Bucyrus

North Dakota's ghost towns are homestead-era towns the drought and the Depression emptied in a single brutal decade.

Bucyrus is a city, without paved roads, in Adams County, North Dakota, United States. The population was 18 at the 2020 census. The city was founded in 1907 along the Milwaukee Road's transcontinental rail line known as the Pacific Extension. Before being named Bucyrus in 1908, the city was called first Wolf Butte and then Dolan, which was ultimately rejected due to similarity with Doland, South Dakota. The new name Bucyrus was taken from the Bucyrus Company steam shovels used to build the railroad grade within the city.

The on-the-ground condition of Bucyrus 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.

Here's the honest truth: access to Bucyrus 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 Bucyrus is roughly 46.0644, -102.7883 — use it as a starting point and cross-reference a current topographic map before leaving pavement.

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.