List of ghost towns in Kansas

Bushong located in Lyon County

This is an incomplete list of ghost towns in the state of Kansas. Many of the sites listed here are on private property and may be dangerous or illegal to visit. Inquire with local authorities or property owners for access to these places.

Classifications

There are many factors and reasons as to why a town becomes abandoned (or nearly abandoned). A ghost town can be defined as "a town or community that at one time had a commercial or population center, and is either wholly abandoned or faded greatly from its peak, and now is just a shadow of its former self"[1] or basically a "town that is a shadowy remnant of what it once was".[2] There are several reasons why a town ceases to exist.

Ghost towns

Town name County Established Disestablished Current status[4] Remarks
White Cloud[5] Doniphan County 1856 2008 estimated population of 227
Ray[5] Pawnee County Most of the houses were demolished or moved in the 1950s. The old Co-op remains and still bears the town name. Large berm south of the co-op is what is left from the demolition 38.174742,-98.962701
Iowa Point[5] Doniphan County 1854 Post Office closed in 1933 Small population near K-7
Eagle Springs[5] Doniphan County 1883 Townsite was abandoned, only ruins remain Was a health resort that lasted into the 1930s.
Geary City[5] Doniphan County March 23, 1856 Only foundations remain
Doniphan[5] Doniphan County 1854 1943 Still on maps but little remains A trading post was established on the site in 1852
Four Houses[5] Wyandotte County Exact location unknown Was actually a trading post from 1826-1828
Rising Sun[5] Jefferson County 1857 mid-1860s A Kansas River access point is near the location and named after the town. Was a Lecompton satellite community.
Hickory Point[5] Jefferson County 1855 A Kansas State Historical Marker is near the location along U.S. 59. Location of the Battle of Hickory Point, a skirmish between pro-slavery and free state forces.
Arrington[5] Atchison County 1854 A small population resides along K-116.
Kennekuk[5] Atchison County 1858
America City[5] Nemaha County February 14, 1857 Post office closed in 1933 A couple buildings and a cemetery remain
Juniata[5] Pottawatomie County 1854 1858 On private property and not accessible
Pawnee[5] Geary County 1854 1855 The old territorial capitol building still stands is well-preserved Was the territorial capitol until 1855 when it was moved to Shawnee Mission.
Randolph[5] Riley County 1855 2008 estimated population of 198 Moved two miles west when Tuttle Creek Lake was built.
Irving[5] Marshall County 1859 1960 Located on Corps land and is easily accessible. Abandoned for the construction of Tuttle Creek Lake.
Alcove Springs[5] Marshall County Now a well-preserved park Was never an official town but was a stop on the Oregon Trail. Numerous carvings in the spring's rocks feature traveler's initials and other things. A member of the Donner Party is buried nearby.
Trading Post[5] Linn County 1842 (established as a trading post) A small population remains just off of U.S. 69. Near the site of the Marais des Cygnes massacre.
Centropolis[5] Franklin County. 1854 1930 A small population remains on a county road about ten miles northwest of Ottawa Centropolis Christian Church and Centropolis Baptist Church are open.
Minneola[5] Franklin County 1854 1860s Was the territorial capitol briefly in 1858. Not to be confused with Minneola in Clark County.
Silkville[5] Franklin County 1870 1892 Several buildings remain including an old house and a stone school southwest of Williamsburg.
Black Jack[5] Douglas County 1857 (incorporated) 1870s Santa Fe Trail wagon swales, a roadside park, cemetery and the well-preserved battlefield site remain and are open to public.
Franklin[5] Douglas County 1853 (early stage stop) Post office closed 1867 Nothing remains of the town except two small neglected cemeteries and Franklin Road off of K-10.
Big Springs[5] Douglas County 1854 A small population remains along U.S. 40.
Calhoun[5] Shawnee County 1855 1868 Nothing remains of this town. Calhoun was also the name of a county that was made up of northern Shawnee County, most of Jackson County and half of Pottawatomie County. When Shawnee County's northern border was extended, Calhoun ceased to be.
Indianola[5] Shawnee County 1854 mid-1860s Nothing remains of the site. There is an Indianola Road located near the Goodyear Plant near U.S. 24.
Sumner City[5] Shawnee County Never established Was mainly a paper town that was supposed to be an all-black community east of Topeka.
Uniontown[5] Shawnee County 1848 1854 Townsite is now located in and around the Green Wildlife Refuge southeast of Willard. Uniontown was a trail stop and a place where the Pottawatomi would spend money. A cholera epidemic killed 22 Indians and they were buried in a mass grave. The grave is located in the center of the cemetery. Not to be confused with Uniontown in Bourbon County.
Peterton[5] Osage County 1870 1930s There is still a small population in the area.
Bushong[5] Lyon County mid-1880s 1984 2008 estimated population of 50 Several ruins of the downtown and old consolidated school remain.
Volland[5] Wabaunsee County Several buildings remain abandoned in the area. Located about ten miles southwest of Alma. Former store building currently in the process of being restored.
