List of ghost towns in Colorado

This is a list of some ghost towns in the U.S. State of Colorado. Colorado has over 1,500 ghost towns, although visible remains of only about 640 still exist. Due to incomplete records and legends that are now accepted as fact, no exhaustive list can realistically be produced.

Colorado ghost towns

Most Colorado ghost towns were abandoned for the following reasons:

  • Mining towns were abandoned when the mines closed; many due to the devaluation of silver in 1893.
  • Mill towns were abandoned when the mining towns they serviced closed.
  • Farming towns on the eastern plains were often deserted due to rural depopulation.
  • Coal towns were abandoned when the coal (or the need for it) ran out.
  • Stage stops were abandoned when the railroad came through.
  • Rail stops were deserted when the railroad changed routes or abandoned the spurs.

Others were abandoned for more unusual reasons. Some were resort towns which never brought in enough tourists. One or two former townsites are now underwater, caused by the creation of reservoirs; a few are covered in mining tailings, as noted below. Of the list below, some involve settlements with visible tangible remains such as structures or cemeteries, while the precise location of others is known only through maps and historic accounts.

Table of Colorado ghost towns

The following is a sortable table of some of the most notable Colorado ghost towns.

Notable Colorado Ghost Towns

Town Current county Coordinates
Aberdeen Gunnison County 38°27′01″N 106°59′13″W / 38.45028°N 106.98694°W / 38.45028; -106.98694 (Aberdeen (historical))
Adelaide Fremont County 38°33′36″N 105°05′27″W / 38.56000°N 105.09083°W / 38.56000; -105.09083 (Adelaide)
Adelaide Lake County 39°14′50″N 106°15′29″W / 39.24722°N 106.25806°W / 39.24722; -106.25806 (Adelaide (historical))
Alta San Miguel County 37°53′11″N 107°51′10″W / 37.88639°N 107.85278°W / 37.88639; -107.85278 (Alta (historical))
Animas Forks San Juan County 37°55′52″N 107°34′17″W / 37.93111°N 107.57139°W / 37.93111; -107.57139 (Animas Forks (historical))
Apex Gilpin County 39°51′56″N 105°34′13″W / 39.86556°N 105.57028°W / 39.86556; -105.57028 (Apex (historical))
Arapahoe Jefferson County 39°46′30″N 105°10′42″W / 39.77500°N 105.17833°W / 39.77500; -105.17833 (Arapahoe)
Arrow Grand County NA
Ashcroft Pitkin County 39°03′13″N 106°47′59″W / 39.05361°N 106.79972°W / 39.05361; -106.79972 (Ashcroft)
Autobees Pueblo County 38°12′36″N 104°17′14″W / 38.21000°N 104.28722°W / 38.21000; -104.28722 (Autobees)
Axial Moffat County 40°17′07″N 107°47′31″W / 40.28528°N 107.79194°W / 40.28528; -107.79194 (Axial)
Bakerville Clear Creek County 39°41′29″N 105°48′18″W / 39.69139°N 105.80500°W / 39.69139; -105.80500 (Bakerville)
Bassick — see Querida
Bijou Basin El Paso County 39°08'08"N 104°27'25"W
Bonanza Saguache County 38°17′41″N 106°08′32″W / 38.29472°N 106.14222°W / 38.29472; -106.14222 (Bonanza)
Bowerman Gunnison County NA
Brodhead Las Animas County 37°24′41″N 104°40′36″W / 37.41139°N 104.67667°W / 37.41139; -104.67667 (Brodhead)
Boston Baca County NA
Buckskin Joe Park County 39°17′35″N 106°05′17″W / 39.29306°N 106.08806°W / 39.29306; -106.08806 (Buckskin Joe)
Bueck Elbert County NA
Bullion City — see Howardsville
Calcite Fremont County 38°26′10″N 105°53′14″W / 38.43611°N 105.88722°W / 38.43611; -105.88722 (Calcite)
Calumet Huerfano County 37°41′34″N 104°51′35″W / 37.69278°N 104.85972°W / 37.69278; -104.85972 (Calumet)
