This is a list of some notable ghost towns in the U.S. State of Colorado. A ghost town is a former community that now has no year-round residents or less than 1% of its peak population. Colorado has over 1,500 ghost towns, although visible remains of only about 640 still exist. Due to incomplete records, no exhaustive list can be produced. __TOC__
Abandonment Colorado ghost towns were abandoned for a number of reasons:
Mining towns were abandoned when the mines closed, often 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. At least seven 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
This is a sortable table of some of the ghost towns in Colorado. Select the OpenStreetMap link in the box at right to view a map showing the location these towns.