Top 10 American Ghost Towns Where People Still Live
Ghost towns conjure up images of completely abandoned buildings, dilapidated streets and total isolation. But that’s not always the case: some ghost towns still hold on or try to return to the days of old. Here are a few “abandoned” towns in America that some people still call home.
Related: Top 10 residents of cities that have been abandoned for no reason
10 Goodsprings, Nev
Nevada and California are lousy with ghost towns. Former mining towns often fell into rapid decline during the Gold Rush of the mid-19th century and well into the early 20th century. Most of these are historically protected parks or state parks and therefore uninhabited.
However, Goodsprings’ proximity to Las Vegas and Hollywood has contributed to its continued existence into modern times. It is home to the Pioneer Saloon, believed to be the oldest and most authentic saloon in the southern half of the state.
The village is best known for being the place where actress Carole Lombard died in a plane crash. Her husband, the soon-to-be Clark Gable, spent hours in grief at the aforementioned Pioneer Saloon.
Today, Goodsprings is home to just under 200 people and hosts food and adventure tours.[1]
9 Thurmond, West Virginia
Like most ghost towns, Thurmond had one thing that kept its residents afloat for years. Thurmond’s train station led to a boom in travel and trade in the previously isolated area.
To accommodate them, the Dunglen Hotel (which banned alcohol for about 200 residents) was built across the Thurmond River. The hotel quickly gained fame as a haven for gambling and partying, with weekly balls and shows in the grand lobby and recreation rooms. According to Ripley’s Believe It or Not, this was the site’s longest poker game ever (14 years!).
As Thurmond’s popularity waned due to its inaccessibility (except by rail), the final nail in the coffin was the destruction of the Dunglen Hotel in 1930 by arsonists. The government is now based in the New River Gorge National Park and owns most of the land not inhabited by its five residents (as of the 2010 census).[2]
8 Bannack, Montana
Before Montana was a U.S. state, it was an area inhabited by the Native American Bannack tribe (hence the name). In 1892, gold was discovered nearby, and of course Bannack became the place to be. So much so that it was the capital of the Montana Territory for two years.
Harsh winters, crime and remoteness doomed Bannack in the 20th century. Twelve people still live there now. But don’t worry, they’re having fun. Once a year, the city hosts ‘Bannack Days’, where visitors can experience Bannack as it looked in its heyday. Historical reenactments, mock mining and authentic Western food draw hundreds of visitors to Bannack every summer.[3]
7 Rodney, Mississippi
At one point, this sleepy little hamlet was just three votes away from becoming the state capital. Even before that, the geography of the area made it ideal for crossing the raging Mississippi River, which drew Native Americans and eventually commercial boats through the location.
In the 1830s, Rodney had the state’s first opera house, as well as numerous shops and restaurants. Unfortunately, the population declined in 1843 due to a violent outbreak of yellow fever. But Rodney was able to recover and reached his peak in the 1860s.
Ultimately, it was the Civil War that destroyed this steamboat town. Although the city itself did not see any massacre, the war devastated the surrounding land and with it the livestock and economy. Like most of the South, Reconstruction only furthered these trends, and today the exact population is unknown.[4]
6 Shaniko, Oregon
This former “Wool Capital of the World” was first called a ghost town at the 1959 Oregon Centennial Exposition, despite the fact that as of 2020 it has a population of 30 people. The area lost business when Oregon’s railroads were updated in the 1960s with more direct routes to major cities, leaving Shaniko isolated.
Home to a well-maintained historic district, Shaniko becomes a respectable tourist attraction in the summer for those who want to explore an (almost) real ghost town. During this time the small museum of the municipality is open, along with the shop and other historical remains.[5]
5 Jeroen, Arizona
It can be sad to read about all these little places that have simply been forgotten or abandoned over the years. Here’s one that almost met that fate, but has been on the rise ever since.
Jerome, Arizona, was home to copper mines and more than 10,000 people in the late 1800s. As in many ghost towns, once the ore resources became scarce, so did the population. The Great Depression exacerbated these problems and the city nearly disappeared from existence.
