Costin Village

Minnesota's ghost towns are lumber camps and Iron Range locations, most of them already half-digested by the north woods.

Costin Village is a former townsite at the location of what is now the city of Mountain Iron, Minnesota. Costin Village was founded by John Costin. Its population in the year 1907 was 1,000 people.

The on-the-ground condition of Costin Village 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 Costin Village 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 Costin Village is roughly 47.5325, -92.6236 — 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.