List of ghost towns in California facts for kids

Have you ever wondered about towns that used to be busy but are now empty? These are called ghost towns. California has many of them, especially from the exciting days of the California Gold Rush and mining booms. A ghost town is a place where most people have left, and buildings are often empty or falling apart. Sometimes, nothing is left at all!

IM

SD

RV

OR

SB

LA

KE

VE

BR

LO

MT

BN

FR

KG

TL

IN

MN

AL

TU

MR

MD

ME

SC

SZ

SM

SF

AM

CC

SJ

ST

CA

AD

ED

SA

SL

YO

NA

MA

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MC

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CO

SR

YU

PL

NV

SE

BU

GL

TE

PM

LS

MO

SH

SK

TR

HU

DN

What Makes a Town a Ghost Town?

Ghost towns aren't all the same. They can be classified by how much is left of them:

• Barren sites: These are places where almost nothing is left. The buildings might be gone, covered by water, or the land might have turned back into fields. It's hard to find any signs that a town was once there.
• Neglected sites: Here, you might find some ruins, like buildings without roofs, or just piles of old bricks and wood. It's clear a town was there, but it's very worn down.
• Abandoned sites: In these towns, many buildings are still standing, but they are all empty. You might only find a caretaker living there, or maybe just one or two old buildings like a church or a store.
• Semi-abandoned sites: These towns still have a few people living in them, but many of the buildings are abandoned. They are much quieter than they used to be.
• Historic communities: These places are still active towns, but their population has dropped a lot from their busiest times. They might be only a fifth of their original size or even smaller.

List of California Ghost Towns

Here is a list of some of the ghost towns and former communities in California:

Fresno

Images for kids

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  Alma in present times at low tide

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  A sign for Amboy on the west side of town

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  Roy's Motel and Café in Amboy on U.S. Route 66 in California in the Mojave Desert