farming communities destroyed by the Dust Bowl and economic downturns of the 1930s. This is an incomplete list of ghost towns in the United States. There are 20 ghost towns within 25 miles of Lawrence. There are 25 ghost towns within 25 miles of New Braunfels. The following are top 10 scariest ghost towns located in the whole America: 10. Route 66 Ghost Towns. There are 10 ghost towns within 50 miles of Lancaster. Bodie, California. Newly developed electric dredging methods led to a brief revival after 1895, but by the 1940s the town was deserted. There are 11 ghost towns within 25 miles of Norman. There are 15 ghost towns within 50 miles of Fort Smith. 13 ghost townsThere are 9 ghost towns within 50 miles of Covington. Auraria, Lumpkin CountyHellohowareyoudoing / CC BY-SA 3.0. There are 19 ghost towns within 50 miles of Bozeman. However, increasingly poor quality ore sent the town into decline by the end of the decade. Rocky Bar, Elmore CountyJ.Day Photography / CC BY-SA 3.0. There are 5 ghost towns within 25 miles of Holyoke. From former prosperous gold rush towns that fell into decline or condemned modern communities, the USA is home to many deserted ghost towns. Copper lured brave miners to this remote Alaskan spot in ... St. Elmo, Colorado. There are 6 ghost towns within 50 miles of Nashua. Ghost Town Photo Gallery. Whitewash Village, Barnstable CountyZachary Cava / CC BY 2.0. There are 6 ghost towns within 50 miles of Lincoln. An old silver mining town from the 1880s, Calico once had as many as 500 mines, producing over $20 million in silver over 12 years. It continues to be the largest brick structure in the U.S. Harrisburg, Washington CountyThe Bureau of Land Management / CC BY 2.0, Somerset, Windham CountyAndy Arthur / CC BY 2.0. 116 ghost townsKing County contains the most, with 16. Virginia City, Montana. A revival of gold mining in the 1930s was halted by World War II, and the town has been abandoned ever since. The well-preserved structures are now part of Berlin-Ichthyosaur State Park, known for fossil discoveries of a prehistoric marine mammal. Whether it be North Brother Island, a ghost town in the middle of New York City, or Alabama’s old state capital Cahawba, we round up 10 of America’s eeriest ghost towns. Burdock, Fall River CountyRunner1928 / CC BY-SA 3.0. 31 ghost townsPawnee County contains the most, with 13. Forestville, Fillmore CountyTony Webster / CC BY-SA 2.0. The last intact building is the Orson B. Adams Home, named for its original inhabitant, which has been maintained and restored by the Bureau of Land Management. 33 ghost townsFremont County contains the most, with 6. Monson, Hillsborough CountyJohn Phelan / CC BY-SA 4.0. There are 24 ghost towns within 25 miles of Prescott Valley. 18 of the Spookiest Ghost Towns in America. It took 36 hours before the town’s 49,000 residents were evacuated, and many later suffered severe healt… Fairbank, Cochise CountyThe Bureau of Land Management / CC BY 2.0. There are 20 ghost towns within 25 miles of Saint Petersburg. Since 1988 the surviving buildings have (intermittently) been open as a tourist attraction. There are 6 ghost towns within 50 miles of Wilmington. St. Elmo, located less than 83 miles southeast of Aspen, Colorado, is one of the state's best-preserved ghost towns. … If you’re looking for an abandoned ghost town that’s greatly refurbished, then look no further than Bodie Ghost Town. Interstate 15 runs through the site of the town, structures of which are still visible. Here you find photos of western towns, some completely abandoned, others still lively, abandoned mines, mills (where the ore was processed), old cemeteries, railroad towns and depots.Some call it Urban Exploring, we call it Ghosttowning. It’s a family-owned farmhouse that requires partial renovation. Formed in 1880 for miners in … 346 ghost townsKern County contains the most, with 113. 26 ghost townsBuchanan County and Clayton County each contain 3. 99 ghost townsEl Paso County contains the most, with 14. During the Black Hawk War of 1866, residents of Grafton fled to the safety of Rockville and by 1890, only four families remained in town. Getty Images. The last mine was operating as recently as the 1970s, but has since been converted into a museum. As silver lost its value in the mid-1890s, Calico lost most of its residents, with many miners packing up and leaving town; it was a ghost town … 136 ghost townsCarbon County contains the most, with 18. Education ImagesGetty Images. 