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.

  • Transportation – With the development of major highways and interstates, people were willing to travel farther for goods and services causing local businesses in smaller towns to lose customers and ultimately close. The more businesses that close the more people are apt to want to move away to a bigger town. Transportation has played a major role in settlement in Kansas. As traffic from the Oregon and Santa Fe Trails increased, towns boomed along them. When railroads were established towns developed along the tracks or even moved to where the tracks were.
  • Politics – In Kansas, the political atmosphere was highly divided. Towns were either pro-slavery or abolitionist. When Kansas became a free state in 1861, pro-slavery towns died out. Survival of a town also depended on if it won the county seat. Towns that were contenders for the county seat and lost typically saw most, if not all, of their town die out.
  • Industry/employment – Towns that catered to a specific industry like coal mining or military housing were boom towns that quickly died when their markets collapsed. Some towns were abandoned in the 1930s during the Dust Bowl period which mainly relied on Agriculture.
  • Schools – Schools can serve as a place of civic pride. Towns that lose their local school to consolidation can no longer root for their home team. When a school district is closed and students moved to another district, the remaining abandoned school just adds insult to injury.
  • National economic depressions - There have been several economic depressions and recessions that have wiped towns off the map. As people lose their jobs or have to move because of another job, towns lose population.
  • Eminent domain / flood control – Since 1951, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have sought to control floods through the building of dams along rivers and the resulting outcome is a town having to be moved or abandoned and demolished.
  • Environmental degradation – remnants of lead and zinc mining can cause soil contamination that can render entire communities uninhabitable; e.g. Treece, Kansas.[3]

Ghost towns

Town name County Established Disestablished Current status[4] Remarks
White Cloud[5] Doniphan County18562008 estimated population of 227
Ray[5]Pawnee CountyMost 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 County1854Post Office closed in 1933Small population near K-7
Eagle Springs[5]Doniphan County1883Townsite was abandoned, only ruins remainWas a health resort that lasted into the 1930s.
Geary City[5]Doniphan CountyMarch 23, 1856Only foundations remain
Doniphan[5]Doniphan County18541943Still on maps but little remainsA trading post was established on the site in 1852
Four Houses[5]Wyandotte CountyExact location unknownWas actually a trading post from 1826-1828
Rising Sun[5]Jefferson County1857mid-1860sA Kansas River access point is near the location and named after the town.Was a Lecompton satellite community.
Hickory Point[5]Jefferson County1855A 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 County1854A small population resides along K-116.
Kennekuk[5]Atchison County1858
America City[5]Nemaha CountyFebruary 14, 1857Post office closed in 1933A couple buildings and a cemetery remain
Juniata[5]Pottawatomie County18541858On private property and not accessible
Pawnee[5]Geary County18541855The old territorial capitol building still stands is well-preservedWas the territorial capitol until 1855 when it was moved to Shawnee Mission.
Randolph[5]Riley County18552008 estimated population of 198Moved two miles west when Tuttle Creek Lake was built.
Irving[5]Marshall County18591960Located on Corps land and is easily accessible.Abandoned for the construction of Tuttle Creek Lake.
Alcove Springs[5]Marshall CountyNow a well-preserved parkWas 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 County1842 (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.18541930A 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 County18541860sWas the territorial capitol briefly in 1858. Not to be confused with Minneola in Clark County.
Silkville[5]Franklin County18701892Several buildings remain including an old house and a stone school southwest of Williamsburg.
Black Jack[5]Douglas County1857 (incorporated)1870sSanta Fe Trail wagon swales, a roadside park, cemetery and the well-preserved battlefield site remain and are open to public.
Franklin[5]Douglas County1853 (early stage stop)Post office closed 1867Nothing remains of the town except two small neglected cemeteries and Franklin Road off of K-10.
Big Springs[5]Douglas County1854A small population remains along U.S. 40.
