Ghost Towns in North Dakota

Beyond the famous names lies a deeper map: North Dakota holds 72 documented ghost towns. Railroad towns, homestead settlements, and agricultural communities dot the Plains — many faded when the rails moved on or the dust settled. Standouts include Alkabo, Arena, Sims.

The heaviest concentrations sit in Williams County, Ward County, Mountrail County, where settlements rose — and fell — in quick succession. Among towns with verified conditions, you'll find 2 living historic, 1 partial ruins sites. 3 towns are known to be publicly accessible — the rest require checking land ownership and access rules before you go.

Use the status and access filters below to narrow the list, or search for a specific town by name.