Ghost towns: once thriving communities that have dwindled over the decades. 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 oncewere.
Where are America’s ghost towns, and how do they look today? Scroll down to find out.
We’ve researched over 3,800 ghost towns to show their spread across the country and within eachstate.
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. 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. So the majority of ghost towns date from the 1880-1940 period of westward expansion and industrialization.
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. 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. In recent decades, heritage tourism has given some ghost towns a second chance to thrive, attracting visitors from around the world.
10 Historic American GhostTowns
01
Berlin
Nye County, Nevada
Named by German prospectors who came looking for gold, Berlin was a company mining town. Established in the 1880s, the town was largely abandoned by the 1910s after the mine closed in response to strike action. The well-preserved structures are now part of Berlin-Ichthyosaur State Park, known for fossil discoveries of a prehistoric marine mammal.
Nearest city
Hawthorne, NV
Nearby ghost towns
Ione, NV
Broken Hills, NV
02
Kennicott
Valdez-Cordova, Alaska
Kennicott was established as a mining town in 1903 to take advantage of the area’s copper deposits (the emergence of electric power having increased copper’s value considerably). The mines were depleted by 1938 and the town largely abandoned. Since the 1970s, the town has become an increasingly popular tourist destination.
Nearest city
McCarthy, AK
03
Fort Jefferson
Monroe County, Florida
More of a ghost fortress than a ghost town, Fort Jefferson’s construction began in 1846 as part of Florida’s defenses against piracy. 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. Fort Jefferson has been a National Monument since 1935 and is open to tourists. It continues to be the largest brick structure in the U.S.
Nearest city
Key West, FL
04
Garnet
Granite County, Montana
In the 1890s Garnet was a thriving mining town with a population of over a thousand served by up to 13 saloons. The community emptied as miners left for World War I. A revival of gold mining in the 1930s was halted by World War II, and the town has been abandoned ever since. Around 30 buildings remain today, and an annual Garnet Day allows visitors to experience life in this 19th-century mining town.
Nearest city
Missoula, MT
Nearby ghost towns
Coloma, MT
Bearmouth, MT
Pioneer, MT
05
Bodie
Mono County, California
Established as a mining camp in 1859, Bodie boomed after sizable gold discoveries during the 1870s. The town was in decline by the 1910s; the newspaper ceased publication in 1912, and the railway was abandoned in 1918. The last mine closed in 1942 as dynamite and other resources were redirected towards the war effort. Today, the town is open to visitors with around 110 structures still standing.
Nearest city
Bridgeport, CA
Nearby ghost towns
Aurora, NV
Dogtown, CA
Masonic, CA
06
St. Elmo
Chaffee County, Colorado
This well-preserved ghost town attracted over 2,000 residents by the 1880s, when gold and silver mining were at their peak. However, increasingly poor quality ore sent the town into decline by the end of the decade. A new mine temporarily revived prospects in the 1910s, but the industry abandoned the town for good in 1936. A few inhabitants remain and its picturesque setting is a favorite summer tourist destination.
Nearest city
Buena Vista, CO
Nearby ghost towns
Tincup, CO
Turret, CO
07
Castle Dome
Yuma County, Arizona
Castle Dome was established as a mining camp in 1862 and at one point attracted more than 3,000 residents. The town’s fortunes declined when it became apparent that most of the ore contained lead rather than silver. In the long run, the mines became profitable as they supplied lead for bullet manufacturing during both World Wars. The last mine was operating as recently as the 1970s, but has since been converted into a museum.
Nearest city
Yuma, AZ
Nearby ghost towns
Picacho, CA
Jaeger City, CA
Tumco, CA
08
Harrisburg
Washington County, Utah
After a flood in 1862, the residents of Harrisville (named after settler, Moses Harris) relocated upriver to form Harrisburg. Problems, including drought, led to the departure of much of the population and the town was effectively abandoned by 1895. Interstate 15 runs through the site of the town, structures of which are still visible. 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.
Nearest city
St. George, UT
Nearby ghost towns
Adventure, UT
Duncan's Retreat, UT
Grafton, UT
09
Bannack
Beaverhead County, Montana
Founded in 1862, Bannack was briefly the capital of Montana. 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. Newly developed electric dredging methods led to a brief revival after 1895, but by the 1940s the town was deserted. Today, about 60 intact structures remain.
Nearest city
Dillon, MT
Nearby ghost towns
Lion City, MT
Pioneer, MT
Trapper City, MT
10
Steins
Hidalgo County, New Mexico
This railroad and mining town was named after United States Army Major, Enoch Steen. 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. 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. Since 1988 the surviving buildings have (intermittently) been open as a tourist attraction.
