List of ghost towns in Colorado facts for kids

The location of the State of Colorado in the United States

Imagine a town where everyone has left, and buildings stand empty. That's a ghost town! These are places that used to be busy communities but now have very few or no people living there. Colorado is famous for its many ghost towns. It has over 1,500 of them, though you can only see buildings or ruins in about 640. It's hard to make a complete list because old records aren't always perfect.

Why Towns Became Ghost Towns

Colorado's ghost towns were left empty for many different reasons. Here are some of the main ones:

Mines Closed Down

• Many towns grew because of mining. When the mines ran out of gold, silver, or other valuable minerals, people left.
• A big reason was when the price of silver dropped in 1893. This made many silver mines unprofitable.
• Towns that processed minerals from mines also closed when the mines did.

Farms and Coal Ran Out

• Some farming towns on Colorado's eastern plains became empty. This happened when people moved away from rural areas.
• Coal towns were abandoned when the coal was all dug up. Or, sometimes, people just didn't need coal as much anymore.

Changes in Transportation

• Old stagecoach stops became ghost towns when railroads were built. The trains offered a faster way to travel.
• Even railroad towns were sometimes left empty. This happened if the train tracks changed routes or were no longer used.

Other Reasons Towns Were Left Behind

• Some towns were built as vacation spots. But they didn't attract enough visitors and had to close.
• A few towns are now underwater! This happened when new reservoirs were created for water storage.
• Others are buried under piles of mining waste.
• Some ghost towns still have buildings or old cemeteries. For others, we only know their location from old maps.

Exploring Colorado's Ghost Towns

This table lists some of Colorado's interesting ghost towns. You can click on the OpenStreetMap link to see where they are.

Images for kids

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  Abandoned buildings at Animas Forks, Colorado

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  Houses along Ashcroft, Colorado's Main Street, 2007

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  Token coin with the value of $1.00, issued by the Rawley Mine Commissary in Bonanza, Colorado

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  Capitol City, Colorado

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  Caribou, Colorado circa 1911

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  Caribou, Colorado in 2005

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  The remains of an old cabin at Dyersville, Colorado

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  An abandoned house in Eastonville, Colorado

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  The Arcade Saloon in Eldora, Colorado in 1898

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  Remains of the old ore mill in Eureka, Colorado

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  Remains of the Bassick silver mine, Querida, Colorado

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  Saint Elmo, Colorado in 2005

More About Colorado

• List of places in Colorado
• Bibliography of Colorado
• Geography of Colorado
• History of Colorado
• Index of Colorado-related articles
• List of Colorado-related lists
  • List of populated places in Colorado
    • List of census-designated places in Colorado
    • List of counties in Colorado
    • List of county seats in Colorado
    • List of forts in Colorado
    • List of municipalities in Colorado
    • List of post offices in Colorado
    • List of trading posts in Colorado
• Outline of Colorado