16 ghost townsThere are 9 ghost towns within 50 miles of Augusta. Idaho. At 1:23 a.m. on April 26, 1986, a catastrophic meltdown took place inside reactor number four at the Soviet nuclear power plant at Chernobyl. Brunswick Town, Brunswick CountyRob Friesel / CC BY-SA 2.0. So, along with the 12 acres of land, the buyers also walked away with a literal gold mine – … There are 12 ghost towns within 25 miles of West Lafayette. 19 ghost townsYork County, Henrico County and Prince William County each contain 3. There are 51 ghost towns within 25 miles of Rapid City. The explosion that followed sent flames and radioactive material soaring into the skies over Pripyat, a nearby city built to house the plant’s scientists and workers. There are 13 ghost towns within 25 miles of Lehi. 14 ghost townsCattaraugus County contains the most, with 5. All three towns became part of the, This page was last edited on 27 February 2021, at 01:48. "List of ghost towns in the United States", Learn how and when to remove this template message, Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, Former counties, cities, and towns of Virginia, List of flooded towns in the United States, Summary of the Pu`u `Ō `ō-Kupaianaha Eruption, 1983-present, "The Kendall Lumber Co. of Garrett County, Md". Lake Valley, Sierra CountyThe Bureau of Land Management / CC BY 2.0. Cemeteries – Outdoor Museums of the Forgotten Past. Georgia. In 1927, disaster struck. 257 ghost townsPolk County contains the most, with 17. There are 6 ghost towns within 50 miles of Honolulu. 55 ghost townsWinona County contains the most, with 5. This railroad and mining town was named after United States Army Major, Enoch Steen. Ghost towns are primarily associated with the Wild West frontier and people flocking to areas with valuable mineral resources, including gold and silver in the Rockies and oil in Texas. Grafton is a well-preserved ghost town in Utah’s Washington County. 155 ghost townsAdams County and Milwaukee County each contain 10. Today, about 60 intact structures remain. Problems, including drought, led to the departure of much of the population and the town was effectively abandoned by 1895. 26 ghost townsLemhi County contains the most, with 4. This is actually known as the “Most Well Preserved Ghost Town in all of America!” Some vanished entirely or were absorbed into newer settlements, but many of these towns still stand, at least in part, allowing us glimpses of what these now-abandoned places once were. Texas and California top the list thanks to mining and oil towns, with Texas surging after 1901’s Spindletop discovery and California towns booming in the rail expansion of the 1880s. There are 11 ghost towns within 50 miles of Charleston. Charles County contains the most, with 4. Established in the 1880s, the town was largely abandoned by the 1910s after the mine closed in response to strike action. The last mine closed in 1942 as dynamite and other resources were redirected towards the war effort. News spread of the potential for immense wealth, and soon Virginia City was a boomtown. 39 ghost townsSandoval County and Grant County each contain 5. 11 ghost townsBurlington County contains the most, with 3. Cahawba, Alabama. 11 ghost townsBarnwell County contains the most, with 5. More of a ghost fortress than a ghost town, Fort Jefferson’s construction began in 1846 as part of Florida’s defenses against piracy. Ghost Towns In The East. Hotels near Thurmond Ghost Town: (1.56 mi) ACE Adventure Resort (9.01 mi) Adventures on the Gorge - Lodging (6.02 mi) Cantrell Ultimate Rafting (5.90 mi) Country River Inn (6.79 mi) Quality Inn New River; View all hotels near Thurmond Ghost Town on Tripadvisor Ghost Towns Facebook Page. 55 ghost townsTalladega County contains the most, with 6. Every town has its share of spooky ghost stories. 128 ghost townsGrand Traverse County contains the most, with 12. Ghost towns are not just a Wild West phenomenom (although some of the best preserved are found in the arid Southwest). 