Nearest city
Lordsburg, NM
Nearby ghost towns
Shakespeare, NM
Alabama
55 ghost towns
Talladega County contains the most, with 6. There are 11 ghost towns within 50 miles of Hoover.
Arcola, Hale County
Alaska
32 ghost towns
Nome contains the most, with 7. There are 4 ghost towns within 50 miles of Anchorage.
Kennicott, Valdez-Cordova
Arizona
131 ghost towns
Yavapai County contains the most, with 24. There are 24 ghost towns within 25 miles of Prescott Valley.
Fairbank, Cochise County
The Bureau of Land Management / CC BY 2.0
Arkansas
20 ghost towns
Marion County contains the most, with 3. There are 15 ghost towns within 50 miles of Fort Smith.
Rush, Marion County
California
346 ghost towns
Kern County contains the most, with 113. There are 71 ghost towns within 25 miles of Bakersfield.
Bodie, Mono County
Colorado
99 ghost towns
El Paso County contains the most, with 14. There are 14 ghost towns within 25 miles of Colorado Springs.
St. Elmo, Chaffee County
Connecticut
4 ghost towns
Delaware
6 ghost towns
Sussex County contains the most, with 5. There are 6 ghost towns within 50 miles of Wilmington.
Florida
257 ghost towns
Polk County contains the most, with 17. There are 20 ghost towns within 25 miles of Saint Petersburg.
Fort Jefferson, Monroe County
Georgia
16 ghost towns
There are 9 ghost towns within 50 miles of Augusta.
Auraria, Lumpkin County
Hellohowareyoudoing / CC BY-SA 3.0
Hawaii
21 ghost towns
Honolulu County contains the most, with 6. There are 6 ghost towns within 50 miles of Honolulu.
Kapoho, East Puna
Bob Linsdell / CC BY-SA 3.0
Idaho
26 ghost towns
Lemhi County contains the most, with 4. There are 7 ghost towns within 50 miles of Boise City.
Rocky Bar, Elmore County
J.Day Photography / CC BY-SA 3.0
Illinois
82 ghost towns
Macoupin County contains the most, with 12. There are 11 ghost towns within 25 miles of Waukegan.
Benjaminville, McLean County
A McMurray / CC BY-SA 3.0
Indiana
42 ghost towns
Warren County contains the most, with 11. There are 12 ghost towns within 25 miles of West Lafayette.
Corwin, Tippecanoe County
Iowa
26 ghost towns
Buchanan County and Clayton County each contain 3. There are 22 ghost towns within 50 miles of Dubuque.
Donnan, Fayette County
Firsfron / CC BY-SA 3.0
Kansas
308 ghost towns
Shawnee County contains the most, with 10. There are 20 ghost towns within 25 miles of Lawrence.
Dunlap, Morris County
Patrick Emerson / CC BY-ND 2.0
Kentucky
13 ghost towns
There are 9 ghost towns within 50 miles of Covington.
Creelsboro, Russell County
Louisiana
17 ghost towns
Pointe Coupee Parish contains the most, with 9. There are 13 ghost towns within 50 miles of Baton Rouge.
La Balize, Plaquemines Parish
Maine
5 ghost towns
Somerset County contains the most, with 3.
Perkins Township (Swan Island), Lincoln County
Timothy Krause / CC BY 2.0
Maryland
15 ghost towns
Garrett County contains the most, with 9. There are 10 ghost towns within 50 miles of Gaithersburg.
Daniels, Baltimore County
Timothy Krause / CC BY 2.0
Massachusetts
11 ghost towns
Worcester contains the most, with 3. There are 5 ghost towns within 25 miles of Holyoke.
Whitewash Village, Barnstable County
Zachary Cava / CC BY 2.0
Michigan
128 ghost towns
Grand Traverse County contains the most, with 12. There are 16 ghost towns within 50 miles of Novi.
Harrietta, Wexford County
Roman Kahler / CC BY-SA 4.0
Minnesota
55 ghost towns
Winona County contains the most, with 5. There are 14 ghost towns within 50 miles of Rochester.
Forestville, Fillmore County
Tony Webster / CC BY-SA 2.0
Mississippi
27 ghost towns
There are 4 ghost towns within 50 miles of Biloxi.
Rodney, Jefferson County
Michael McCarthy / CC BY-ND 2.0
Missouri
21 ghost towns
St. Charles County contains the most, with 4. There are 10 ghost towns within 25 miles of Kansas City.
