Clifford

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

Clifford is a former unincorporated community in northwestern Williamson County, Illinois. It is a former early 20th century mining settlement that has almost disappeared since the closing of local mines. A post office was established on 26 January 1905, and it remained in operation until after 1931. The population in 1958 was listed as 300.

The on-the-ground condition of Clifford 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 Clifford 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 Clifford is roughly 37.8236, -89.0772 — 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.