Calhoun[5]Shawnee County18551868Nothing 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 County1854mid-1860sNothing remains of the site.There is an Indianola Road located near the Goodyear Plant near U.S. 24.
Sumner City[5]Shawnee CountyNever establishedWas mainly a paper town that was supposed to be an all-black community east of Topeka.
Uniontown[5]Shawnee County18481854Townsite 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 County18701930sThere is still a small population in the area.
Bushong[5]Lyon Countymid-1880s19842008 estimated population of 50Several ruins of the downtown and old consolidated school remain.
Volland[5]Wabaunsee CountySeveral 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 County18691888A small population and a huge Catholic church remain three miles north of Paxico.
Army City[5]Geary County19171920Any 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 County1825 (as a Santa Fe Trail stop)1863Few remains exist but a monument to Diamond Springs was erected in Diamond Springs Cemetery
Empire City[5]Cherokee County18771907Any remains are currently maintained by Galena.Empire City was annexed to Galena in 1907.
Wilsonton[5]Labette County18871913Nothing 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 CountyIncorporated 18691874InaccessibleWas the site of a mass lynching in May 1870.
Octagon City[5]Allen County18551856Nothing remains of the townsiteOctagon 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 County18551860The site of Cofachiqui was demolished when a cement company bought the land.
Mildred[5]Allen County1907ca. 19832008 estimated population of 58.
Bassett[5]Allen County19001930s2008 estimated population of 21
Belmont[5]Woodson County1857Post office closed in 1877Townsite is now on private property and inaccessible.
Neosho Falls[5]Woodson County18572008 estimated population of 159
Guilford[5]Wilson County18611889A few ruins and structures still survive.
Cave Springs[5]Elk County18751949Now 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 County2008 estimated population of 71
Midian[5]Butler County1916Post office closed in 1950Townsite is now on private property.
Oil Hill[5]Butler County19181969Townsite is on private property but the Kansas Turnpike does pass under Oil Hill Road just outside El Dorado.
Minersville[5]Cloud County1870s1920sSome houses and foundations remain along with a cemetery.
Waconda[5]Mitchell CountyThe 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 Counties1869A church, some houses and a cemetery remain.
Webster[5]Rooks County18851953A small community still exists near the Webster Lake dam.
Long Island[5]Phillips County1870s2008 estimated population of 140.
Brookville[5]Saline County18692008 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]McPherson18681870sAll 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 County1857Townsite is now on private property.
Dubuque[5]Russell and Barton Counties1887A beautiful Catholic church and cemetery are all that remain.
Rome[5]Ellis County18671868A marker near Fort Hays State College indicates where Rome once was.Rome was co-founded by William "Buffalo Bill" Cody.
Chetolah[5]Ellis County18861907Townsite is now on private property.
Hunnewell[5]Sumner County1940s2008 estimated population of 75
Runnymede[5]Harper County18871892Nothing remains of the town.
Freeport[5]Harper County18782008 estimated population of 7.Freeport is the smallest incorporated town in Kansas.
Ash Valley[5]Pawnee County19161960sOld roads and some structures still remain.
Achilles[5]Rawlins County1875Post 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 County18891940sA railroad town, founded in 1889. The property fell into private hands and was plowed under.
Mingo[5]Thomas County18871940sThe 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 County18851889Nothing remains of the townsite and is now on private property.
Blufton[5]Trego CountyNothing remainsThe 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 County1870s1880sOnly foundations remain.
Amy[5]Lane County18871954A small community still exists.
Farnsworth[5]Lane County18801891Nothing remains.
McAllaster[5]Logan County18871930sA small population exists and several buildings remain.
Sheridan[5]Logan County18681870sTownsite is on private property.
Coronado[5]Wichita CountyIncorporated 18851889Nothing remains but some older buildings in Leoti are from Coronado.
Colokan[5]Greeley County18861897Nothing remains of the townsite.
Lexington[5]Clark County18851900Nothing remains of the townsite except a community building.
