There's a particular quiet you only find where a town used to be. Ashford has it. Ashford is a town in Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 1,722 at the 2020 census. The unincorporated communities of Ashford and Elmore are located in the town.
Ashford is the lone documented ghost town in Richland County — for now.
The story of Ashford
Wisconsin's ghost towns are lead mines, lumber towns, and cutover country that went back to forest.
Ashford is a town in Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 1,722 at the 2020 census. The unincorporated communities of Ashford and Elmore are located in the town.
What you'll find today
The on-the-ground condition of Ashford is unverified — it's listed here with unknown status. That could mean standing buildings, or an empty field. Go prepared for either, and consider sharing what you find so the record improves.
Nobody has confirmed the access situation, so treat any visit as reconnaissance: verify land ownership first, and be ready to admire from the road.
Getting there
Here's the honest truth: access to Ashford is unverified. We couldn't confirm whether the site sits on public land, private property, or something in between — so verify land ownership and local rules before visiting, and respect private property at all times. The mapped point for Ashford is roughly 43.5833, -88.3333 — use it as a starting point and cross-reference a current topographic map before leaving pavement.
Good to know
Ghost-town etiquette is simple: take only photographs. Removing artifacts is illegal on public lands and disrespectful everywhere else — and on federal land it can be a serious offense.
Survey Map
Approximate position — verify access locally before visiting
Ashford FAQs
01Where is Ashford located?
02What county is Ashford in?
03What is the history of Ashford?
04What remains at Ashford today?
05Can you visit Ashford?
Sources: account based on Wikipedia (“Ashford, Wisconsin”), CC BY-SA.
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