Ghost towns are abandoned settlements that can be caused by economic collapse, natural disasters, environmental problems, deliberate relocation, war, or disease outbreaks. They vary in size and can be found all over the world. Visitors should respect the historical value of ghost towns and avoid taking artifacts. Volunteers can help maintain them for future visitors.
A ghost town is a human settlement that has been abandoned. Ghost towns vary greatly in size, from towns that were never very large to begin with to once-thriving community centers. In many cases, a ghost town becomes an object of interest among visitors to the region, drawing curious tourists to the site.
Many people associate the concept of ghost towns specifically with thriving mining communities in the American West that were abandoned after the mines went dry in the 19th century. However, humans have abandoned settlements for thousands of years, as the remains of numerous settlements in places like the Middle East, Africa and Asia can attest. Sometimes, a ghost town is completely obliterated from a landscape, while in other cases only traces such as foundations may be left, and more rarely, a ghost town retains most of the original structures.
One of the most common reasons for a settlement to become a ghost town is economic collapse, often triggered by overexploitation of natural resources. In other cases, natural resources like water simply become depleted, so the community is no longer sustainable. Ghost towns can also be created through natural disasters or environmental problems, such as an uncontrollable toxic spill.
In some cases, ghost towns have been created deliberately. Many governments have relocated communities to make room for reservoirs, for example, letting structures be covered in water as a valley flooded. Abandoned military installations could also be considered the product of a deliberate choice, as could disused railway stops or cities left behind when a major highway is moved.
War is another common driving force behind the creation of a ghost town, especially if the war involves disputed borders. Citizens can leave a city because they no longer want to be on the front lines, or because they are an ethnic, religious or cultural minority, and fleeing the country is safer than staying. Sometimes disease outbreaks have created ghost towns, either because enough of the population dies that the city becomes depopulated, or because officials decide to seal off a contaminated area, rather than try to clean it up.
If you decide to visit a ghost town, you should remember that such towns are interesting because of their historical value and that taking things away from the ghost town can detract from the enjoyment for others. As tempting as souvenirs are, it’s best to leave fascinating artifacts in situ for others to see as well. Many historic associations also welcome donations of time and energy from volunteers to help maintain ghost towns for future visitors.
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