Cash City[5]Clark County18851895Nothing remains of the townsite.
Beersheba[5]Hodgeman County18821886Nothing remains of the townsite.Beersheba was established as an experimental Jewish agricultural community.
Ravanna[5]Finney County1882Post office closed in 1922Only 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 County1886Post 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 County18851890sNothing remains of the townsite.
Hartland[5]Kearny County18851910sNothing remains of the townsite.
Chantilly[5]Kearny County18871893Nothing remains of the townsite.
Coolidge[5]Hamilton County18832008 estimated population of 86.
Kendall[5]Hamilton County1885A small population (approx. 50) remains.
Trail City[5]Hamilton County18851890s
Ulysses[5]Grant County1885The 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 County18861918Nothing remains and a portion of the townsite is on private property.
Fargo Springs[5]Seward County18851910sNothing remains of the townsite.
Springfield[5]Seward County18851890sSpringfield was located at the intersection of U.S. 83 and U.S. 160 north of Liberal.
Palermo[7]Doniphan County1855Post office closed 1904A small population still remains eight miles southeast of Troy near the Missouri River.
Bendena[7]Doniphan County18861890sA small community remains along K-20.
Kickapoo City[7]Leavenworth County1854Post office closed 1920A small population remains in the area.
Bain City[7]Leavenworth County18671964Bain City was annexed to Leavenworth in 1964.
Quindaro[7]Wyandotte County1850s1862Any remains of Quindaro are now in the city limits of Kansas City in Quindaro Park.
Six-Mile House[7]Wyandotte CountyNothing 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 County1850sPost office closed in 1933Padonia 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 County18591870Nothing remains of the townsite.
Neuchatel[7]Nemaha County1857The cemetery, church, town hall and schoolhouse have all been restored and well-kept.
Blaine[7]Pottawatomie County1880sSt. Columbkillane Catholic Church and former Catholic School still stand at the intersection of K-99 and K-116.
Louisville[7]Pottawatomie County18572008 estimated population of 207.
Afton[7]Marshall County1893A small cemetery and church mark the townsite.
Bigelow[7]Marshall County1880s1960All that remains is the Antioch Cemetery.Bigelow was demolished during construction of Tuttle Creek Lake.
Bala[7]Riley County1870Post office closed in 1966Fort Riley has now expanded into what was Bala.
Monticello[7]Johnson County1857Post office closed in 1905The 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 County1854Nothing remains of the townsite.
Moneka[7]Linn County18571870sNothing remains of the townsite.
Lone Star[7]Douglas County1870sPost office closed in 1953A 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 County18691899The 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 County18881899Auburndale is currently a neighborhood in Topeka and is commemorated by Auburndale Park.
Willard[7]Shawnee and Wabaunsee Counties1860s1950s2000 estimated population of 86.
Richland[7]Shawnee County18721960sNothing 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 County18541870sNothing 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 County1860sSome old buildings, ruins and a church still stand in the area.
Fostoria[7]Osage CountyNothing remains of the townsite.
Strawn[7]Coffey County1870s1961"Old" Strawn is now located underneath the John Redmond Reservoir while New Strawn is located along U.S. 75.
Miller[7]Lyon County1886A small population and some abandoned businesses remain in the area.
Dunlap[7]Morris County2000 estimated population of 81.
Skiddy[7]Morris County1869A small population (approx. 20) remains in the area.
Freedom Colony[7]Bourbon County1897early 1900sNothing 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 County18901921Nothing remains of the townsite except Delos Johnson's (the town founder) house and a neglected cemetery.
Cato[7]Crawford County1858Post office closed in 1905The 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 County1870A small population remains in the area.Farlington is located just southwest of Crawford State Park on K-7.
Croweburg[7]Crawford County1907A small population remains along with some shotgun houses and some building ruins.
Monmouth[7]Crawford County1857Post office closed in 1955Very little remains of the townsite.
