Cardiff

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

Cardiff is a ghost town in Livingston County, Illinois, United States. Founded as a coal mining town in 1899, it boomed in its first few years. The closure of the mine in 1912 soon led to the community's demise. It is located in Round Grove Township, between the villages of Campus and Reddick. Prior to the arrival of the mine and town of Cardiff, the area was known as Collopy's Corners. It was farm land owned by Patrick Collopy and his wife Ann. Collopy had purchased his first 40 acres there in April 1899 for $1000.

The on-the-ground condition of Cardiff 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 Cardiff 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.

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.