As a general reference I'm going to try to answer some of the questions that perhaps a new treasure hunter may have.
A ghost town is a town or city that has been completely abandoned by human inhabitants, usually because the economic activity that supported it has failed, or due to natural or human-caused disasters such as flood, government action, uncontrolled lawlessness or war. The term is sometimes used in a depreciative sense to include cities, towns, and neighborhoods which, while still populated, are significantly less so than years past.
A ghost town is generally any historical town or site that leaves evidence of a town's previous glory. This could be in many forms -- all businesses closed, municipal services at a minimum, rubble and old nails strewn about, ruins of former buildings, etc. Some places that are categorized as ghost towns; however, still have people living in them and though sometimes they don't want to be called a ghost town, most historians will continue to reference them that way if the reason or purpose for it's original "boom" is gone. This would include towns like Tombstone, Arizona; Cripple Creek, Colorado; Madrid, New Mexico, and dozens of others.
Other places which are considered truly "real" ghost towns, having very little left but foundations, sometimes still make use of an old cemetery, such as Elizabethtown, New Mexico or complete ghost towns such as Peale, Pennsylvania, Gallows Harbor, Lumber City and thousands of others that may be located miles from the nearest access road today.
These old sites can be wonderful places to explore as we speculate about the once vibrant lives that lived there. In other old towns, you may see former business buildings such schools and churches used as residences. A true ghost town is one that has been abandoned entirely.
Ghost towns can be divided into three categories: completely deserted ghost towns like Loma Parda, New Mexico; towns with a minimal population like Bodie, California; and still-thriving towns like Central City, Colorado.
Some ghost towns are tourist attractions, among them Oatman, Arizona; Bannack, Montana and Pithole Pennsylvania. This is especially true of those that preserve interesting architecture. Visiting, writing about, and photographing ghost towns is a minor industry.
Some ghost towns may be overgrown, difficult to access, and dangerous or even illegal to visit. Check into the areas topography and ownership before planning your visit.
A ghost town is a town or city that has been completely abandoned by human inhabitants, usually because the economic activity that supported it has failed, or due to natural or human-caused disasters such as flood, government action, uncontrolled lawlessness or war. The term is sometimes used in a depreciative sense to include cities, towns, and neighborhoods which, while still populated, are significantly less so than years past.
A ghost town is generally any historical town or site that leaves evidence of a town's previous glory. This could be in many forms -- all businesses closed, municipal services at a minimum, rubble and old nails strewn about, ruins of former buildings, etc. Some places that are categorized as ghost towns; however, still have people living in them and though sometimes they don't want to be called a ghost town, most historians will continue to reference them that way if the reason or purpose for it's original "boom" is gone. This would include towns like Tombstone, Arizona; Cripple Creek, Colorado; Madrid, New Mexico, and dozens of others.
Other places which are considered truly "real" ghost towns, having very little left but foundations, sometimes still make use of an old cemetery, such as Elizabethtown, New Mexico or complete ghost towns such as Peale, Pennsylvania, Gallows Harbor, Lumber City and thousands of others that may be located miles from the nearest access road today.
These old sites can be wonderful places to explore as we speculate about the once vibrant lives that lived there. In other old towns, you may see former business buildings such schools and churches used as residences. A true ghost town is one that has been abandoned entirely.
Ghost towns can be divided into three categories: completely deserted ghost towns like Loma Parda, New Mexico; towns with a minimal population like Bodie, California; and still-thriving towns like Central City, Colorado.
Some ghost towns are tourist attractions, among them Oatman, Arizona; Bannack, Montana and Pithole Pennsylvania. This is especially true of those that preserve interesting architecture. Visiting, writing about, and photographing ghost towns is a minor industry.
Some ghost towns may be overgrown, difficult to access, and dangerous or even illegal to visit. Check into the areas topography and ownership before planning your visit.