Treece[7]Cherokee Countyearly 1900s20122010 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 County1905early 1930sSome 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 County18811900Nothing 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 County1870sPost office closed in 1966A small population remains.
Boston[7]Chautauqua County18711875Nothing 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 County1869Nothing remains of the townsite.
Kalida[7]Woodson County18691883Currently on property known as the Kalida Farm.
Defiance[7]Woodson County18731878, the post office closed in 1886Only a hotel remains that is being used as a residence.
Reece[7]Greenwood County1870A small population (approx. 50) still exists.
Smileyberg[7]Butler County1904early 1920sSome structures still remain. A transmission shop is open.
Rosalia[7]Butler County1879A small population (approx. 100) still exists.
Strawberry[7]Washington County1861Nothing remains of the townsite.A plaque was dedicated in 1990 commemorating Strawberry.
Salem[7]Jewell County1871Nothing remains of the townsite.
Asherville[7]Mitchell Countyearly 1860sA small population still exists.
Lake Sibley[7]Cloud County1865Post office closed in 1876.Nothing remains of the townsite.
Industry[7]Dickinson & Clay Counties1868A small population (approx. 20) remains.
Holland[7]Dickinson Countyunknown1942A church, now used as a town hall, and a few houses, is all that remains.
Elmo[7]Dickinson County1866Post office closed in 1966.A few buildings and population remain.
Abram[7]Lincoln County18701872Nothing remains of the townsite.A monument was erected in 1936. Abram was the first Lincoln County Seat.
Carneiro[7]Ellsworth CountyA small population remains just north of Mushroom Rock State Park.
Zarah[7]Barton County1872Nothing 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 County18852000 estimated population of 61.
Boyd[7]Barton County18861930sSome abandoned buildings and ruins remain.
Hitschmann[7]Barton CountySome old buildings still remain.All of Hitschmann is currently on private property.
Raymond[7]Rice County18722008 estimated population of 80.
Frederick[7]Rice County18782008 estimated population of 11.Frederick is the second-smallest incorporated town in Kansas.
Yocemento[7]Ellis County1906Some ruins of the old cement company remain as do some abandoned houses and other buildings.
Alexander[7]Rush County18692008 estimated population of 66.
Geuda Springs[7]Sumner County18572008 estimated population of 191.
Bluff City[7]Harper County18862008 estimated population of 73.Bluff City was 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 Countylate 1880sPost office moved to Manchester, Oklahoma in 1903.Nothing remains of the townsite.Originally named Cameron until 1900.
"Old" Clear Water[7]Sedgwick County18681894Little remains of old Clear Water but Clearwater has an estimated (as of 2008) population of 2,405.
Marshall[7]Sedgwick County18721883Nothing remains of the townsite.The entire town of Marshall was moved to Cheney in 1883.
Waterloo[7]Kingman CountyA small population (approx. 20) remains as well as some houses and other buildings.
Castleton[7]Reno County1872Post office closed in 1957A 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 County18861887An old schoolhouse, church, and abandoned grocery store remain but most of Lerado is now farmland.
Old Kiowa[7]Barber County18721884Nothing 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 County1873A small population (approx. 30) remains. The United Methodist Church is open.
Sun City[7]Barber County18712008 estimated population of 72.
Comanche City[7]Comanche County18851905Nothing remains of the townsite.
Hopewell[7]Pratt County19011920sA small population (approx. 10) remains.
Byers[7]Pratt County19142008 estimated population of 49.
Zenith[7]Stafford County1886A small population (approx. 20) still remains.
Trousdale[7]Edwards County1916A small resident population of about 40 remains.
Devizes[7]Norton County18731930sA few ruins and structures remain.
Kanona[7]Decatur County1880Some ruins and abandoned buildings remain.The site of Kanona is currently on private property.
Burntwood City[7]Rawlins County1860sNothing remains of the townsite.
Blakeman[7]Rawlins CountyLittle remains of the townsite.
