Grange City

Washington's ghost towns are mill towns and mining camps in country so green the forest is already taking them back.

Grange City is an extinct town in Columbia County, in the U.S. state of Washington. The community was named after the Grangers. With the advent of the railroads, the town's population dwindled.

Calling it Grange City was either optimism or a very good joke — boomtowns were never modest about their ambitions.

The on-the-ground condition of Grange City 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 Grange City 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.

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.