Quick Facts
- State
- North Dakota
- County
- Renville County
- Status
- Unknown Status
- Access
- Unknown Access
- Coordinates
- Not recorded
Some ghost towns feel like museums. McKinney feels like an interruption — a place that stopped mid-sentence. The McKinney Cemetery near Tolley, North Dakota, United States, was founded circa 1886. It has also been known as the Renville Valley Pioneer Cemetery.
McKinney is the lone documented ghost town in Renville County — for now.
The story of McKinney
North Dakota's ghost towns are homestead-era towns the drought and the Depression emptied in a single brutal decade.
The McKinney Cemetery near Tolley, North Dakota, United States, was founded circa 1886. It has also been known as the Renville Valley Pioneer Cemetery. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) in 1978. According to its NRHP nomination, the cemetery is the oldest cemetery in Renville County and "is also the only remaining physical manifestation of the former town of McKinney."
What you'll find today
The on-the-ground condition of McKinney 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.
Getting there
Here's the honest truth: access to McKinney 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.
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.
McKinney FAQs
Where is McKinney located?
What county is McKinney in?
What is the history of McKinney?
What remains at McKinney today?
Can you visit McKinney?
Sources: description based on Wikipedia (“McKinney Cemetery”), CC BY-SA.