20 ghost townsMarion County contains the most, with 3. The development of Virginia City was kickstarted when Alder Gulch discovered gold deposits in the proximity. You can find these abandoned towns across the country, from Pennsylvania to Alaska, California to Alabama. Today, Virginia City is a ghost town very much alive. Scroll down to find out. Florida. Established as a mining camp in 1859, Bodie boomed after sizable gold discoveries during the 1870s. Black Hills Believables: Strange-but-true Tales of the Old West. 16 ghost townsCarteret County contains the most, with 3. 21 ghost townsFayette County contains the most, with 9. There are 14 ghost towns within 25 miles of Colorado Springs. There are 71 ghost towns within 25 miles of Bakersfield. 23 ghost townsWard County, Grant County and Williams County each contain 3. 32 ghost townsNome contains the most, with 7. There are 11 ghost towns within 50 miles of Hoover. 4 St. Elmo, Colorado. Hawaii. Rush, Arkansas A zinc mining town, Rush hit its peak during World War I, when it had a population of 22,000. A ghost town or alternatively deserted city or abandoned city is an abandoned village, town, or city, usually one that contains substantial visible remaining buildings and infrastructure such as roads.A town often becomes a ghost town because the economic activity that supported it (usually industrial or agricultural) has failed, or due to natural or human … 6 ghost townsSussex County contains the most, with 5. In the 1890s Garnet was a thriving mining town with a population of over a thousand served by up to 13 saloons. It’s a popular destination for photographers and curious travelers alike. 8 ghost townsGrafton County contains the most, with 4. It was previously known as Verina. Bodie – California. Kapoho, East PunaBob Linsdell / CC BY-SA 3.0. What is a Ghost Town? 1. Virginia City had so much wealth and influence that the capital of Montana, initially located in the older town of Bannack, w… Ghost towns are listed by state & include biographies, pictures, and other detailed ghost town … There are 11 ghost towns within 25 miles of Waukegan. Just as it was important that the mines of Colorado and California could ship their riches out by rail, the vast cattle ranches of western plains needed to reach the rail head to turn their steers into cash. There are 13 ghost towns within 50 miles of Keizer. Ghost Towns in Florida. Adventure, UTDuncan's Retreat, UTGrafton, UT. realtor.com. There are 10 ghost towns within 50 miles of Gaithersburg. Some American towns that were once booming centers for industry and trade have become effective ghost towns, left abandoned and rotting as remnants of bygone eras. Lester, King CountyBryonDavis / CC BY-SA 2.0. It also served as a prison during the Civil War, then became a quarantine station and a navy refuelling point before it was abandoned in 1906 due to hurricane damage. From the Gold Rush to the shuttered factories of the Midwest’s former manufacturing strongholds, many American ghost towns share a similar history despite their … Ghosttowns.com-the best source of information on ghost towns in the American West. Perkins Township (Swan Island), Lincoln CountyTimothy Krause / CC BY 2.0. Fort Jefferson has been a National Monument since 1935 and is open to tourists. Donnan, Fayette CountyFirsfron / CC BY-SA 3.0. A new mine temporarily revived prospects in the 1910s, but the industry abandoned the town for good in 1936. Petrel, Adams CountyAndrew Filer / CC BY-SA 2.0. 82 ghost townsMacoupin County contains the most, with 12. At its peak in the late 1890s, the town had a population of 675 people. Ghost towns: once thriving communities that have dwindled over the decades. There are 11 ghost towns within 50 miles of Richmond. A few inhabitants remain and its picturesque setting is a favorite summer tourist destination. There are 10 ghost towns within 25 miles of Kansas City. 106 ghost townsCarbon County contains the most, with 9. It was the second-largest city in the state, and one of the most prosperous. 