Ghost TownUSA

Ghost Town · Pennsylvania

Tartown

A ghost town of unknown status in Adams County, Pennsylvania.

By the Ghost Town USA research team Last reviewed September 2026

Tartown ghost town, Pennsylvania
Plate I — Tartown, PennsylvaniaPhoto: Jgothar (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Wikimedia Commons

Some places earn their silence — and Tartown is one of them. Tartown, formerly an unincorporated community, is now an extinct community that was located in Adams County, Pennsylvania, United States.

Tartown is the lone documented ghost town in Adams County — for now.

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The story of Tartown

Pennsylvania invented the American company town — coal patches and oil booms that burned bright and short.

Tartown, formerly an unincorporated community, is now an extinct community that was located in Adams County, Pennsylvania, United States.

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What you'll find today

The on-the-ground condition of Tartown 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.

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Getting there

Here's the honest truth: access to Tartown 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 Tartown is roughly 39.8197, -77.4528 — use it as a starting point and cross-reference a current topographic map before leaving pavement.

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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.

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Survey Map

Approximate position — verify access locally before visiting

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Tartown FAQs

01Where is Tartown located?
Tartown is in Adams County, Pennsylvania, mapped near 39.8197, -77.4528.
02What county is Tartown in?
Tartown sits in Adams County, Pennsylvania. See our full guide to ghost towns in Adams County for its neighbors.
03What is the history of Tartown?
Tartown, formerly an unincorporated community, is now an extinct community that was located in Adams County, Pennsylvania, United States.
04What remains at Tartown today?
The on-the-ground condition of Tartown 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 Tartown?
Here's the honest truth: access to Tartown 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 Tartown is roughly 39.8197, -77.4528 — use it as a starting point and cross-reference a current topographic map before leaving pavement.

Sources: account based on Wikipedia (“Tartown, Pennsylvania”), CC BY-SA.

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More in Adams County

All 1 ghost towns in Adams County →