Capitol City Hinsdale County 38°00′26″N 107°28′00″W / 38.00722°N 107.46667°W / 38.00722; -107.46667 (Capitol City (historical))
Caribou Boulder County 39°58′51″N 105°34′43″W / 39.98083°N 105.57861°W / 39.98083; -105.57861 (Caribou (historical))
Carpenter Mesa County NA
Carrizo City Baca County NA
Carrizo Springs Baca County 37°09′49″N 103°02′06″W / 37.16361°N 103.03500°W / 37.16361; -103.03500 (Carrizo Springs)
Carson Hinsdale County 37°52′09″N 107°21′44″W / 37.86917°N 107.36222°W / 37.86917; -107.36222 (Carson (historical))
Chattanooga San Juan County 37°52′25″N 107°43′31″W / 37.87361°N 107.72528°W / 37.87361; -107.72528 (Chattanooga (historical))
Chihuahua Summit County NA
Chivington Kiowa County 38°26′11″N 102°32′37″W / 38.43639°N 102.54361°W / 38.43639; -102.54361 (Chivington)
Clarkville Yuma County 40°23′42″N 102°37′34″W / 40.39500°N 102.62611°W / 40.39500; -102.62611 (Clarkville)
Climax Lake County 39°22′08″N 106°11′01″W / 39.36889°N 106.18361°W / 39.36889; -106.18361 (Climax (historical))
Coalmont Jackson County 40°33′45″N 106°26′40″W / 40.56250°N 106.44444°W / 40.56250; -106.44444 (Coalmont)
Colfax Custer County NA
Copper City Baca County NA
Crystal Gunnison County 39°03′33″N 107°06′04″W / 39.05917°N 107.10111°W / 39.05917; -107.10111 (Crystal)
Dakan Douglas County NA
Dallas Ouray County 38°11′00″N 107°44′41″W / 38.18333°N 107.74472°W / 38.18333; -107.74472 (Dallas)
Dearfield Weld County 40°17′26″N 104°15′34″W / 40.29056°N 104.25944°W / 40.29056; -104.25944 (Dearfield)
Decatur Summit County NA
Duncan Saguache County 37°52′27″N 105°36′52″W / 37.87417°N 105.61444°W / 37.87417; -105.61444 (Duncan)
Dyersville Summit County 39°25′14″N 105°59′02″W / 39.42056°N 105.98389°W / 39.42056; -105.98389 (Dyersville (historical))
Eastonville El Paso County 39°03′40″N 104°33′44″W / 39.06111°N 104.56222°W / 39.06111; -104.56222 (Eastonville)
Edgerton El Paso County NA
Eldora Boulder County 39°56′55″N 105°33′50″W / 39.94861°N 105.56389°W / 39.94861; -105.56389 (Eldora CDP)
Eureka San Juan County 37°52′47″N 107°33′54″W / 37.87972°N 107.56500°W / 37.87972; -107.56500 (Eureka)
Fairmount Jefferson County 39°47′35″N 105°10′16″W / 39.79306°N 105.17111°W / 39.79306; -105.17111 (Fairmount)
Finntown — see Adelaide, Lake County
Floresta Gunnison County 38°50′31″N 107°07′22″W / 38.84194°N 107.12278°W / 38.84194; -107.12278 (Floresta)
Fondis Elbert County 39°12′57″N 104°20′50″W / 39.21583°N 104.34722°W / 39.21583; -104.34722 (Fondis)
Franceville El Paso County NA
Galena Custer County NA
Geneva City Park County NA
Gillett Teller County 38°46′55″N 105°07′22″W / 38.78194°N 105.12278°W / 38.78194; -105.12278 (Gillett (historical))
Gilman Eagle County 39°31′58″N 106°23′38″W / 39.53278°N 106.39389°W / 39.53278; -106.39389 (Gilman)
Gold Park Eagle County 39°24′05″N 106°26′22″W / 39.40139°N 106.43944°W / 39.40139; -106.43944 (Gold Park)
Goldfield Teller County 38°43′04″N 105°07′34″W / 38.71778°N 105.12611°W / 38.71778; -105.12611 (Goldfield)
Gothic Gunnison County 38°57′33″N 106°59′23″W / 38.95917°N 106.98972°W / 38.95917; -106.98972 (Gothic)
Graysill Mines La Plata County NA
Gwillimsville El Paso County NA
Hamilton Park County 40°22′02″N 107°36′47″W / 40.36722°N 107.61306°W / 40.36722; -107.61306 (Hamilton)
Haybro Routt 39°24′54″N 106°28′41″W / 39.41500°N 106.47806°W / 39.41500; -106.47806 (Holy Cross City (historical))
Henson Hinsdale County 40°19′56″N 106°57′34″W / 40.33222°N 106.95944°W / 40.33222; -106.95944 (Henson)
Holy Cross City Eagle County 39°24′54″N 106°28′41″W / 39.41500°N 106.47806°W / 39.41500; -106.47806 (Holy Cross City (historical))
