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FORMER MINING TOWNS
Mary Kathleen’s uranium town still had 212 homes when its mine closed in 1982; the company settlement was dismantled and auctioned off in 1983Mary Kathleen was once a thriving community centered around a uranium mine in Queensland, complete with schools, a cinema, and numerous hom...
In 1881, a rich silver vein turned Lake Valley, New Mexico, into a town of about 4,000; by 1902 only 150 remained, and the last residents left in 1994Silver mining in Lake Valley began in the 1870s and boomed after a major discovery in 1881. Lawlessness and a railroad spur followed the pr...
In the early 1920s, Scofield, Utah, peaked above 6,000 people with 12 stores and 13 saloons; today just 26 residents are recorded in the coal townScofield, once a bustling mining hub with a vibrant community, faced a tragic setback in 1900 when a catastrophic mine explosion claimed ab...
In 1993, this Argentine popular spa town disappeared underwater. After 25 years, it slowly emerged from the lakeVilla Epecuén in Argentina was once a popular spa town that welcomed up to 20,000 tourists each summer. After years of heavy rainfall, the ...
In 1886, Gilman grew from a mining camp into a Colorado mining town; after contamination concerns in 1984, remaining residents were removed in 1985Nestled high in the Rockies, Gilman, Colorado, was abandoned due to severe mining contamination. Years of mining left the land marred by to...
In 1913, lead turned Picher, Oklahoma, from farmland into a town of about 14,000; by 2010, only 20 residents remained, and chat piles covered parts of Ottawa CountyPicher, a small town in northeast Oklahoma, transformed into a mining hub after the lead and zinc discovery in 1913. However, this rapid gr...
In 1867, gold helped transform South Pass City into a town of about 2,000; by 1870, its population had fallen below 500In 1866, the discovery of gold transformed South Pass City into a bustling hub, attracting prospectors and families eager for wealth. Howev...
America's ghost towns hide old mines, abandoned buildings and eerie stories; these 10 forgotten places offer a haunting road trip through the nation's past, from coast to coastAmerica's ghost towns serve as intriguing windows into bygone eras. Many of these towns disappeared when economic prosperity waned or when ...
Founded in 1859, this California mining town once had 2,000 buildings and 8,000 people. This ‘ghost town’ still preserves abandoned beds, toys, books and vintage suppliesBodie, a historical ghost town in California, draws interest with its well-preserved mining heritage. The discovery of gold and silver in 1...
Once home to hundreds, Kentucky town was abandoned in 1962. Decades later, its residents' voices still echo from 'ghost' buildingsBlue Heron, Kentucky, once a bustling coal mining town, now stands as a silent monument. The Stearns Coal and Lumber Company operated mines...
In the 1930s, Australia's Wittenoom was known for mining a highly valued mineral, but over 2,000 deaths brought a tragic end, turning it into a ghost townFor many years, Wittenoom, located in Western Australia, was synonymous with blue asbestos mining. Unfortunately, increasing awareness abou...
In 1935, this dam submerged entire US town under 60 feet of water; nearly 90 years later, falling lake levels are bringing the 'ghost town' back to lifeHoover Dam Construction: St. Thomas, a historic Nevada town, has reemerged as Lake Mead's water levels decline. The former Mormon settlemen...
Man buys $1.4 million ghost town, turns the 360-acre land into a successful business. But has one request from peopleIn 2018, entrepreneur Brent Underwood spent millions to buy Cerro Gordo, an abandoned California mining town. What began as a bold investme...
A Namibian railway worker found a stone glowing in the sand in 1908; within years, it turned a desert settlement into Africa’s richest place before it became a ghost townA Namibian railway worker discovered a diamond in 1908, sparking a significant diamond rush. Kolmanskop rapidly transformed into a wealthy ...
From gold rush riches to abandonment: The fascinating story of Montana's ghost town BannackThe discovery of gold in Bannack back in 1862 sent ripples through the region, morphing this quaint settlement into a bustling frontier hub...
A ghost town disappeared beneath 60 feet of water after Hoover Dam was built; Lake Mead’s decline is bringing it back to lifeA submerged ghost town named St. Thomas is reappearing as Lake Mead's water levels drop. This former Mormon settlement was flooded after th...
The rise and fall of 'Bodie': How California’s gold rush boomtown turned into an eerie ghost townBodie, once a thriving gold-mining town in California, emerged as a vibrant hub following the gold rush. This remote location drew thousand...
A battleship-shaped Japanese island was more than 17 times as densely populated as Tokyo in 1959; now it’s a ghost town you can’t explore aloneOnce alive with the bustle of over 5,000 residents, Hashima Island was a coal-mining powerhouse, renowned for its remarkable density and un...
America’s burning ghost town: The Pennsylvania ghost town that has been burning since 1962, left with only 5 residents and a fire that may last another centuryFor more than sixty years, a relentless underground coal fire has consumed Centralia, Pennsylvania, turning it into a ghost town. It began ...
In 1948 US industrialist Henry J Kaise founded a town for about 4,000 people in California. Then it emptied almost overnight but still stands frozen in timeEagle Mountain was a company town built for a large iron mine in California's desert. The town housed thousands of residents and provided a...