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List of ghost towns in Delaware facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

This is a list of interesting places called ghost towns in the state of Delaware. A ghost town is a place where most or all people have left, often because something important changed, like a mine closing or a natural disaster.

Abandoned house in Glenville Delaware
An abandoned house in Glenville, Delaware, after Hurricane Isabel in 2003. This storm helped turn Glenville into a ghost town.

What Are Ghost Towns?

A ghost town is a town, village, or city that has been mostly or completely abandoned. People usually leave these places because the reason they were there in the first place is gone. For example, a town might have grown around a busy factory or a mine. If the factory closes or the mine runs out of valuable materials, people lose their jobs and move away to find work elsewhere.

Sometimes, natural disasters like floods, hurricanes, or droughts can force everyone to leave. Other times, new roads or railways might bypass a town, making it less important for trade and travel. Over time, buildings fall apart, and nature starts to take over, making these places look spooky and forgotten.

Delaware's Forgotten Towns

Delaware has its own share of places that were once lively but are now mostly empty. These towns tell stories of the past, showing how communities changed over time. Some were small settlements that never grew, while others were hit by bad luck or changing times.

Town name Other name(s) County Established Disestablished Remarks
Banning Sussex
Glenville New Castle This town never fully recovered after Tropical Storm Henri caused a lot of damage in 2003. By 2004, most people had left.
New Market Sussex
Owens Station Sussex
Saint Johnstown Sussex
Woodland Sussex
Woodland Beach Kent
Zwaanendael Swaanendael, Zwaanendael Colony, Swaanendael Colony New Castle This was the very first European settlement in what is now Delaware.

See also

  • Queen Anne's Railroad
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List of ghost towns in Delaware Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.