List of ghost towns in North Dakota facts for kids

A sign along the railroad tracks in Petrel

The abandoned Falsen School in Verendrye

Abandoned church in Temple

Imagine a town where no one lives anymore! These are called ghost towns. Many ghost towns can be found in North Dakota. Some of these towns still have buildings standing, but no people live there. Others might have very few buildings left, or even none at all. Sometimes, a town with only a few people left is also called a ghost town because it used to be much bigger.

What Are Ghost Towns?

Ghost towns are places that people once lived in, but then everyone moved away. This can happen for many reasons, like when a mine closes, a railroad changes its route, or people move to bigger cities for jobs. Over time, the buildings in these towns can fall apart, or even disappear completely.

Different Kinds of Ghost Towns

Not all ghost towns look the same. Experts often group them into different types based on how much is left of the town.

Barren Sites

These are towns that have almost completely disappeared.

• There are no buildings left.
• The town might have been destroyed, perhaps by a fire or flood.
• Some towns were even covered by water when new lakes were made.
• The land might have turned back into fields or pastures.
• You might only find a few old foundations or bits of rubble if you look very closely.

Neglected Sites

These towns still have some signs of their past, but they are in rough shape.

• You might see piles of rubble where buildings once stood.
• Any buildings that are left are empty and no one lives in them.
• Some buildings might have no roofs, or their walls are falling down.
• A few buildings or houses might still be standing, but they are not cared for.

Abandoned Sites

In these towns, many buildings are still standing, but they are empty.

• Houses and other buildings are still there.
• All the buildings are empty and no one lives in them.
• Sometimes, there might be one person, like a caretaker, looking after the property.
• The town might mostly be gone, except for one or two important buildings.

Semi-Abandoned Sites

These towns are like a mix of old and new.

• Many buildings and houses are still standing.
• A lot of the buildings are empty, but some people still live there.
• These towns usually have fewer than 50 people living in them.
• You'll see many empty buildings next to the few that are still used.
• They have a very small population compared to their past.

List of North Dakota Ghost Towns

North Dakota has many interesting ghost towns. This table lists some of them, showing where they are, when they were settled, when they were abandoned, and what kind of ghost town they are today. Some towns were abandoned because of big projects, like when Lake Sakakawea was created and covered old towns with water.