Newbury[5] Wabaunsee County 1869 1888 A small population and a huge Catholic church remain three miles north of Paxico.
Army City[5] Geary County 1917 1920 Any remains of Army City are currently on Fort Riley property. Army City was built exclusively for servicemen at Fort Riley during World War I.
Diamond Springs[5] Morris County 1825 (as a Santa Fe Trail stop) 1863 Few remains exist but a monument to Diamond Springs was erected in Diamond Springs Cemetery
Empire City[5] Cherokee County 1877 1907 Any remains are currently maintained by Galena. Empire City was annexed to Galena in 1907.
Wilsonton[5] Labette County 1887 1913 Nothing remains except a cemetery. Ella Wilson was the founder of the town and when she died in 1913, the town died with her.
Ladore[5] Neosho County Incorporated 1869 1874 Inaccessible Was the site of a mass lynching in May 1870.
Octagon City[5] Allen County 1855 1856 Nothing remains of the townsite Octagon City was a social experiment where the settlers of the town vowed to eat no meat. The town was so called because the main streets were laid out in an octagon.
Cofachiqui[5] Allen County 1855 1860 The site of Cofachiqui was demolished when a cement company bought the land.
Mildred[5] Allen County 1907 ca. 1983 2008 estimated population of 58.
Bassett[5] Allen County 1900 1930s 2008 estimated population of 21
Belmont[5] Woodson County 1857 Post office closed in 1877 Townsite is now on private property and inaccessible.
Neosho Falls[5] Woodson County 1857 2008 estimated population of 159
Guilford[5] Wilson County 1861 1889 A few ruins and structures still survive.
Cave Springs[5] Elk County 1875 1949 Now on private property. Cave Springs was established as a "health" resort. The resort failed in the 1880s when people starting questioning the springs' healing properties. The town was officially vacated in 1949.
Elgin[5] Chautauqua County 2008 estimated population of 71
Midian[5] Buter County 1916 Post office closed in 1950 Townsite is now on private property.
Oil Hill[5] Butler County 1918 1969 Townsite is on private property but the Kansas Turnpike does pass under Oil Hill Road just outside El Dorado.
Minersville[5] Cloud County 1870s 1920s Some houses and foundations remain along with a cemetery.
Waconda[5] Mitchell County The site lies under the waters of Waconda Reservoir. Located near the Waconda Springs, a natural aquifer used by Native Americans.
Dispatch[5] Smith and Jewell Counties 1869 A church, some houses and a cemetery remain.
Webster[5] Rooks County 1885 1953 A small community still exists near the Webster Lake dam.
Long Island[5] Phillips County 1870s 2008 estimated population of 140.
Brookville[5] Saline County 1869 2008 estimated population of 263. The population was once near 2,000 in the 1870s but after the turn of the century, the population began to decline. The city was also the site of the Brookville Hotel until 2000 when the hotel moved to Abilene.
Sveadal[5] McPherson 1868 1870s All that remains is the octagonal foundation of the original building. The townsite is on private property, located on the west side of the Smoky Hill River, two miles south of the southwest corner of Lindsborg.
Beach Valley[5] Rice County 1857 Townsite is now on private property.
Dubuque[5] Russell and Barton Counties 1887 A beautiful Catholic church and cemetery are all that remain.
Rome[5] Ellis County 1867 1868 A marker near Fort Hays State College indicates where Rome once was. Rome was co-founded by William "Buffalo Bill" Cody.
Chetolah[5] Ellis County 1886 1907 Townsite is now on private property.
Hunnewell[5] Sumner County 1940s 2008 estimated population of 75
Runnymede[5] Harper County 1887 1892 Nothing remains of the town.
Freeport[5] Harper County 1878 2008 estimated population of 7. Freeport is the smallest incorporated town in Kansas.
Ash Valley[5] Pawnee County 1916 1960s Old roads and some structures still remain.
Achilles[5] Rawlins County 1875 Post office closed in 1951. Only a cemetery remains. Achilles was the site of the Battle of Sappa Creek in 1875, it was one of the bloodiest Indian battles fought in northwest Kansas.
Mina[6] Marshall County 1889 1940s A railroad town, founded in 1889. The property fell into private hands and was plowed under.
Mingo[5] Thomas County 1887 1940s The townsite become the private property of Pat Reilly, who plowed some of it under, until 1972 when it was sold to the Brown brothers.
Voltaire[5] Sherman County 1885 1889 Nothing remains of the townsite and is now on private property.
Blufton[5] Trego County Nothing remains The site of Blufton is the same as Threshing Machine Canyon which is part of Cedar Bluff State Park which is a part of the Cedar Bluff Reservoir.
Sidney[5] Ness County 1870s 1880s Only foundations remain.
Amy[5] Lane County 1887 1954 A small community still exists.
Farnsworth[5] Lane County 1880 1891 Nothing remains.
McAllaster[5] Logan County 1887 1930s A small population exists and several buildings remain.
