Catesby

Oklahoma's ghost towns got it from both sides — oil booms that built them overnight and the Dust Bowl that emptied them.

Catesby is an unincorporated community located in Ellis County, Oklahoma, United States. It is slightly east of the southeast corner of the Oklahoma Panhandle, north on S. County Rd 171 off of Oklahoma State Highway 15, and west on E0360Rd off of U.S. Route 283. The locale, named for Catesby ap Roger Jones, was founded on July 1, 1902. The post office was opened by Ella M. Rose on February 18, 1902. The community remains a legal town site, although the post office was closed on January 1, 1970. As of the centennial in 2002, there were two residents, making it the smallest townsite in Oklahoma.

The on-the-ground condition of Catesby 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 Catesby 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 Catesby is roughly 36.4931, -99.9628 — 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.