12 ghost townsThere are 10 ghost towns within 50 miles of Knoxville. Ghost towns are primarily associated with the Wild West frontier and people flocking to areas with valuable mineral resources, including gold and silver in the Rockies and oil in Texas. Since the 1970s, the town has become an increasingly popular tourist destination. To create the map, Geotab collated lists of ghost towns in each U.S. state using a selection of the most authoritative and comprehensive websites and books available, including ghosttowns.com and roadsidethoughts.com (full sources list). Like many ghost towns, Rhyolite was born in a gold rush. Harrietta, Wexford CountyRoman Kahler / CC BY-SA 4.0. Ruby, Arizona is one of the best-preserved ghost towns in the state, filled with history, including lawlessness, murder, and mayhem, not to mention dozens of great photographic opportunities. Just as it was important that the mines of Colorado and California could ship their riches out by rail, the vast cattle ranches of western plains needed to reach the rail head to turn their steers into cash. In the long run, the mines became profitable as they supplied lead for bullet manufacturing during both World Wars. There’s something morbidly fascinating about ghost towns. 105 ghost townsIndiana County contains the most, with 36. At it's peak, it had three train lines, three newspapers, three swimming pools, three hospitals, and … https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_ghost_towns_in_the_United_States Up to 10,000 people lived in the surrounding area, hoping to make their fortune in gold, but by 1870 all the easy-to-reach ore was gone and the population rapidly declined to the hundreds. 308 ghost townsShawnee County contains the most, with 10. Abandoned Towns Across America You Can Actually Visit. Florida is full of abandoned properties that come with huge lands. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_ghost_towns_in_the_United_States&oldid=1009161355, Lists of ghost towns in the United States, Articles needing additional references from December 2013, All articles needing additional references, Articles with unsourced statements from July 2012, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, (Note: Hamburg, Howell, and Toonerville were all located in St. Charles County, Missouri. This is thanks to Charles and Sue Bovey, who bought the town bit … There are 13 ghost towns within 50 miles of Henderson. Batso Village, Burlington Countymullica / CC BY 2.0. These 15 towns in the United States have the eeriest, spookiest and scariest stories that … From abandoned mining towns with no more gold, to haunted places, here are 10 Mysterious Ghost towns in the USGET TO DYNAMITE TV AND SUBSCRIBE ! 131 ghost townsYavapai County contains the most, with 24. Benjaminville, McLean CountyA McMurray / CC BY-SA 3.0. There are 22 ghost towns within 50 miles of Dubuque. There are 5 ghost towns within 50 miles of Bismarck. Daniels, Baltimore CountyTimothy Krause / CC BY 2.0. The community emptied as miners left for World War I. 106 ghost townsNye County contains the most, with 15. All that glitters may not be gold, but it can still make you a fortune. Miner's Delight, Fremont CountyThe Bureau of Land Management / CC BY 2.0. In recent decades, heritage tourism has given some ghost towns a second chance to thrive, attracting visitors from around the world. California. 5 ghost townsSomerset County contains the most, with 3. There are 4 ghost towns within 50 miles of Anchorage. Phenix, Greene CountyDiedrichb / CC BY-SA 4.0. Director Tim Burton … There are 16 ghost towns within 50 miles of Novi. There are 3 ghost towns within 25 miles of Newark. Getty Images. Named by German prospectors who came looking for gold, Berlin was a company mining town. Rodney, Jefferson CountyMichael McCarthy / CC BY-ND 2.0. It was initially established in the 1880s after gold, silver and copper discoveries, and in 1905 a rock quarry opened to provide ballast for the railways. From dusty boom-and-bust towns in the west, to overgrown woodland settlements in the east and even abandoned communities at sea, this country is littered with towns that … When zinc prices declined after the war, so did the town, and it was officially declared a ghost town in 1972. Hanton City, ProvidencePristineLibertine / CC BY-SA 3.0. There are 3 ghost towns within 50 miles of Greenville. Terlingua, TX, got its start as a thriving mercury-mining town during the early 1900s, but today, it’s the lightly populated home of a … Emerging Ghost Towns of the Plains. 