Edinburgh, Ohio facts for kids

Edinburgh (also spelled Edinburg) is what we call a ghost town in Delaware County, in the U.S. state of Ohio. Imagine a town that used to be a busy place, but then everyone left, and now it's mostly gone, sometimes even its exact location is a mystery! That's what happened to Edinburgh. It was once located in Scioto Township, but today, no one knows exactly where it stood.

What is a Ghost Town?

A ghost town is a place where people used to live and work, but for some reason, they all moved away. This leaves behind empty buildings, roads, or even just memories of a town that once was. Sometimes, nature takes over, and it's hard to find any signs that a town was ever there. Ghost towns are like forgotten pieces of history, telling stories of how places can change over time.

The Story of Edinburgh, Ohio

Edinburgh's story is a classic example of how towns can rise and fall. It shows us how important things like transportation and trade routes were in the past.

Early Days as Fairview

Around the year 1815, pioneers and settlers began to build a new community in Ohio. They called this new town Fairview. The name "Fairview" suggests it might have had a nice view or was a pleasant place to settle. In those early days, towns often grew quickly as more and more people moved to new areas looking for land and opportunities. Fairview likely started with just a few homes, maybe a general store, and a blacksmith shop, serving the needs of the local farmers and families.

The Railroad Changes Everything

For many early American towns, rivers and roads were the main ways to transport goods and people. But then, a new invention changed everything: the railroad. Railroads were much faster and more efficient for moving things across long distances.

Unfortunately for Fairview (which later became known as Edinburgh), the new railroad lines were not built through their town. Instead, the tracks went through a nearby community called Ostrander. When the railroad came to Ostrander, it became the new center for business and trade. People found it easier to buy and sell goods, and travel, in Ostrander because of the train.

Edinburgh Disappears

Because the railroad bypassed Edinburgh, the town slowly began to lose its importance. Businesses moved to Ostrander to be closer to the new transportation hub. As businesses left, people followed, looking for work and better opportunities. Over time, the population of Edinburgh dwindled, meaning fewer and fewer people lived there. Eventually, the town became empty, and its buildings were abandoned. Today, Edinburgh is a true ghost town, with its exact location lost to history, a silent reminder of how quickly a town's fortunes can change.