Texas named the state with the most ghost towns in America (2024)
If you've ever wondered how many ghost towns there are in Texas, the number may surprise you.
Geotab, a global leader in internet of things and connected transportation, reports that Texas hasabout 511 ghost towns —the most in the country.
The analytic hub made the discovery after analyzing data that included more than 3,000 abandoned towns across the country and createdan interactive map that showcases the nation's ghost towns.
Other states with a large number of ghost towns are California with 346 and Kansas with 308.
The 10ghost towns featured by Geotab were Berlin, Nevada;Kennicott, Alaska;Fort Jefferson,Florida;Garnet, Montana;Bodie, California;St. Elmo, Colorado;Castle Dome,Arizona;Harrisburg, Utah; Bannack, Montana; and Steins, New Mexico.
In Texas, Wilson County was mentioned to have the most ghost towns in the state with31. Twenty-five ghost towns were found to be located 25 miles away from New Braunfels.
Peter Ling, professor of American studies at the University of Nottingham and author of Geotab's story on ghost towns, said the abandoned cities are vivid reminders of the country's compressed, dynamic and turbulent past.
“In many parts of the world, people may wander around ancient ruins, but they rarely encounter a true ghost town," he said. "These ghost towns are places that Hollywood has seeded in our heads, where outlaws ride into town while miners gamble away newly acquired fortunes."
Geotab reports that Texas has about 511 ghost towns — the most in the country. The analytic hub made the discovery after analyzing data that included more than 3,000 abandoned towns across the country and created an interactive map that showcases the nation's ghost towns.
Unsurprisingly, given Texas' sheer size (its area is second only to that of Alaska), the Lone Star State has more ghost towns than anywhere else in the US, according to Geotab. The celebrity spot is Terlingua, a stirring abandoned settlement close to the Mexico border.
A study by GeoTab revealed Texas is home to 511 ghost towns—more than any other state in the U.S., many of which are clustered along the I-35 corridor. The highest concentration of ghost towns are just outside of San Antonio in Wilson County, which has 31.
The hardy souls that remained, promoted Jerome as a historic ghost town and in 1967 Jerome was designated a National Historic District by the federal government. Today the mines are silent and Jerome has become the largest ghost town in America.
The history of Texas is marked by booms and busts. The booms brought droves of people from all over the world. The busts caused those same people to abandon the towns they had built, creating hundreds of ghost towns around the state.
The world's ghost towns include Kolmanskop, Namibia, and Vorkuta, Russia. Many of the largest abandoned cities around the world have eerie or sad backstories.
There aren't any abandoned cities in the United States (yet). But there are ghost towns, or former large towns that have lost all their former inhabitants. Most of these ghost towns are out in remote regions of the mountainous American West and were settled in the mid- to late-19th century.
Ghost Town (sometimes spelled Ghosttown) is the informal name of the Hoover-Foster Historic District neighborhood in West Oakland, Oakland, California.
In a fitting rebut the citizens replied in disgust, "Let the post office be nameless and be damned!" Thus the town of Nameless was born. The town eventually became a part of the city of Leander, and the Nameless (Fairview) school closed in 1945.
Welcome to DISH, Texas — formerly known as Clark. Originally established in 2000, the area is located about an hour's drive outside Dallas. As of the 2020 U.S. Census, there were a total of 437 residents.
Considered to be the oldest town in Texas, Nacogdoches was founded in 1779 by Don Antonio Gil Y'Barbo. This quaint little town is booming with history and stories from years past beginning with the Caddo Indians, who lived in the area before the Spanish, through the present day.
Address: Apt. 171 8116 Bailey Via, Roberthaven, GA 58289
Phone: +2585395768220
Job: Lead Liaison
Hobby: Lockpicking, LARPing, Lego building, Lapidary, Macrame, Book restoration, Bodybuilding
Introduction: My name is Sen. Ignacio Ratke, I am a adventurous, zealous, outstanding, agreeable, precious, excited, gifted person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
We notice you're using an ad blocker
Without advertising income, we can't keep making this site awesome for you.