Ludell[7]Rawlins County1884A small resident population remains along with some ruins and abandoned buildings.
Eustis[7]Sherman County18851887Nothing remains of the townsite.The entire was moved in 1887 to Goodland.
Itasca[7]Sherman County18851887Nothing remains of the townsite.
California[7]Lane County18791880sNothing remains of the townsite.
Vega[7]Wallace County1880sPost office closed in 1908Nothing remains of the townsite.
Pond City[7]Wallace County1866Nothing remains of the townsite.
Pierceville[7]Finney County1872A small population remains along U.S. 50.
Englewood[7]Clark County18842008 estimated population of 95.
Sitka[7]Clark County1909Post office closed in 1964A small population and some abandoned buildings and ruins still remain.
Arkalon[7]Seward County1888Post office closed in 1929A few ruins remain, but are on private property.
Woodsdale[7]Stevens County1885late 1880sNothing remains of the townsite.Battled with Hugoton for county seat of Stevens County.
Voorhees[7]Stevens County1887late 1890sNothing remains of the townsite.
Goguac[7]Stanton County18891890sNothing remains of the townsite.
Borders[7]Stanton County18871888Nothing remains of the townsite.
Pardee[11]Atchison County18551888Nothing 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 County1856Nothing remains of the townsite.
Fort Cavagnial[11]Leavenworth County17441764Nothing 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 County18541870sSome ruins and street grades are all that remain.
Springdale[11]Leavenworth County18601920sThe Kansas City Metro area has grown into the area of Springdale.
Owl City[11]Jefferson County1930sNothing 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 County1855Some ruins and abandoned building remain on what used to be Main Street.
Richmond[11]Nemaha County18551860sNothing remains of the townsite.
Guittard Station[11]Marshall County18571900Some abandoned buildings remain.Guittard Station was a major stop for the Pony Express.
Marietta[11]Marshall County18811920sA small population remains as does some buildings.
Stockdale[11]Riley County1957The townsite is under the waters of the Tuttle Creek Reservoir.
Cleburne[11]Riley County18601960Nothing remains of the townsite.Originally called Big Timber until 1878.
Garrison[11]Pottawatomie CountyNothing remains of the townsite.
Aubry[11]Johnson County18571888Nothing remains but Aubry Township is named for the town.Aubry was located around 192nd Street and Metcalf.
Oxford[11]Johnson Countymid-1850s1871Nothing 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 County19431959Old 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 County18661874Nothing remains of the townsite.
Stanton[11]Miami County1855Several houses and businesses remain.William Quantrill lived in Stanton during the winter of 1859-60.
Hyatt[11]Anderson County1856Nothing remains of the townsite.
Lone Elm[11]Anderson County18692008 estimated population of 26.
Ransomville[11]Franklin County18781914The Ransom house still stands as does some other houses and buildings.
Peoria[11]Franklin County18571880sA small population remains and Peoria Township is named for it.
Stull[11]Douglas County1857A 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 County1855A small population remains on the north edge of the John Redmond Reservoir.
Havana[11]Osage County1858early 1870sRuins 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 County1859The site is now part of Superior Game Farms just south of Burlingame.
Kansapolis/Rochester[11]Shawnee County1854late 1850s/early 1860sNothing remains of the townsite, only Rochester Cemetery and Rochester Road in North Topeka mark the site.
Wanamaker[11]Shawnee County18911917Nothing 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 County18561872Nothing remains of the townsite.The site is currently maintained as a hiking trail by a local chapter of Boy Scouts.
Alida[11]Geary County18581967The site of Alida lies underneath the waters of Milford Lake.
Columbia[11]Lyon County18551857Nothing remains of the townsite.
Agnes City[11]Lyon County1858early 1860sOnly 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 County1866Nothing remains of the townsite.Founded by Thomas Lovewell. Most of the town lies under the water of the Lovewell Reservoir.[13]
Reamsville[11]Smith County1880A small population remains.An Old Dutch Mill, built in 1882, was moved to Smith Center in 1938.
