Ghost TownUSA

Ghost Town · Illinois

Crawfordsville

A ghost town of unknown status in Crawford County, Illinois.

By the Ghost Town USA research team Last reviewed September 2026

Crawfordsville ghost town, Illinois
Plate I — Crawfordsville, IllinoisPhoto: Unbekannte Autoren und Grafiker; Scan vom EDHAC e.V. (Public domain) via Wikimedia Commons

Every ghost town is a bet that didn't pay off. Crawfordsville just shows the receipt more honestly than most. The Evansville and Crawfordsville Railroad Company (E&CR) was Evansville, Indiana's first railroad company. It had a 160 miles (260 km) long railway that connected those two places.

Crawfordsville is the lone documented ghost town in Crawford County — for now.

02

The story of Crawfordsville

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

The Evansville and Crawfordsville Railroad Company (E&CR) was Evansville, Indiana's first railroad company. It had a 160 miles (260 km) long railway that connected those two places. It was renamed Evansville and Terre Haute Railroad in 1877. It went on to be consolidated with other railroads of the region into the Chicago & Eastern Illinois Railroad.

03

What you'll find today

The on-the-ground condition of Crawfordsville 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.

04

Getting there

Here's the honest truth: access to Crawfordsville 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.

05

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.

06

Survey Map

Approximate position — verify access locally before visiting

07

Crawfordsville FAQs

01Where is Crawfordsville located?
Crawfordsville is in Crawford County, Illinois. Precise coordinates aren't on record, so research maps and local directions before you go.
02What county is Crawfordsville in?
Crawfordsville sits in Crawford County, Illinois. See our full guide to ghost towns in Crawford County for its neighbors.
03What is the history of Crawfordsville?
The Evansville and Crawfordsville Railroad Company (E&CR) was Evansville, Indiana's first railroad company. It had a 160 miles (260 km) long railway that connected those two places. It was renamed Evansville and Terre Haute Railroad in 1877.
04What remains at Crawfordsville today?
The on-the-ground condition of Crawfordsville 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 Crawfordsville?
Here's the honest truth: access to Crawfordsville 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.

Sources: account based on Wikipedia (“Evansville and Crawfordsville Railroad”), CC BY-SA.

08

More in Crawford County

All 1 ghost towns in Crawford County →