Howardsville San Juan County 37°50′08″N 107°35′39″W / 37.83556°N 107.59417°W / 37.83556; -107.59417 (Howardsville)
Howbert Park County NA
Husted El Paso County NA
Independence Pitkin County 38°43′56″N 105°08′12″W / 38.73222°N 105.13667°W / 38.73222; -105.13667 (Independence (historical))
Iola Gunnison 38°28′30″N 107°05′50″W / 38.47500°N 107.09722°W / 38.47500; -107.09722 (Iola (historical))
Jimmy's Camp El Paso County NA
Juanita Archuleta County 37°01′38″N 107°09′02″W / 37.02722°N 107.15056°W / 37.02722; -107.15056 (Juanita)
Keota Weld County 40°42′10″N 104°04′31″W / 40.70278°N 104.07528°W / 40.70278; -104.07528 (Keota)
Kings Canyon Jackson County 40°55′37″N 106°13′37″W / 40.92694°N 106.22694°W / 40.92694; -106.22694 (Kings Canyon)
Kokomo Summit County 39°25′27″N 106°11′23″W / 39.42417°N 106.18972°W / 39.42417; -106.18972 (Kokomo (historical))
Last Chance Washington County 39°44′27″N 103°35′30″W / 39.74083°N 103.59167°W / 39.74083; -103.59167 (Last Chance)
Laurette — see Buckskin Joe, Park County
Lenado Pitkin County 39°14′33″N 106°45′45″W / 39.24250°N 106.76250°W / 39.24250; -106.76250 (Lenado)
Liberty Saguache County 37°51′37″N 105°35′45″W / 37.86028°N 105.59583°W / 37.86028; -105.59583 (Liberty)
Ludlow Las Animas County 37°20′00″N 104°35′00″W / 37.33333°N 104.58333°W / 37.33333; -104.58333 (Ludlow)
Lytle El Paso County NA
Madrid Las Animas County 37°07′39″N 104°38′29″W / 37.12750°N 104.64139°W / 37.12750; -104.64139 (Madrid (historical))
Manhattan Larimer County 40°43′56″N 105°36′00″W / 40.73222°N 105.60000°W / 40.73222; -105.60000 (Manhattan (historical))
Mayflower Gulch Summit County NA
McConnellsville El Paso County NA
McFerran El Paso County NA
McPhee Montezuma County NA
Missouri City Gilpin County NA
Montana City Denver 39°40′36″N 104°59′42″W / 39.67667°N 104.99500°W / 39.67667; -104.99500 (Montana City)
Montezuma Summit County 39°34′52″N 105°52′02″W / 39.58111°N 105.86722°W / 39.58111; -105.86722 (Montezuma)
Mount Vernon Jefferson County 39°41′43″N 105°12′24″W / 39.69528°N 105.20667°W / 39.69528; -105.20667 (Mount Vernon)
Nevadaville Gilpin County 39°47′43″N 105°31′57″W / 39.79528°N 105.53250°W / 39.79528; -105.53250 (Nevadaville)
Old Zounds El Paso County NA
Oro City Lake County 39°14′07″N 106°15′08″W / 39.23528°N 106.25222°W / 39.23528; -106.25222 (Oro (historical))
Pando Eagle County 39°27′26″N 106°20′01″W / 39.45722°N 106.33361°W / 39.45722; -106.33361 (Pando)
Park City — see Adelaide, Lake County
Parkville Summit County 39°29′56″N 106°57′00″W / 39.49889°N 106.95000°W / 39.49889; -106.95000 (Parkville (historical))
Patterson El Paso County NA
Pearl Jackson County 40°59′07″N 106°32′49″W / 40.98528°N 106.54694°W / 40.98528; -106.54694 (Pearl)
Poudre City Larimer County NA
Preston Summit County 39°29′45″N 106°01′16″W / 39.49583°N 106.02111°W / 39.49583; -106.02111 (Preston (historical))
Primero Las Animas County 37°08′33″N 104°44′30″W / 37.14250°N 104.74167°W / 37.14250; -104.74167 (Primero (historical))
Pryor Huerfano County 37°30′29″N 104°42′51″W / 37.50806°N 104.71417°W / 37.50806; -104.71417 (Pryor)
Purcell Weld County 40°38′18″N 104°36′06″W / 40.63833°N 104.60167°W / 40.63833; -104.60167 (Purcell)
Puma City — see Tarryall (founded 1896)
Querida Custer County 38°07′34″N 105°20′04″W / 38.12611°N 105.33444°W / 38.12611; -105.33444 (Querida)
Red Mountain Ouray County 37°54′13″N 107°42′09″W / 37.90361°N 107.70250°W / 37.90361; -107.70250 (Red Mountain)