Harlan[11]Smith County1877A 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 County1866Post office closed in 1942.Nothing remains of the townsite except an old well.
Lyona[11]Dickinson County1857Post office closed in 1888.Nothing remains of the townsite except for a church and the old Lyona School built in 1870.
Canada[11]Marion County1873A small population (approx. 40) remains.
Boomer City[11]Saline Countymid-1940sBoomer 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 County1856unknownThe town barely got started and was abandoned soon after its founding.
Buchanan[11]Saline County1857late 1850sThe town was surveyed but soon after a local child died after arrived in Buchanan, the town was abandoned.
Kipp[11]Saline Countyearly 1860s1960sA small population remains.
Dry Creek[11]Saline County1877Post office closed in 1887.An old blacksmith shop still stands but nothing else remains.
Terra Cotta[11]Ellsworth County18671888Nothing 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 County1893The Idavale Ranch is located on the Kanapolis Reservoir Legacy Trail, along with Terra Cotta.
Fairport[11]Russell County18801940sA small population remains.
Redwing[11]Barton County1890A small population (approx. 20) remains.
Boyd[11]Barton County1886A small population and building ruins remain.
Cain City[11]Rice County18811889After the founder, Roger Cain, died, the town was slowly abandoned. Nothing remains of the townsite.
Empire[11]McPherson County1855, post office established in 1861late 1870sNothing remains of the townsite.
Hukle[11]Sedgwick County18851915Nothing remains of the townsite.
Marshall[11]Sedgwick County18721880sNothing remains of the townsite.
Calista[11]Kingman County1880s1970sAn old grain elevator and a couple of houses remain.
Meridian[11]Sumner County18711886The town never actually existed despite being named the county seat in 1871.
Saratoga[11]Pratt County1878early 1900sNothing remains of the townsite.
Drury[11]Sumner County1882A small population (approx. 20) remains along with a dam built in 1882.
Zyba[11]Sumner County18881915Nothing remains of the townsite, the town was wiped off the map by a tornado.
Belvidere[11]Kiowa County1887A small population remains.
Leota[11]Norton County18731882Nothing remains of the townsite.
Port Landis[11]Norton County1872Nothing remains of the townsite.
Woodruff[11]Phillips County1885A small population remains.
Gandy[11]Sherman County18851887Nothing remains of the townsite.
Hawkeye[11]Decatur County18761880sLittle remains of the townsite.
Coyote[11]Trego CountyJanuary 1868June 1868Coyote was the western terminus of the Union Pacific during construction. When the railroad moved on, Coyote was abandoned.
Augustine[11]Logan County1887Post office closed in 1895Nothing remains of the townsite.
Vega[11]Wallace County18871890sNothing remains of the townsite.
Jerome[11]Gove County1886Post office closed in 1943Little remains of the townsite.
Sherlock[11]Finney County1872In 1910, the people of Sherlock renamed the town Holcomb, which still exists.
Old Montezuma[11]Gray County18861895Some 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 County1887Nothing remains of the townsite.
Morton City[11]Hodgeman County18771880sSome ruins of old stone houses remain.The townsite is now a part of the Hanna Hereford Ranch.
Ivanhoe[11]Haskell Countylate 1880s1920sNothing remains of the townsite except for a Santa Fe Trail marker and a cemetery.
Dermot[11]Stevens County1887Post office closed in 1929Nothing remains of the townsite.The town was short-lived but the post office existed decades longer than the actual town.
Pleasant Plains[11]Morton CountyNothing remains of the townsite.
Taloga[11]Morton County18861890sNothing remains of the townsite.
Mertilla[11]Meade County18851893Nothing remains of the townsite.
Nirwana City[11]Meade County18861888Nothing remains of the townsite.
Carthage[11]Meade County18851885The town was abandoned when Meade Center won the county seat. Nothing remains but a main street through Meade is named Carthage.
