Harlis, Minnesota facts for kids
Harlis is what people call a ghost town in Pine County, Minnesota. A ghost town is a place where most or all of the people have left, often because the main reason for the town's existence, like a mine or a railroad, is no longer active.
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What is Harlis?
Harlis was once a small community, but today it's mostly empty. It's located in Pine County, which is in the eastern part of Minnesota.
Why Did Harlis Become a Ghost Town?
Many towns become ghost towns when the jobs or resources that brought people there disappear. For Harlis, its connection to the railroad was very important.
History of Harlis
Harlis had a post office that opened in 1914. This means people lived there and needed to send and receive mail. The post office stayed open for about 18 years, closing in 1932.
Harlis and the Soo Railroad
A big reason Harlis existed was because it had a railroad depot. A depot is like a train station where trains stop to pick up or drop off passengers and goods. Harlis was on the Soo Railroad line. Railroads were very important for travel and moving goods across the country in the early 1900s. When the railroad's importance changed, or if the train stopped coming to Harlis, people might have moved away to find work or better opportunities elsewhere.