Robinson, Fremont County — see Adelaide, Fremont County
Robinson Summit County NA
Rosita Custer County 38°05′50″N 105°20′10″W / 38.09722°N 105.33611°W / 38.09722; -105.33611 (Rosita)
Russell Gulch Gilpin County 39°46′43″N 105°32′13″W / 39.77861°N 105.53694°W / 39.77861; -105.53694 (Russell Gulch)
Saint Elmo Chaffee County 38°42′17″N 106°20′53″W / 38.70472°N 106.34806°W / 38.70472; -106.34806 (Saint Elmo (historical))
Saint Vrain Weld County NA
Saints John Summit County 39°34′18″N 105°52′54″W / 39.57167°N 105.88167°W / 39.57167; -105.88167 (Saints John (historical))
San Miguel Costilla County NA
Silver Creek Clear Creek County NA
Silverdale Clear Creek County 39°41′30″N 105°41′46″W / 39.69167°N 105.69611°W / 39.69167; -105.69611 (Silverdale (historical))
Stout Larimer County NA
Swandyke Summit County 39°30′30″N 105°53′32″W / 39.50833°N 105.89222°W / 39.50833; -105.89222 (Swandyke)
Table Rock El Paso County NA
Tarryall (founded 1859) Park County NA
Tarryall (founded 1896) Park County 39°07′19″N 105°28′32″W / 39.12194°N 105.47556°W / 39.12194; -105.47556 (Tarryall)
Teller City Jackson County NA
Tercio Las Animas County 37°03′07″N 104°59′48″W / 37.05194°N 104.99667°W / 37.05194; -104.99667 (Tercio)
Tincup Gunnison County 38°45′16″N 106°28′42″W / 38.75444°N 106.47833°W / 38.75444; -106.47833 (Tincup)
Tomboy San Miguel County 37°56′12″N 107°45′16″W / 37.93667°N 107.75444°W / 37.93667; -107.75444 (Tomboy)
Tungsten Boulder County 39°58′19″N 105°28′34″W / 39.97194°N 105.47611°W / 39.97194; -105.47611 (Tungsten (historical))
Turret Chaffee County 38°38′25″N 105°59′20″W / 38.64028°N 105.98889°W / 38.64028; -105.98889 (Turret)
Tuttle Kit Carson County 39°29′51″N 102°30′39″W / 39.49750°N 102.51083°W / 39.49750; -102.51083 (Tuttle (historical))
Ula Custer County 38°09′00″N 105°30′07″W / 38.15000°N 105.50194°W / 38.15000; -105.50194 (Ula (historical))
Uptop Huerfano County NA
Uravan Montrose County 38°22′06″N 108°44′11″W / 38.36833°N 108.73639°W / 38.36833; -108.73639 (Uravan)
Vicksburg Chaffee County 38°59′57″N 106°22′40″W / 38.99917°N 106.37778°W / 38.99917; -106.37778 (Vicksburg)
Vulcan Gunnison County 38°20′44″N 107°00′05″W / 38.34556°N 107.00139°W / 38.34556; -107.00139 (Vulcan (historical))
Williamsville El Paso County NA
Winfield Chaffee County 38°59′05″N 106°26′27″W / 38.98472°N 106.44083°W / 38.98472; -106.44083 (Winfield)

Notes

  1. ^ Arapahoe City was the original seat of Jefferson County, Jefferson Territory.
  2. ^ Autobees was the original seat of Huerfano County, Colorado Territory.
  3. ^ Howbert is now submerged in Eleven Mile Reservoir.
  4. ^ Iola is now submerged in Blue Mesa Reservoir.
  5. ^ McPhee is now submerged in McPhee Reservoir.
  6. ^ Mount Vernon was the home of Territorial Governor Robert Williamson Steele and administrative capital of the Provisional Government of the Territory of Jefferson.
  7. ^ Oro City was the original seat of Lake County, Colorado Territory.
  8. ^ Parkville was the original seat of Summit County, Colorado Territory.
  9. ^ Saint Vrain was the original seat of St. Vrain's County, Jefferson Territory and Weld County, Colorado Territory.
  10. ^ San Miguel was the original seat of Costilla County, Colorado Territory.
  11. ^ Most of the town of Stout is now submerged in Horsetooth Reservoir.
  12. ^ Tarryall City was the original seat of Park County, Jefferson Territory and Park County, Colorado Territory.

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See also


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