Ghost towns are often portrayed in movies and stories as towns that have been abandoned and are in ruins. We attach all the negative vibes related to the abandoned place to make it more like a place with no inhabitants, adding horror for the people. To some extent it’s true! Many ghost towns are abandoned and ruined but some of the ghost towns also exist to date where people reside. It might be located in a remote area away from the city but people survive there easily, helping to revitalize the community. This makes the people and community curious about the residents that dwell there.
Let’s delve into ten such Ghost towns in America where people still reside today:
10) Goodsprings, Nevada:
Source: Wikipedia
Nevada and California are home to many ghost towns and abandoned buildings. These towns were once busy but later, the people abandoned them and now these towns are preserved as historical sites. Goodsprings is close to Vegas and Hollywood, hence people still live here and have populated it. People still visit here as tourists and explore the historical sites of Goodsprings.
9) Thurmond, West Virginia:
Source: Wikipedia
Thurmond was a small town that was famous amongst the people due to its famous hotel named “Dunglen” which is a tourist place for all the visitors around America. The tourists usually came by train and stayed here, enjoying the company of their friends and family.
In later years, the hotel and town were destroyed by the fire. Currently, five to ten people only live there and the land is owned by the government. The town is completely abandoned now but it has an interesting history.
8) Bannack, Montana:
Source: Wikipedia
The Bannack was the name of a Native American tribe. When they started living here, it became a popular destination for tourists and locals. Although it was a good place, the harsh weather conditions and high crime rates demolished it. The place is now abandoned and only a few people live there.
Once a year, a festival is hosted by locals to celebrate “Bannack Day”. Many people dress up in their favorite costumes and breathe life into the abandoned town.
7) Rodney, Mississippi:
Source: Wikipedia
This town has a vibrant history. At one point, it was very close to becoming the state’s capital. The location of this town was picturesque attracted the locals and tourists attracting people from different states of America. It was a hub of opera houses and studios but unfortunately, the beauty of this place was short-lived! In 1843, a very devastating epidemic of yellow fever was spread across which destroyed this town.
However, Rodney recovered but the civil war made things worse! It led to the decline of the population as the world was facing economic crises. The population of Rodney remains unknown but still, a figure of people survive there.
6) Shaniko, Oregon:
Source: Wikipedia
Shaniko was a small town in Oregon and is famously known as the “Wool Capital of The World”. This town had a rapid growth and decline in consecutive years. The locals and merchants used to ship millions of pounds of Wools and carloads of goods to the market through the truck railway. When it lost its track in the early 20th century, Shaniko lost its charm and was now a ghost town.
Today only twenty people live here, although the state has preserved a museum and hotel in Shaniko where each year an annual gathering is held to celebrate the old charm of the state.
5) Jerome, Arizona:
Source: Wikipedia
Jerome in Arizona was a town famous for its coal mines. The town was full of rich resources and over 10000 workers used to live here, to extract the coal from mines. Unfortunately, as the resources started to decrease the workers moved to other places. This caused a decline in the development of the town and left the town as an abandoned ghost town.
But, later the town revived. Many residents shifted back and breathed life into this ghost town. Today, it is a popular tourist place and even locals also visit it. It has well-preserved architecture and state landmarks that captivate the visitors with its charm.
4) Cairo, Illinois:
Source: Wikipedia
Cairo, Illinois was a town that unfolds many secrets of the state with a complex history. It is situated at the point where Mississippi meets Ohio. It has also served as a base camp during the civil war and since then, the town has expanded. The rivers of Mississippi and Ohio made trading and transportation easy. Hence, it became a hub of commerce and population.
In the 1960s, The aftereffects of the civil war affected Cairo and many people from different backgrounds caused chaos in the town. In 2011, the flood caused the demolition of many buildings and surrounding areas, which caused Cairo’s decline. Today more than 1000 people live here but due to historical events, the town is still remembered as a ghost town.
3) Monowi, Nebraska:
Source: Wikipedia
Monowi was a small town in the state of Nebraska. It’s shocking to know it is only populated with one resident living there. It is more like a village that is densely populated. The one resident who lives there is Elsie Eiler. Earlier, she used to live with her late husband in this town. After his demise, Elsie chose to stay in the town as it had her late husband’s memory. Being the only resident, Elsie has to look after the town and its basic needs. She also has to pay taxes promptly. Although it no longer was a place to live, with dedication and efforts Elsie’s maintenance had made it a place to live.
2) Centralia, Pennsylvania:
Source: Wikipedia
Centralia was the smallest town in Pennsylvania. At the start, it thrived and was populated. Unfortunately, in 1961 the fire was started in a nearby dump which spread across the town of Centralia. The fire was unable to be stopped and caused many casualties including toxic gases to be released from the chamber. It had put everyone at risk and thus every resident of the town fled. Currently, only five to ten residents live there.
The effect of the horrendous fire still exists today and the tragic history of the town about fire serves as a reminder for everyone.
1) Gary, Indiana:
Source: Wikipedia
Gary, Indiana was once a thriving city. It had high levels of trading and steel mills were also here. Many intellectual and hardworking people lived and worked here. It was an ideal place to start a business and work. The picturesque view of the city attracted tourists and visitors from across the world. In 1961, when the Civil War began the crime rates and racial tensions increased causing the decline of industrialization and urban life.
This caused an alarming situation for the town and many residents fled from Gary. It was a very challenging situation for the government of the state to handle the chaos and overcome the crisis. Although, many efforts are put into prioritizing safety in this town and revitalizing town. The government has put every effort to breathe life into this town which is about to become a ghost town. Many casinos and attractive art centers are made to restore the town to its former glory.