Sheridan[5] Logan County 1868 1870s Townsite is on private property.
Coronado[5] Wichita County Incorporated 1885 1889 Nothing remains but some older buildings in Leoti are from Coronado.
Colokan[5] Greeley County 1886 1897 Nothing remains of the townsite.
Lexington[5] Clark County 1885 1900 Nothing remains of the townsite except a community building.
Cash City[5] Clark County 1885 1895 Nothing remains of the townsite.
Beersheba[5] Hodgeman County 1882 1886 Nothing remains of the townsite. Beersheba was established as an experimental Jewish agricultural community.
Ravanna[5] Finney County 1882 Post office closed in 1922 Only foundations remain. Battled with Eminence for county seat of Garfield County. In 1893, Garfield County was annexed to Finney County and the feud was over.
Eminence[5] Finney County 1886 Post office closed in 1943. Nothing remains of the townsite. Battled with Ravanna for county seat of Garfield County, which ended in 1893 when Garfield County was annexed to Finney County.
Terry[5] Finney County 1885 1890s Nothing remains of the townsite.
Hartland[5] Kearny County 1885 1910s Nothing remains of the townsite.
Chantilly[5] Kearny County 1887 1893 Nothing remains of the townsite.
Coolidge[5] Hamilton County 1883 2008 estimated population of 86.
Kendall[5] Hamilton County 1885 A small population (approx. 50) remains.
Trail City[5] Hamilton County 1885 1890s
Ulysses[5] Grant County 1885 The old Ulysses townsite is currently on private property but the "new" Ulysses site has an estimated population of 5,557 as of 2008. In 1908, Ulysses moved three miles down the road to a new location in an attempt to avoid paying bonds that had become due.
Santa Fe[5] Haskell County 1886 1918 Nothing remains and a portion of the townsite is on private property.
Fargo Springs[5] Seward County 1885 1910s Nothing remains of the townsite.
Springfield[5] Seward County 1885 1890s Springfield was located at the intersection of U.S. 83 and U.S. 160 north of Liberal.
Palermo[7] Doniphan County 1855 Post office closed 1904 A small population still remains eight miles southeast of Troy near the Missouri River.
Bendena[7] Doniphan County 1886 1890s A small community remains along K-20.
Kickapoo City[7] Leavenworth County 1854 Post office closed 1920 A small population remains in the area.
Bain City[7] Leavenworth County 1867 1964 Bain City was annexed to Leavenworth in 1964.
Quindaro[7] Wyandotte County 1850s 1862 Any remains of Quindaro are now in the city limits of Kansas City in Quindaro Park.
Six-Mile House[7] Wyandotte County Nothing remains of the site. Six-Mile House, so called because of its distance from Wyandotte (Kansas City) on Leavenworth Rd, was the headquarters of the Free-State 'Redlegs' who guarded the border of Kansas from pro-slave incursions.
Padonia[7] Brown County 1850s Post office closed in 1933 Padonia lies among a cluster of houses and farm fields. Padonia was the site of a bloodless skirmish in the 1850s called the Battle of Padonia.
Ash Point[7] Nemaha County 1859 1870 Nothing remains of the townsite.
Neuchatel[7] Nemaha County 1857 The cemetery, church, town hall and schoolhouse have all been restored and well-kept.
Blaine[7] Pottawatomie County 1880s St. Columbkillane Catholic Church and former Catholic School still stand at the intersection of K-99 and K-116.
Louisville[7] Pottawatomie County 1857 2008 estimated population of 207.
Afton[7] Marshall County 1893 A small cemetery and church mark the townsite.
Bigelow[7] Marshall County 1880s 1960 All that remains is the Antioch Cemetery. Bigelow was demolished during construction of Tuttle Creek Lake.
Bala[7] Riley County 1870 Post office closed in 1966 Fort Riley has now expanded into what was Bala.
Monticello[7] Johnson County 1857 Post office closed in 1905 The old school house, cemetery, and a few houses from the 1940s remain south of Shawnee Mission Parkway in west Shawnee Shawnee and Lenexa.
Paris[7] Linn County 1854 Nothing remains of the townsite.
Moneka[7] Linn County 1857 1870s Nothing remains of the townsite.
Lone Star[7] Douglas County 1870s Post office closed in 1953 A small population remains just south of Clinton Lake near Lone Star Lake. A community existed in the area before Lone Star was organized. A post office was formed in 1875 under Bond, then Gideon. The name Lone Star was chosen in the 1890s.
Potwin Place[7] Shawnee County 1869 1899 The site is well-preserved off of SW 6th Avenue in Topeka and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Potwin was annexed to Topeka in 1899.
Auburndale[7] Shawnee County 1888 1899 Auburndale is currently a neighborhood in Topeka and is commemorated by Auburndale Park.
Willard[7] Shawnee and Wabaunsee Counties 1860s 1950s 2000 estimated population of 86.
