Bybee

Illinois ghost towns cluster around the old lead district and the coal fields that fed Chicago.

Bybee is a former settlement in Fulton County, Illinois, United States. The settlement was about 2.7 miles (4.3 km) south-southwest of Fairview and 8.3 miles (13.4 km) west-northwest of Canton. The community was laid out by David Bybee on a narrow gauge railway: probably the Fulton County Narrow Gauge Railroad that operated from 1880 to the 1920s. That railway was converted into standard gauge c. 1910. In 1905, two trains per day passed through Bybee; by 1913, only one train a day. There was a school, store, and train stop on the narrow gauge rail.

The on-the-ground condition of Bybee 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 Bybee 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 Bybee is roughly 40.5978, -90.1847 — 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.