List of ghost towns in Ohio facts for kids

A ghost town is a place that used to be a busy town but is now mostly empty, with few or no people living there. Imagine a town where houses, schools, and shops are still standing, but no one is around! These towns become "ghosts" when people move away, often because the main reason for the town's existence, like a mine or a factory, closes down. Ohio has many interesting ghost towns, each with its own unique story.

The west entrance of the Moonville tunnel in Moonville, Ohio

The intersection of Black Run Road and Shady Glen Road in Knockemstiff, Ohio

What is a Ghost Town?

A ghost town is a place where people used to live and work, but now it's mostly deserted. It's like a quiet snapshot of the past. Buildings might still be there, but they are often empty and slowly falling apart. These towns are fascinating because they show us how communities can change over time.

Why Do Towns Become Ghosts?

Towns don't just disappear for no reason. There are many reasons why a town might become a ghost town:

• Natural Disasters: Sometimes, floods or other natural events can destroy a town, forcing everyone to leave. For example, Claylick, Ohio was hit by two big floods.
• Economic Changes: Many towns grew up around a specific industry, like mining, logging, or a factory. If that industry closes down or moves, people lose their jobs and have to leave to find work elsewhere. Rural Hill, Ohio became a ghost town after its main employer, a slaughterhouse, closed.
• New Transportation: When railroads or major roads changed routes, some towns that depended on them were left behind. Canals also played a role; Sprucevale, Ohio was abandoned when its canal closed.
• New Projects: Sometimes, towns are abandoned on purpose to make way for new projects, like dams or lakes. Atwood (Carroll County) was abandoned to create Atwood Lake for flood control. Elk Lick, Ohio was flooded after the William H. Harsha Lake was built.

Exploring Ohio's Ghost Towns

Ohio has many ghost towns scattered across the state. Some are completely gone, with only foundations left, while others still have a few buildings standing. Each town has a unique history, telling a story about the people who lived there and why they eventually left.

Notable Ohio Ghost Towns

• Moonville: This is one of Ohio's most famous ghost towns, known for its spooky railroad tunnel. It was once a small coal mining town.
• Knockemstiff: While not entirely a ghost town today, it's famous for its unusual name and has a very small population compared to its past.
• Claylick: Located in Licking County, Ohio, this town was destroyed by two major floods in 1919 and 1959. After the second flood, a dam project completely removed the town.
• Sprucevale: This town was once a busy canal town. When the canal closed in 1870, the town was abandoned. You can still see the old canal locks there today.

List of Ohio's Ghost Towns

Here is a list of some of the ghost towns in Ohio. Many of these were small communities that faded away over time.