Phenix, Greene County
Diedrichb / CC BY-SA 4.0
Montana
106 ghost towns
Carbon County contains the most, with 9. There are 19 ghost towns within 50 miles of Bozeman.
Bannack, Beaverhead County
Nebraska
31 ghost towns
Pawnee County contains the most, with 13. There are 6 ghost towns within 50 miles of Lincoln.
Dobytown, Kearney County
Nevada
106 ghost towns
Nye County contains the most, with 15. There are 13 ghost towns within 50 miles of Henderson.
Ione, Nye County
New Hampshire
8 ghost towns
Grafton County contains the most, with 4. There are 6 ghost towns within 50 miles of Nashua.
Monson, Hillsborough County
John Phelan / CC BY-SA 4.0
New Jersey
11 ghost towns
Burlington County contains the most, with 3. There are 3 ghost towns within 25 miles of Newark.
New Mexico
39 ghost towns
Sandoval County and Grant County each contain 5. There are 6 ghost towns within 50 miles of Albuquerque.
Lake Valley, Sierra County
The Bureau of Land Management / CC BY 2.0
New York
14 ghost towns
Cattaraugus County contains the most, with 5. There are 7 ghost towns within 50 miles of Troy.
Tahawus, Essex County
North Carolina
16 ghost towns
Carteret County contains the most, with 3. There are 5 ghost towns within 50 miles of Asheville.
Brunswick Town, Brunswick County
Rob Friesel / CC BY-SA 2.0
North Dakota
23 ghost towns
Ward County, Grant County and Williams County each contain 3. There are 5 ghost towns within 50 miles of Bismarck.
Petrel, Adams County
Andrew Filer / CC BY-SA 2.0
Ohio
26 ghost towns
Clermont County contains the most, with 4. There are 10 ghost towns within 50 miles of Lancaster.
Moonville, Vinton County
ChristopherM / CC BY 2.0
Oklahoma
236 ghost towns
Pushmataha County contains the most, with 13. There are 11 ghost towns within 25 miles of Norman.
Oregon
68 ghost towns
Baker County contains the most, with 9. There are 13 ghost towns within 50 miles of Keizer.
Shaniko, Wasco County
Pennsylvania
105 ghost towns
Indiana County contains the most, with 36. There are 71 ghost towns within 50 miles of Pittsburgh.
Frick's Lock, Chester County
Rhode Island
1 ghost town
Hanton City, Providence
PristineLibertine / CC BY-SA 3.0
South Carolina
11 ghost towns
Barnwell County contains the most, with 5. There are 3 ghost towns within 50 miles of Greenville.
Dunbarton, Barnwell County
South Dakota
238 ghost towns
Lawrence County contains the most, with 93. There are 51 ghost towns within 25 miles of Rapid City.
Burdock, Fall River County
Runner1928 / CC BY-SA 3.0
Tennessee
12 ghost towns
There are 10 ghost towns within 50 miles of Knoxville.
Loyston, Union County
Texas
511 ghost towns
Wilson County contains the most, with 31. There are 25 ghost towns within 25 miles of New Braunfels.
Heckville, Lubbock County
Leaflet / CC BY-SA 3.0
Utah
136 ghost towns
Carbon County contains the most, with 18. There are 13 ghost towns within 25 miles of Lehi.
Harrisburg, Washington County
The Bureau of Land Management / CC BY 2.0
Vermont
5 ghost towns
Somerset, Windham County
Andy Arthur / CC BY 2.0
Virginia
19 ghost towns
York County, Henrico County and Prince William County each contain 3. There are 11 ghost towns within 50 miles of Richmond.
Jamestown, James City County
Sarah Stierch / CC BY-SA 2.0
Washington
116 ghost towns
King County contains the most, with 16. There are 14 ghost towns within 25 miles of Auburn.
Lester, King County
BryonDavis / CC BY-SA 2.0
West Virginia
21 ghost towns
Fayette County contains the most, with 9. There are 11 ghost towns within 50 miles of Charleston.
Thurmond, Thurmond
Mike / CC BY-ND 2.0
Wisconsin
155 ghost towns
Adams County and Milwaukee County each contain 10. There are 20 ghost towns within 25 miles of Racine.
Muskego Settlement, Racine County
McGhiever / CC BY-SA 3.0
Wyoming
33 ghost towns
Fremont County contains the most, with 6. There are 5 ghost towns within 50 miles of Cheyenne.
Miner's Delight, Fremont County
The Bureau of Land Management / CC BY 2.0
