List of ghost towns in Wyoming facts for kids

A ghost town is a place where people used to live and work, but now it's mostly empty. Imagine a town that was once busy with miners, ranchers, or railroad workers. Over time, the jobs disappeared, or people moved away for other reasons. Now, only a few buildings might be left, or sometimes nothing at all! Wyoming has many of these fascinating ghost towns. They tell stories of the past, showing us how people lived and what was important to them long ago. This is a list of some of Wyoming's ghost towns.

What Makes a Town a Ghost Town?

One of the buildings in Table Rock, which was bulldozed in 2011

Ghost towns can look very different from each other. Experts classify them into different types based on what's left of them.

Completely Gone (Barren Site)

These are places where almost nothing is left.

• The original town might be completely gone.
• It could have been destroyed or covered by water.
• Sometimes, the land has gone back to being open fields.
• You might only find a few hard-to-spot foundations or small pieces of buildings.

Mostly Ruins (Neglected Site)

These towns have more visible remains, but they are very run down.

• You might see only piles of rubble.
• Many buildings might be standing, but they have no roofs.
• Most of the buildings are just ruins.

Empty Buildings (Abandoned Site)

In these towns, buildings are still standing, but almost no one lives there.

• Most or all buildings and houses are empty.
• There might be no people living there, except maybe a caretaker.
• Sometimes, only one or two buildings, like an old church or a store, are left from the original town.

Almost Empty (Semi-Abandoned Site)

These towns still have some life, but they are much smaller than they used to be.

• Buildings and houses are still standing.
• Many buildings are empty.
• A few people still live there.
• The town has a small population compared to its busy past.

Still Alive, But Smaller (Historic Community)

These places are not truly ghost towns, but they are much smaller than they were during their busiest times.

• Buildings and houses are still standing.
• It's still a busy community today.
• The town is much smaller than it was during its "boom" years.
• The number of people living there has dropped a lot, sometimes to one-fifth or less of its peak.

Ghost Towns of Wyoming

Here is a list of some ghost towns and historic communities found in Wyoming.