List of ghost towns in New Mexico facts for kids

Have you ever wondered what happens to towns when everyone moves away? New Mexico has many ghost towns – places that were once busy and full of life, but are now mostly empty. This is a list of some of these fascinating places in New Mexico, United States of America.

What Makes a Town a Ghost Town?

Ghost towns aren't always completely empty. They can be in different stages of abandonment. Some might have no buildings left at all, while others still have structures standing. A few might even have a small number of people living there, but far fewer than when the town was at its busiest.

Here are some ways we describe ghost towns:

• Barren site: This means there's almost nothing left of the town. It might be covered by water, or the land might have returned to nature. You might only find a few old foundations.
• Neglected site: At these places, you might see some crumbling buildings or just piles of rubble. The buildings are often falling apart and might not have roofs.
• Abandoned site: Here, buildings and houses are still standing, but almost everyone has left. There might be no people living there, except maybe a caretaker. Most of the town is no longer used.
• Semi-abandoned site: In these towns, many buildings are empty, but a few people still live there. It's not completely deserted.
• Historic site: These are ghost towns where buildings are still standing, but they have been turned into museums, historical places, or tourist attractions. They might be busy with visitors, but they have fewer residents than they did in their peak years.

New Mexico's Ghost Towns

This table lists many of New Mexico's ghost towns. You can see their names, where they are, when they were settled, when they were abandoned, and what they look like today.

See also

• American Old West
• New Mexico Territory