236 ghost townsPushmataha County contains the most, with 13. Getty Images. Some ghost towns may be inaccessible during winter with heavy snow. Around 30 buildings remain today, and an annual Garnet Day allows visitors to experience life in this 19th-century mining town. There are 14 ghost towns within 25 miles of Auburn. 238 ghost townsLawrence County contains the most, with 93. Ghost town in Utah. 15 ghost townsGarrett County contains the most, with 9. According to Wikipedia, there are over a thousand of these otherworldly, abandoned municipalities lurking across the country. There are 6 ghost towns within 50 miles of Albuquerque. 26 ghost townsClermont County contains the most, with 4. Connecticut. We then chose ten historic ghost towns to represent the phenomenon, based on the nature of the story behind each of them and their abandonment, the structural remains left on the site and the quality of photography available (factual sources; photo credits). Be mindful of weather and seasons. Founded in 1862, Bannack was briefly the capital of Montana. The town was in decline by the 1910s; the newspaper ceased publication in 1912, and the railway was abandoned in 1918. Castle Dome was established as a mining camp in 1862 and at one point attracted more than 3,000 residents. The closure of the quarry in 1925 sent the town into decline, and when the railroad (the desert town’s only source of water) closed in 1944, most remaining residents departed. 27 ghost townsThere are 4 ghost towns within 50 miles of Biloxi. So the majority of ghost towns date from the 1880-1940 period of westward expansion and industrialization. There are 71 ghost towns within 50 miles of Pittsburgh. Forts Across the American West. Ghost Towns You Can Own: 5 For Sale Right Now, and 5 That Sold ... Like many other deserted towns in America, this was once a gold mining boomtown. There are 7 ghost towns within 50 miles of Troy. Jamestown, James City CountySarah Stierch / CC BY-SA 2.0. 2 Rhyolite, Nevada. Johnsonville, Connecticut 1 /11 Founded in 1802, this former mill town and tourist hot spot was all but abandoned by the mid-1990s. Ghost towns are great, because let's face it, most towns inhabited by actual people are so overrated. 17 ghost townsPointe Coupee Parish contains the most, with 9. Delaware. Muskego Settlement, Racine CountyMcGhiever / CC BY-SA 3.0. This well-preserved ghost town attracted over 2,000 residents by the 1880s, when gold and silver mining were at their peak. 511 ghost townsWilson County contains the most, with 31. There are 14 ghost towns within 50 miles of Rochester. There are 5 ghost towns within 50 miles of Cheyenne. Kennecott, Alaska. Virginia is a town in Madison County, Montana. Colorado. After a flood in 1862, the residents of Harrisville (named after settler, Moses Harris) relocated upriver to form Harrisburg. 68 ghost townsBaker County contains the most, with 9. There are 7 ghost towns within 50 miles of Boise City. There's something spooky about the sheer number of ghost towns in America. Here’s a look at five such towns: 5 Terlingua, Texas. There are 5 ghost towns within 50 miles of Asheville. There are 13 ghost towns within 50 miles of Baton Rouge. Today, the town is open to visitors with around 110 structures still standing. Where are America’s ghost towns, and how do they look today? Ghost Town Code of Ethics. There are 20 ghost towns within 25 miles of Racine. 11 ghost townsWorcester contains the most, with 3. The mines were depleted by 1938 and the town largely abandoned. Alabama: Spectre Spectre is perhaps the newest ghost town in America, and one of the weirder entries on this list. 42 ghost townsWarren County contains the most, with 11. 21 ghost townsSt. Sabrina DalbesioGetty Images. The Sadness of Old Buildings 3 Goldfield, Arizona. Arkansas. For example, a 56.48-acre area with a farmhouse is on sale now for $225,000. Ghost Towns Reveal Hidden Tales of Old West. 1 Calico, California. 21 ghost townsHonolulu County contains the most, with 6. Moonville, Vinton CountyChristopherM / CC BY 2.0. Most of your neighbors will be the wildlife in the area, including birds of prey, antelope, deer mice, kangaroo rats, and bats.