Ghost towns around the world.

Ghost towns are abandoned towns or villages that were once inhabited, but are now largely uninhabited. They can be found all over the world, and each one has its own unique history and story. In the United States, there are many ghost towns that were once thriving communities, but were abandoned for various reasons.

One of the most famous ghost towns in the USA is Bodie, California. Located in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, Bodie was a gold mining town that was founded in 1859. At its peak, the town had a population of over 10,000 people, but when the gold deposits were exhausted, the town began to decline. The last resident of Bodie left in the 1950s, and the town is now a California State Historic Park.

Another well-known ghost town in the USA is St. Elmo, Colorado. Located in the San Isabel National Forest, St. Elmo was a mining and railroad town that was founded in 1880. The town had a population of around 2,000 people at its peak, but when the railroad was abandoned in 1922, the town began to decline. The last resident of St. Elmo left in 1952, and the town is now a popular tourist destination.

Other notable ghost towns in the USA include Rhyolite, Nevada; Calico, California; and Kennecott, Alaska.

There are also many ghost towns located throughout the world. Some of the most famous ones include Oradour-sur-Glane in France, which was destroyed during World War II and never rebuilt; Kayaköy in Turkey, which was abandoned after the 1923 exchange of populations between Greece and Turkey; and Kolmanskop in Namibia, which was abandoned when the diamond deposits were exhausted.

Bodie, California:

Bodie is a ghost town located in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California. It was founded in 1859 during the California Gold Rush, and at its peak, it had a population of over 10,000 people. The town was named after Waterman S. Body, who discovered gold in the area. Bodie was a rough and rowdy town, with numerous saloons, gambling halls, and brothels. The town also had a Chinatown, which was home to a large population of Chinese immigrants who worked in the mines and on the railroads.

Bodie's prosperity was short-lived, however, as the gold deposits were eventually exhausted. The town began to decline in the late 1800s, and by the 1940s, only a handful of residents remained. The last resident of Bodie left in the 1950s, and the town is now a California State Historic Park. Visitors can tour the town and see the many well-preserved buildings, including the town jail, the post office, and the schoolhouse.

St. Elmo, Colorado:

St. Elmo is a ghost town located in the San Isabel National Forest of Colorado. It was founded in 1880 as a mining and railroad town, and at its peak, it had a population of around 2,000 people. The town was named after the patron saint of travelers, St. Christopher. St. Elmo had several hotels, stores, and saloons, as well as a school and a post office.

St. Elmo's decline began when the railroad was abandoned in 1922. The town's population dwindled, and the last resident left in 1952. St. Elmo is now a popular tourist destination, with many of the town's buildings still standing. Visitors can tour the town and see the old schoolhouse, the general store, and the post office, as well as the remains of the railroad tracks.

Rhyolite, Nevada:

Rhyolite is a ghost town located in the Bullfrog Hills of Nevada. It was founded in 1904 after gold was discovered in the area, and at its peak, it had a population of around 10,000 people. Rhyolite was a bustling town with numerous hotels, stores, and banks, as well as a stock exchange and a three-story school.

Rhyolite's decline began when the gold deposits were exhausted and the price of gold dropped. The town's population dwindled, and the last resident left in 1916. Rhyolite is now a popular tourist destination, with many of the town's buildings still standing. Visitors can tour the town and see the old train depot, the bank, and the school, as well as the Bottle House, which is made entirely of glass bottles.

Calico, California:

Calico is a ghost town located in the Mojave Desert of California. It was founded in 1881 as a silver mining town, and at its peak, it had a population of around 1,200 people. Calico was a bustling town with numerous hotels, stores, and saloons, as well as a school and a post office.

Calico's decline began when the silver deposits were exhausted and the price of silver dropped. The town's population dwindled, and the last resident left in the 1950s. Calico is now a popular tourist destination, with many of the town's buildings restored and open to the public. Visitors can tour the town and see the old schoolhouse, the general store, and the jail, as well as the Calico Print Shop, which is a working

Oradour-sur-Glane, France:

Oradour-sur-Glane is a ghost town located in the Haute-Vienne region of France. It was destroyed during World War II and never rebuilt. On June 10, 1944, the town was attacked by a Nazi SS unit, and 642 of the town's inhabitants, including women and children, were killed. The town was subsequently razed to the ground.

After the war, the French government decided to preserve the town as a memorial to the victims of the Nazi atrocities. The town's ruins were left as they were after the attack, and a new village was built nearby for the survivors. Today, Oradour-sur-Glane is a popular tourist destination, with visitors coming from all over the world to see the ruins and learn about the town's tragic history.

Kayaköy, Turkey:

Kayaköy is a ghost town located in the Muğla province of Turkey. It was abandoned after the 1923 exchange of populations between Greece and Turkey. Prior to the exchange, Kayaköy was a thriving community with a population of around 2,500 people, most of whom were Greek Orthodox Christians.

After the exchange, all of the town's Greek residents were forced to leave and all of the town's Turkish residents were forced to leave their homes in Greece. The town was subsequently abandoned and has remained largely uninhabited since. Today, Kayaköy is a popular tourist destination, with many of the town's old houses and churches still standing. Visitors can tour the town and see the old houses, churches, and cemeteries, as well as the ruins of the town's old school and hospital.

Kolmanskop, Namibia:

Kolmanskop is a ghost town located in the Namib Desert of Namibia. It was founded in 1908 after diamonds were discovered in the area, and at its peak, it had a population of around 1,000 people. Kolmanskop was a bustling town with numerous hotels, stores, and a hospital, as well as a school and a casino.

Kolmanskop's decline began when the diamond deposits were exhausted and the price of diamonds dropped. The town's population dwindled, and the last resident left in 1956. Kolmanskop is now a popular tourist destination, with many of the town's buildings still standing. Visitors can tour the town and see the old hospital, the school, and the casino, as well as the ruins of the town's old houses and shops.