Totten Prairie

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

Totten Prairie or Totten's Prairie was a small settlement in Cass Township, Fulton County, Illinois, just to the southeast of the present Smithfield, Illinois. It was named after William Totten, who was the first to settle there in 1823. A small cemetery, called Totten Cemetery or Old Totten's Prairie Cemetery, still exists in that location.

The on-the-ground condition of Totten Prairie 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 Totten Prairie 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 Totten Prairie is roughly 40.4640, -90.2670 — 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.