Ghost TownUSA

Ghost Town · Colorado

Chivington

A ghost town of unknown status in Kiowa County, Colorado.

By the Ghost Town USA research team Last reviewed September 2026

Chivington ghost town, Colorado
Plate I — Chivington, ColoradoPhoto: State Historical Society of Colorado (Public domain) via Wikimedia Commons

There's a particular quiet you only find where a town used to be. Chivington has it. John Milton Chivington (January 27, 1821 – October 4, 1894) was a Methodist pastor and Mason who served as a colonel in the United States Volunteers during the New Mexico Campaign of the American Civil War.

Chivington is the lone documented ghost town in Kiowa County — for now.

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The story of Chivington

Colorado's high-country ghost towns sit at altitudes that would give a flatlander nosebleeds — silver camps killed by an 1893 vote in Washington.

John Milton Chivington (January 27, 1821 – October 4, 1894) was a Methodist pastor and Mason who served as a colonel in the United States Volunteers during the New Mexico Campaign of the American Civil War. He led a rear action against a Confederate supply train in the Battle of Glorieta Pass that ended the Confederacy's campaigns in the Western states, and was then appointed a colonel of cavalry during the Colorado War.

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What you'll find today

The on-the-ground condition of Chivington 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.

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Getting there

Here's the honest truth: access to Chivington 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 Chivington is roughly 38.4364, -102.5435 — use it as a starting point and cross-reference a current topographic map before leaving pavement.

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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.

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Survey Map

Approximate position — verify access locally before visiting

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Chivington FAQs

01Where is Chivington located?
Chivington is in Kiowa County, Colorado, mapped near 38.4364, -102.5435.
02What county is Chivington in?
Chivington sits in Kiowa County, Colorado. See our full guide to ghost towns in Kiowa County for its neighbors.
03What is the history of Chivington?
John Milton Chivington (January 27, 1821 – October 4, 1894) was a Methodist pastor and Mason who served as a colonel in the United States Volunteers during the New Mexico Campaign of the American Civil War.
04What remains at Chivington today?
The on-the-ground condition of Chivington 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.
05Can you visit Chivington?
Here's the honest truth: access to Chivington 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 Chivington is roughly 38.4364, -102.5435 — use it as a starting point and cross-reference a current topographic map before leaving pavement.

Sources: account based on Wikipedia (“John Chivington”), CC BY-SA.

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More in Kiowa County

All 1 ghost towns in Kiowa County →