Some ghost towns feel like museums. Northrop feels like an interruption — a place that stopped mid-sentence. Northrop, now a ghost town, was a small, early settlement in Washington County, Utah, United States, established in 1861 by Isaac Behunin.
Washington County County holds 10 documented ghost towns, including Adventure, Duncan's Retreat, Fort Harmony — Northrop keeps them company on the map.
The story of Northrop
Utah's ghost towns split between failed Mormon farm villages and the rough mining camps the faithful mostly watched from a distance.
Northrop, now a ghost town, was a small, early settlement in Washington County, Utah, United States, established in 1861 by Isaac Behunin. It was located at the confluence of the North Fork and East Fork of the Virgin River. It was one of the settlements formed as part of the cotton growing colony in the County. Northrop was destroyed by the Great Flood of 1862 and the settlers moved to settle on some nearby land with more space for growth and above the river floods, in what is now Springdale.
What you'll find today
The on-the-ground condition of Northrop 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 Northrop 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 Northrop is roughly 37.1625, -113.0125 — use it as a starting point and cross-reference a current topographic map before leaving pavement.
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.
Survey Map
Approximate position — verify access locally before visiting
Northrop FAQs
01Where is Northrop located?
02What county is Northrop in?
03What is the history of Northrop?
04What remains at Northrop today?
05Can you visit Northrop?
Sources: account based on Wikipedia (“Northrop, Utah”), CC BY-SA.
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