Gurney, Illinois facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gurney, Illinois
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Ghost town
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 Gurney, Illinois
Location in Illinois
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| Country | United States |
| State | Illinois |
| County | Cass |
| Elevation | 630 ft (190 m) |
| GNIS feature ID | 422767 |
Gurney was once a small community in Cass County, Illinois, United States. Today, it is known as a ghost town. This means it's a place where people used to live and work, but now it's mostly empty or abandoned.
Contents
What is a Ghost Town?
A ghost town is a place that was once a lively settlement. Over time, most or all of its people moved away. This leaves behind empty buildings and roads. It can feel like the town's "ghost" is still there.
Why Towns Become Ghost Towns
Many things can cause a town to become a ghost town. Often, it's because the main reason people settled there disappeared. For example, a town might have grown around a mine. If the mine closed, people would leave to find new jobs.
- Loss of Resources: If a town depended on a specific resource, like gold or timber, and that resource ran out, people would move away.
- Changes in Transportation: New roads or railways might bypass a town. This means fewer travelers or businesses would stop there.
- Economic Changes: Factories closing or farms failing can make people leave.
- Natural Disasters: Floods, droughts, or fires can force everyone to leave.
Where Was Gurney Located?
Gurney was situated in Ashland Township. This area is in Cass County, Illinois. It was found along Illinois Route 125. This road connects the towns of Philadelphia and Ashland.
Gurney's Place in Illinois History
While Gurney is now a ghost town, it was once part of the network of small communities that made up Illinois. Many small towns like Gurney popped up to support farming or local businesses. Over time, as transportation improved and larger cities grew, some of these smaller places faded away. Gurney is one example of these vanished settlements.