Pearlette[11]Meade County18791880Nothing remains of the townsite.
Spring Lake/Artesian City[11]Meade County18851893Renamed Artesian City from Spring Lake in 1887, nothing remains of the townsite.
Veteran[11]Stanton County18851886The 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.
AnnellyHarvey CountyThe main street and an old schoolhouse remain.
ElkChase CountyPost office closed in 1923Nothing remains of the townsite.
Farmer CityWichita CountyNothing remains of the townsite.
Hail RidgeLinn CountyPost office closed in 1888Nothing remains of the townsite.
MillbrookGraham County18801887The ruins of a schoolhouse remain in the area.
Prairie CityDouglas County18571883A cemetery, ruins of an old church and an abandoned stone house are all that remain of the town.
Smoky Hill CityEllis County18991905Nothing remains of the townsite.
SibleyCloud CountyNothing remains of the townsite.
ThurmanChase County18741944Little remains of the townsite.
Twin Mound[14]Douglas County1857early 1900sA small population remains along with an old cemetery, schoolhouse and the natural mounds the town was named for.
Muncie[15]Wyandotte CountyMuncie is now a part of suburban Kansas City.
Stringtown/Woodstock[15]Jefferson County1865Post office closed in 1891Nothing remains of the townsite.
Zarah[15]Johnson County1902Nothing remains of the townsite.Zarah might have been located near Shawnee Mission Parkway and Woodland Road.
Emerald Community[15]Anderson County1857Nothing remains of the townsite.
Ohio City[15]Franklin County18571864Nothing remains of the townsite.Was the county seat from 1861 until 1864.
Williamsport[15]Shawnee County1857Nothing remains of the townsite.
Camp Whiteside[15]Geary County1930sNothing remains of the site.
Toledo[15]Chase County1860A cemetery and some farms are all that remain.
Wauneta[15]Chautauqua CountyPost office closed in 1931A United Methodist Church is located on K-166 east of Cedarvale.
Union Center[15]Elk County1868Nothing remains of the townsite.
Geneva[15]Allen County1857Post office closed in 1942.Little remains of the townsite.
Fact[15]Clay CountyunknownLittle remains of the townsite, a small population remains.
Victor[15]Mitchell County1959Nothing remains of the townsite.
Shipton[15]Saline CountyPost office closed in 1895Nothing remains of the townsite.The entire town was auctioned off in 1909.
Black Wolf[15]Ellsworth County1879A grain elevator and some other buildings remain.Black Wolf is currently on private property.
Shaffer[15]Rush County1892Little remains of the townsite.
Beaver[15]Barton County1918A small population remains.
Wherry[15]Rice CountyNothing remains of the townsite.The last building marking the site burned down in 1967.
Saxman[15]Rice CountyA small population (approx. 30) remains.
Roxbury[15]McPherson County1866A small population (approx. 75) remains.
Ashtabula Colony[15]McPherson County1871Merged with McPherson.
Medora[15]Reno CountyLittle remains of the townsite, a small population remains.
Bayneville[15]Sedgwick County1884Some houses and ruins remain in the area.
Basil[15]Kingman County18921930sAll that remains is an abandoned grain elevator.Founded as Gage until 1901.
Elm Mills[15]Barber County1879Nothing remains of the townsite.
Touzalin[15]Meade County18841885Nothing remains of the townsite.
Centerview[16]Edwards County~1880Structures still stand, and two families still live on the townsite.
AcresClark Countyearly 2000sTown has been completely vacant for a few years. Six buildings remain standing on the townsite, including an elevator and old school.
CroftPratt County2000sTwo 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 DayRiley County18711969[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, https://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/20/magazine/last-ones-left-in-treece-kan-a-toxic-town.htm
  4. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2009-06-25. Retrieved 2009-07-09. 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. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2011-07-21. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  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. Archived from the original on July 21, 2011. 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.
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