But the residents of Jerome didn’t let that happen: rather, they turned to tourism. Jerome is now a National Historic Landmark and a popular tourist destination with a population of nearly 500 (up from less than 100 in the 1950s).[6]
4 Cairo, Illinois
Located right at the confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers, Cairo, Illinois has a rich history that you might not expect from the Midwest. Ulysses S. Grant established a Civil War base in Cairo in 1862, and from then until 1920 the population continued to rise rapidly.
For many years, the two rivers made this city an extremely successful port for steamboat trade and commerce. At its peak, Cairo had more than 15,000 inhabitants.
Unfortunately, tensions between black and white citizens in the area came to a head during the civil rights movement in the 1960s. Violent protests, gun battles and even firebombings ravaged the area, making Cairo extremely unsafe for families of all races. Cairo’s reputation declined, and although its rivers made it popular in the early 20th century, the city suffered a major flood in 2011 that destroyed most of the dikes surrounding the area.
Today, Cairo has a population of just under 1,500. Despite this significant population, it is often referred to as a ghost town due to its almost completely abandoned downtown and historic district.[7]
3 Monowi, Nebraska
Unlike most other towns on this list, Monowi has always been small. The peak population was 150 in 1930, and now it is down to just one. That’s right, only one person lives there. Rudy and Elsie Eiler lived in Monowi in 2000, but when Rudy died in 2004, Elsie decided to stay. Since she is the only resident, she is the mayor, librarian, secretary and whatever else the village needs.
There are other hamlets in America with one population. However, Monowi is the only one still officially established, thanks to Eiler’s dedication. Every year she collects taxes from herself to keep the town’s three lampposts lit and the water on. She even runs a tavern with ‘the coldest beer in town’.[8]
2 Centralia, PA
The least populated community in Centralia has a good reason for this: staying too long can be dangerous to your health.
In 1961, a fire was started in a nearby landfill, which eventually spread to the underground coal mines. The 1,500 residents had no idea anything was wrong until it was discovered in 1979 that the temperature of underground gas containers was much higher than it should be. Then a sinkhole opened, almost killing a little boy.
Understandably, many fled as the fire continued to burn. The fire released toxic gases such as carbon monoxide, threatening everyone in the area. Just eleven years after the discovery of the underground fire, the population dropped to 63. In 2002, Centralia’s zip code was abolished and in 2013 it was agreed with the seven remaining citizens that they could remain in Centralia until their death. As of the 2020 census, only five remain.[9]
1 Gary, Indiana
Like Cairo, Gary isn’t technically a ghost town, but it’s in the process of becoming one. It is actually the ninth largest city in Indiana, with almost 70,000 residents. This seems like a lot, but compare it to the city’s peak population of 176,000 in 1960. What caused the population to drop by 60%?
Well, a lot of things. Gary was “The Magic City” during the early 20th century, just across the border from Chicago. Located right on the shores of beautiful Lake Michigan and only 30 miles from Chicago, the steel mills provided ample employment for immigrants and natives alike. Gary was known as a cute and vibrant town, the epitome of Midwestern culture. This is so true that in his 1957 musical The Music ManMeredith Wilson had the con artist protagonist pretend to be Gary’s to reinforce his trustworthiness.
Sadly, Gary would begin his descent just three years later. In 1960, competitive prices from other countries’ steel mills led to a huge loss of jobs and trade for Gary. As in Cairo, Gary also experienced civil unrest in the 1960s due to racial tensions. Three thousand National Guardsmen were needed to restore order, and citizens were subjected to strict curfews and a ban on gasoline and liquor.
All these factors led to a rapid rush to leave Gary, especially by residents who could afford to move. Those who couldn’t were left behind as the city fell into disrepair. In the 1950s, Gary was known as ‘the city of the century’. In 1994 it was named the murder capital of the US
Despite these setbacks, Gary’s government and people are resilient. The area has seen many new developments to entice tourists and potential citizens, including art centers and casinos. Many dilapidated buildings are being demolished or restored rather than just left to rot in the hope that this once prosperous area can recover.[10]