Richland[7] Shawnee County 1872 1960s Nothing remains of the townsite except some ruins and the cemetery. Richland is notable for being the birthplace of Georgia Neese Clark, the Treasurer of the United States under President Truman from 1949-1953.
110 Mile Creek[7] Osage County 1854 1870s Nothing remains of the townsite, it is on private property. A Santa Fe Trail marker marks the general location along U.S. 56.
Arvonia[7] Osage County 1860s Some old buildings, ruins and a church still stand in the area.
Fostoria[7] Osage County Nothing remains of the townsite.
Strawn[7] Coffey County 1870s 1961 "Old" Strawn is now located underneath the John Redmond Reservoir while New Strawn is located along U.S. 75.
Miller[7] Lyon County 1886 A small population and some abandoned businesses remain in the area.
Dunlap[7] Morris County 2000 estimated population of 81.
Skiddy[7] Morris County 1869 A small population (approx. 20) remains in the area.
Freedom Colony[7] Bourbon County 1897 early 1900s Nothing remains of the townsite. In 1905, most cabins were burned down. Frank Cotton discovered that the boards on his house were soaked with kerosene. Cotton saved his house but the remaining cabins burned to the ground.
Rollin[7] Neosho County 1890 1921 Nothing remains of the townsite except Delos Johnson's (the town founder) house and a neglected cemetery.
Cato[7] Crawford County 1858 Post office closed in 1905 The Cato Historical Preservation Association meets at 6:30 pm on the fourth Tuesday of each month at Arcadia Community Center, Arcadia, Kansas. The old school has been restored. Cato Christian Church is in good repair, but closed. A community reunion is held yearly.
Farlington[7] Crawford County 1870 A small population remains in the area. Farlington is located just southwest of Crawford State Park on K-7.
Croweburg[7] Crawford County 1907 A small population remains along with some shotgun houses and some building ruins.
Monmouth[7] Crawford County 1857 Post office closed in 1955 Very little remains of the townsite.
Treece[7] Cherokee County early 1900s 2012 2010 Census population of 138.[8] As of May 2012, only 2 people remain.[9] Due to years of mining in the area, the land in and around Treece is unstable and contaminated which had led to the citizens wanting the government to buy their land so that they can move.[10]
Le Hunt[7] Montgomery County 1905 early 1930s Some ruins remain east of the Elk City Lake. The town was fairly bustling thanks to a central cement factory in the center of town being the biggest employer. During the Great Depression, cement sales dropped significantly and went out of business, so the town died. Most remains are now on private property.
Votaw[7] Montgomery County 1881 1900 Nothing remains of the townsite. Votaw was an experimental colony founded by African-Americans. After 1900, the population slowly moved elsewhere. The last building burned down in 1915.
Hewins[7] Chautauqua County 1870s Post office closed in 1966 A small population remains.
Boston[7] Chautauqua County 1871 1875 Nothing remains of the townsite. Boston was the county seat of Howard County which was split into Chautauqua and Elk Counties in 1875. Sedan became the new county seat of Chautauqua County.
Delaware Springs[7] Wilson County 1869 Nothing remains of the townsite.
Kalida[7] Woodson County 1869 1883 Currently on property known as the Kalida Farm.
Defiance[7] Woodson County 1873 1878, the post office closed in 1886 Only a hotel remains that is being used as a residence.
Reece[7] Greenwood County 1870 A small population (approx. 50) still exists.
Smileyberg[7] Butler County 1904 early 1920s Some structures still remain. A transmission shop is open.
Rosalia[7] Butler County 1879 A small population (approx. 100) still exists.
Strawberry[7] Washington County 1861 Nothing remains of the townsite. A plaque was dedicated in 1990 commemorating Strawberry.
Salem[7] Jewell County 1871 Nothing remains of the townsite.
Asherville[7] Mitchell County early 1860s A small population still exists.
Lake Sibley[7] Cloud County 1865 Post office closed in 1876. Nothing remains of the townsite.
Industry[7] Dickinson & Clay Counties 1868 A small population (approx. 20) remains.
Holland[7] Dickinson County unknown 1942 A church, now used as a town hall, and a few houses, is all that remains.
Elmo[7] Dickinson County 1866 Post office closed in 1966. A few buildings and population remain.
Abram[7] Lincoln County 1870 1872 Nothing remains of the townsite. A monument was erected in 1936. Abram was the first Lincoln County Seat.
Carneiro[7] Ellsworth County A small population remains just north of Mushroom Rock State Park.
Zarah[7] Barton County 1872 Nothing remains of the townsite. Was originally a part of Fort Zarah which was abandoned in 1869. The last resident left Zarah in 1875.
Galatia[7] Barton County 1885 2000 estimated population of 61.
Boyd[7] Barton County 1886 1930s Some abandoned buildings and ruins remain.
Hitschmann[7] Barton County Some old buildings still remain. All of Hitschmann is currently on private property.
Raymond[7] Rice County 1872 2008 estimated population of 80.
Frederick[7] Rice County 1878 2008 estimated population of 11. Frederick is the second-smallest incorporated town in Kansas.
