Beautiful Ghost Towns With Interesting Backstories

In the United States alone, there are over 3,500 ghost towns. And even though most of the now-abandoned frontier-era settlements haven't been touched in well over a century, the question remains: why are there so many ghost towns in America? Well, during the gold rush in the 19th and early-20th centuries, a lot of small towns, commonly known as boomtowns, popped up in rural mining areas as workers and their families flooded these regions in the hopes of striking, well, gold. But when the mining industry declined, miners found work elsewhere, and many of these towns were left in the dust. Of course, there are other reasons for the existence of ghost towns, some of which we'll explore here.

Today, these abandoned structures attract tourists and paranormal enthusiasts alike due to their historical significance and interesting backstories. So let's explore the story behind 12 ghost towns in America.