Illinois Ghost Towns

Illinois ghost towns tell the story of the Midwest’s rapid settlement and equally rapid transformation. Coal mining towns in the south, canal and river communities bypassed by the railroads, and small farming settlements that could not compete with larger agricultural operations all left abandoned traces across the state. Illinois ghost towns are often subtle – a church foundation, a forgotten cemetery, a cluster of old trees where a main street once stood.

Ghost Towns of Illinois on Amazon

Looking to explore Illinois’s ghost towns in more depth? The Ghost Towns of Illinois series by Jason Smith covers the state’s most compelling abandoned communities.

Browse the Illinois Series on Amazon

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