Yocemento[7] Ellis County 1906 Some ruins of the old cement company remain as do some abandoned houses and other buildings.
Alexander[7] Rush County 1869 2008 estimated population of 66.
Geuda Springs[7] Sumner County 1857 2008 estimated population of 191.
Bluff City[7] Harper County 1886 2008 estimated population of 73. Bluff City was originally founded as a fraud in 1873 to swindle money from the Kansas legislature. The first settlers in the area didn't arrive until 1876.
Camchester[7] Harper County late 1880s Post office moved to Manchester, Oklahoma in 1903. Nothing remains of the townsite. Originally named Cameron until 1900.
"Old" Clear Water[7] Sedgwick County 1868 1894 Little remains of old Clear Water but Clearwater has an estimated (as of 2008) population of 2,405.
Marshall[7] Sedgwick County 1872 1883 Nothing remains of the townsite. The entire town of Marshall was moved to Cheney in 1883.
Waterloo[7] Kingman County A small population (approx. 20) remains as well as some houses and other buildings.
Castleton[7] Reno County 1872 Post office closed in 1957 A few homes and abandoned buildings remain. Castleton was used as the setting of Sevillinois for the 1952 movie Wait Till the Sun Shines, Nellie.
Lerado[7] Reno County 1886 1887 An old schoolhouse, church, and abandoned grocery store remain but most of Lerado is now farmland.
Old Kiowa[7] Barber County 1872 1884 Nothing remains of the townsite. Old Kiowa was abandoned when the railroad was built four miles to the south and a new Kiowa was established.
Lake City[7] Barber County 1873 A small population (approx. 30) remains. The United Methodist Church is open.
Sun City[7] Barber County 1871 2008 estimated population of 72.
Comanche City[7] Comanche County 1885 1905 Nothing remains of the townsite.
Hopewell[7] Pratt County 1901 1920s A small population (approx. 10) remains.
Byers[7] Pratt County 1914 2008 estimated population of 49.
Zenith[7] Stafford County 1886 A small population (approx. 20) still remains.
Trousdale[7] Edwards County 1916 A small resident population of about 40 remains.
Devizes[7] Norton County 1873 1930s A few ruins and structures remain.
Kanona[7] Decatur County 1880 Some ruins and abandoned buildings remain. The site of Kanona is currently on private property.
Burntwood City[7] Rawlins County 1860s Nothing remains of the townsite.
Blakeman[7] Rawlins County Little remains of the townsite.
Ludell[7] Rawlins County 1884 A small resident population remains along with some ruins and abandoned buildings.
Eustis[7] Sherman County 1885 1887 Nothing remains of the townsite. The entire was moved in 1887 to Goodland.
Itasca[7] Sherman County 1885 1887 Nothing remains of the townsite.
California[7] Lane County 1879 1880s Nothing remains of the townsite.
Vega[7] Wallace County 1880s Post office closed in 1908 Nothing remains of the townsite.
Pond City[7] Wallace County 1866 Nothing remains of the townsite.
Pierceville[7] Finney County 1872 A small population remains along U.S. 50.
Englewood[7] Clark County 1884 2008 estimated population of 95.
Sitka[7] Clark County 1909 Post office closed in 1964 A small population and some abandoned buildings and ruins still remain.
Arkalon[7] Seward County 1888 Post office closed in 1929 A few ruins remain, but are on private property.
Woodsdale[7] Stevens County 1885 late 1880s Nothing remains of the townsite. Battled with Hugoton for county seat of Stevens County.
Voorhees[7] Stevens County 1887 late 1890s Nothing remains of the townsite.
Goguac[7] Stanton County 1889 1890s Nothing remains of the townsite.
Borders[7] Stanton County 1887 1888 Nothing remains of the townsite.
Pardee[11] Atchison County 1855 1888 Nothing remains of the townsite but the Pardee Cemetery. Named for Pardee Butler, a farmer and preacher who was sent adrift on a raft in the Missouri River by pro-slavery men.
Port William[11] Atchison County 1856 Nothing remains of the townsite.
Fort Cavagnial[11] Leavenworth County 1744 1764 Nothing remains of the old fort. Cavagnial is an old French fort and trading post. When Lewis and Clark came through the area in 1804, they saw no sign of the old fort. The exact location is unknown.
Delaware City[11] Leavenworth County 1854 1870s Some ruins and street grades are all that remain.
Springdale[11] Leavenworth County 1860 1920s The Kansas City Metro area has grown into the area of Springdale.
Owl City[11] Jefferson County 1930s Nothing remains of the site and it is rumored that it is now under the waters of Perry Lake. Owl City was mainly a section house on the Leavenworth and Topeka Railroad.
Granada[11] Nemaha County 1855 Some ruins and abandoned building remain on what used to be Main Street.
Richmond[11] Nemaha County 1855 1860s Nothing remains of the townsite.
Guittard Station[11] Marshall County 1857 1900 Some abandoned buildings remain. Guittard Station was a major stop for the Pony Express.
