Sugarville

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

Sugarville was a community near Put Creek in Joshua Township, Fulton County, Illinois. It once had several houses, a blacksmith shop, and a general store. It no longer exists today. The Geographic Names Information System lists it only as part of an alias for Moore Cemetery in Joshua Township. Skeeter Bonn (Junior Lewis Boughan) was born in Sugarville; he moved to Canton when he was 13. In the 1950s, he was a country music performer on several national radio shows, including the WLS National Barn Dance.

The on-the-ground condition of Sugarville 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 Sugarville 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 Sugarville is roughly 40.5606, -90.1228 — 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.