Marietta[11] Marshall County 1881 1920s A small population remains as does some buildings.
Stockdale[11] Riley County 1957 The townsite is under the waters of the Tuttle Creek Reservoir.
Cleburne[11] Riley County 1860 1960 Nothing remains of the townsite. Originally called Big Timber until 1878.
Garrison[11] Pottawatomie County Nothing remains of the townsite.
Aubry[11] Johnson County 1857 1888 Nothing remains but Aubry Township is named for the town. Aubry was located around 192nd Street and Metcalf.
Oxford[11] Johnson County mid-1850s 1871 Nothing remains of the townsite. Not to be confused with Oxford in Sumner County, an existing city with a population of 1,049 as of 2010.[12]
Sunflower Village/Clearview City[11] Johnson County 1943 1959 Old residences, streets and other buildings remain in and around Clearview City. Sunflower Village was established exclusively for the Sunflower Army Ammunition Plant, the plant and town remain just off of K-10 south of DeSoto.
Tontzville[11] Miami County 1866 1874 Nothing remains of the townsite.
Stanton[11] Miami County 1855 Several houses and businesses remain. William Quantrill lived in Stanton during the winter of 1859-60.
Hyatt[11] Anderson County 1856 Nothing remains of the townsite.
Lone Elm[11] Anderson County 1869 2008 estimated population of 26.
Ransomville[11] Franklin County 1878 1914 The Ransom house still stands as does some other houses and buildings.
Peoria[11] Franklin County 1857 1880s A small population remains and Peoria Township is named for it.
Stull[11] Douglas County 1857 A couple of churches, some houses and the old schoolhouse remain. Originally called Deer Creek Community until 1899 when the post office opened, the post office closed in 1903.
Ottumwa[11] Coffey County 1855 A small population remains on the north edge of the John Redmond Reservoir.
Havana[11] Osage County 1858 early 1870s Ruins of the Havana Stage Station and hotel remain and a sign has been posted on the site. Not to be confused with Havana in Montgomery County.
Superior[11] Osage County 1859 The site is now part of Superior Game Farms just south of Burlingame.
Kansapolis/Rochester[11] Shawnee County 1854 late 1850s/early 1860s Nothing remains of the townsite, only Rochester Cemetery and Rochester Road in North Topeka mark the site.
Wanamaker[11] Shawnee County 1891 1917 Nothing remains of the townsite however Wanamaker Road, Topeka's main western edge road, bears its name. After a tornado destroyed the town in 1917, it was not rebuilt.
Wilmington[11] Wabaunsee County 1856 1872 Nothing remains of the townsite. The site is currently maintained as a hiking trail by a local chapter of Boy Scouts.
Alida[11] Geary County 1858 1967 The site of Alida lies underneath the waters of Milford Lake.
Columbia[11] Lyon County 1855 1857 Nothing remains of the townsite.
Agnes City[11] Lyon County 1858 early 1860s Only a small cemetery marks the townsite. Was the county seat of Lyon County until losing to Americus who then lost it to Emporia.
White Rock[11] Republic County 1866 Nothing remains of the townsite. Founded by Thomas Lovewell. Most of the town lies under the water of the Lovewell Reservoir.[13]
Reamsville[11] Smith County 1880 A small population remains. An Old Dutch Mill, built in 1882, was moved to Smith Center in 1938.
Harlan[11] Smith County 1877 A small population remains as well as the ruins of Main Street and a high school gymnasium. Harlan was home to Gould College which lasted from 1881 until 1891.
Lindsey[11] Ottawa County 1866 Post office closed in 1942. Nothing remains of the townsite except an old well.
Lyona[11] Dickinson County 1857 Post office closed in 1888. Nothing remains of the townsite except for a church and the old Lyona School built in 1870.
Canada[11] Marion County 1873 A small population (approx. 40) remains.
Boomer City[11] Saline County mid-1940s Boomer City was established as a town to house the construction people working on the Kanapolis Reservoir. When the lake was completed, the town was abandoned.
Mariposa[11] Saline County 1856 unknown The town barely got started and was abandoned soon after its founding.
Buchanan[11] Saline County 1857 late 1850s The town was surveyed but soon after a local child died after arrived in Buchanan, the town was abandoned.
Kipp[11] Saline County early 1860s 1960s A small population remains.
Dry Creek[11] Saline County 1877 Post office closed in 1887. An old blacksmith shop still stands but nothing else remains.
Terra Cotta[11] Ellsworth County 1867 1888 Nothing remains of the townsite. Ironically, in 1901, a railroad built a depot at Terra Cotta despite nothing being there. It was moved in 1934.
Idavale[11] Ellsworth County 1893 The Idavale Ranch is located on the Kanapolis Reservoir Legacy Trail, along with Terra Cotta.
Fairport[11] Russell County 1880 1940s A small population remains.
Redwing[11] Barton County 1890 A small population (approx. 20) remains.
Boyd[11] Barton County 1886 A small population and building ruins remain.
Cain City[11] Rice County 1881 1889 After the founder, Roger Cain, died, the town was slowly abandoned. Nothing remains of the townsite.
Empire[11] McPherson County 1855, post office established in 1861 late 1870s Nothing remains of the townsite.
Hukle[11] Sedgwick County 1885 1915 Nothing remains of the townsite.
Marshall[11] Sedgwick County 1872 1880s Nothing remains of the townsite.
Calista[11] Kingman County 1880s 1970s An old grain elevator and a couple of houses remain.
Meridian[11] Sumner County 1871 1886 The town never actually existed despite being named the county seat in 1871.
Saratoga[11] Pratt County 1878 early 1900s Nothing remains of the townsite.
Drury[11] Sumner County 1882 A small population (approx. 20) remains along with a dam built in 1882.
Zyba[11] Sumner County 1888 1915 Nothing remains of the townsite, the town was wiped off the map by a tornado.
Belvidere[11] Kiowa County 1887 A small population remains.
Leota[11] Norton County 1873 1882 Nothing remains of the townsite.
Port Landis[11] Norton County 1872 Nothing remains of the townsite.
Woodruff[11] Phillips County 1885 A small population remains.
Gandy[11] Sherman County 1885 1887 Nothing remains of the townsite.
Hawkeye[11] Decatur County 1876 1880s Little remains of the townsite.
Coyote[11] Trego County January 1868 June 1868 Coyote was the western terminus of the Union Pacific during construction. When the railroad moved on, Coyote was abandoned.
Augustine[11] Logan County 1887 Post office closed in 1895 Nothing remains of the townsite.
Vega[11] Wallace County 1887 1890s Nothing remains of the townsite.
Jerome[11] Gove County 1886 Post office closed in 1943 Little remains of the townsite.
Sherlock[11] Finney County 1872 In 1910, the people of Sherlock renamed the town Holcomb, which still exists.
Old Montezuma[11] Gray County 1886 1895 Some ruins remain in the area. In 1912, the Santa Fe Railroad laid out a new town named Montezuma which continues to thrive.
Hess[11] Gray County 1887 Nothing remains of the townsite.
Morton City[11] Hodgeman County 1877 1880s Some ruins of old stone houses remain. The townsite is now a part of the Hanna Hereford Ranch.
Ivanhoe[11] Haskell County late 1880s 1920s Nothing remains of the townsite except for a Santa Fe Trail marker and a cemetery.
Dermot[11] Stevens County 1887 Post office closed in 1929 Nothing remains of the townsite. The town was short-lived but the post office existed decades longer than the actual town.
Pleasant Plains[11] Morton County Nothing remains of the townsite.
Taloga[11] Morton County 1886 1890s Nothing remains of the townsite.
Mertilla[11] Meade County 1885 1893 Nothing remains of the townsite.
Nirwana City[11] Meade County 1886 1888 Nothing remains of the townsite.
Carthage[11] Meade County 1885 1885 The town was abandoned when Meade Center won the county seat. Nothing remains but a main street through Meade is named Carthage.
Pearlette[11] Meade County 1879 1880 Nothing remains of the townsite.
Spring Lake/Artesian City[11] Meade County 1885 1893 Renamed Artesian City from Spring Lake in 1887, nothing remains of the townsite.
Veteran[11] Stanton County 1885 1886 The exact location of the first townsite of Veteran is unknown but the second location became Johnson City in 1886. The town of Veteran was apparently founded by Civil War Veterans.
Annelly Harvey County The main street and an old schoolhouse remain.
Elk Chase County Post office closed in 1923 Nothing remains of the townsite.
Farmer City Wichita County Nothing remains of the townsite.
Hail Ridge Linn County Post office closed in 1888 Nothing remains of the townsite.
Millbrook Graham County 1880 1887 The ruins of a schoolhouse remain in the area.
Prairie City Douglas County 1857 1883 A cemetery, ruins of an old church and an abandoned stone house are all that remain of the town.
Smoky Hill City Ellis County 1899 1905 Nothing remains of the townsite.
Sibley Cloud County Nothing remains of the townsite.
Thurman Chase County 1874 1944 Little remains of the townsite.
Twin Mound[14] Douglas County 1857 early 1900s A small population remains along with an old cemetery, schoolhouse and the natural mounds the town was named for.
Muncie[15] Wyandotte County Muncie is now a part of suburban Kansas City.
Stringtown/Woodstock[15] Jefferson County 1865 Post office closed in 1891 Nothing remains of the townsite.
Zarah[15] Johnson County 1902 Nothing remains of the townsite. Zarah might have been located near Shawnee Mission Parkway and Woodland Road.
Emerald Community[15] Anderson County 1857 Nothing remains of the townsite.
Ohio City[15] Franklin County 1857 1864 Nothing remains of the townsite. Was the county seat from 1861 until 1864.
Williamsport[15] Shawnee County 1857 Nothing remains of the townsite.
Camp Whiteside[15] Geary County 1930s Nothing remains of the site.
Toledo[15] Chase County 1860 A cemetery and some farms are all that remain.
Wauneta[15] Chautauqua County Post office closed in 1931 A United Methodist Church is located on K-166 east of Cedarvale.
Union Center[15] Elk County 1868 Nothing remains of the townsite.
Geneva[15] Allen County 1857 Post office closed in 1942. Little remains of the townsite.
Fact[15] Clay County unknown Little remains of the townsite, a small population remains.
Victor[15] Mitchell County 1959 Nothing remains of the townsite.
Shipton[15] Saline County Post office closed in 1895 Nothing remains of the townsite. The entire town was auctioned off in 1909.
Black Wolf[15] Ellsworth County 1879 A grain elevator and some other buildings remain. Black Wolf is currently on private property.
Shaffer[15] Rush County 1892 Little remains of the townsite.
Beaver[15] Barton County 1918 A small population remains.
Wherry[15] Rice County Nothing remains of the townsite. The last building marking the site burned down in 1967.
Saxman[15] Rice County A small population (approx. 30) remains.
Roxbury[15] McPherson County 1866 A small population (approx. 75) remains.
Ashtabula Colony[15] McPherson County 1871 Merged with McPherson.
Medora[15] Reno County Little remains of the townsite, a small population remains.
Bayneville[15] Sedgwick County 1884 Some houses and ruins remain in the area.
Basil[15] Kingman County 1892 1930s All that remains is an abandoned grain elevator. Founded as Gage until 1901.
Elm Mills[15] Barber County 1879 Nothing remains of the townsite.
Touzalin[15] Meade County 1884 1885 Nothing remains of the townsite.
Centerview[16]Edwards County~1880 Structures still stand, and two families still live on the townsite.
Acres Clark County early 2000s Town has been completely vacant for a few years. Six buildings remain standing on the townsite, including an elevator and old school.
Croft Pratt County 2000s Two vacant grain elevators, two vacant houses, an old school, and a few ruins remain in this town.
Comiskey Morris County 1887, March 4 1929 Buildings owned by Day Family Farms, maintaining buildings like the schoolhouse, dance hall, and post office First designated in 1887 by deed at File:Comiskey_Town_Deed.pdf
May Day Riley County 1871 1969[17] No original buildings on town site, intersection of Fancy Creek Road (Riley County 376) and 1600 Road West, in northwest Riley County. Vacant one-room rural schoolhouse, 1 mile east. May Day Cemetery, 1/2 mile west on Fancy Creek Road. Settled 1857 by Frank Droll and Ralph Niehenke, incorporated 1871. First named Stanton, then Edgerton for local booster Asahel Edgerton, but both names rejected by US Post Office. Finally named May Day, because the Post Office opened on May 1, 1871.[18]

See also

References

  1. http://freepages.history.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~gtusa/classes.htm
  2. Daniel Fitzgerald. Ghost Towns of Kansas: A Traveler's Guide, University Press of Kansas. 1988.
  3. NY Times, http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/20/magazine/last-ones-left-in-treece-kan-a-toxic-town.htm
  4. http://factfinder.census.gov/home/saff/main.html?_lang=en Population figures taken from the U.S. Census.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 Fitzgerald, Daniel. Ghost Towns of Kansas: A Traveler's Guide. Lawrence: U of Kansas P, 1988.
  6. "Mina, A Ghost Town Today". November 3, 2012. Retrieved November 3, 2012.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 Fitzgerald, Daniel. "Faded Dreams: Ghost Towns of Kansas". Lawrence, Kansas. U of Kansas P, 1994.
  8. http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=DEC_10_PL_GCTPL2.ST13&prodType=table
  9. Wes Enzinna (May 16, 2012). "Last Ones Left in a Toxic Town". The New York Times. Retrieved May 16, 2012.
  10. Saulny, Susan (September 14, 2009). "Welcome to Our Town. Wish We Weren't Here". The New York Times.
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 Fitzgerald, Daniel. Ghost Towns of Kansas 6. The Daniel Fitzgerald Company, 2009.
  12. "2010 City Population and Housing Occupancy Status". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved March 6, 2011.
  13. Blackmar, Frank (1912). Kansas: a cyclopedia of state history, embracing events, institutions, industries, counties, cities, towns, prominent persons, etc. Chicago, Illinois: Standard Publishing Company. p. 907.
  14. Soil of Our Souls by Martha Parker and Betty Laird, Parker-Laird Publishing, 1979.
  15. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 http://www.danielcfitzgerald.com/ghosttownsofkansas6.html
  16. http://www.skyways.org/counties/ED/
  17. Shaner, Sue Lynne (November 23, 1969). "Country Store Fades into Past". The Manhattan Mercury. Riley County Historical Society. Retrieved 31 July 2014.
  18. Garver, Andrew. "From Prairie to Pasture". Lost Kansas Communities. Retrieved 31 July 2014.

External links

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