Editorial & Sources Policy

Where the data comes from. The survey layer is built from the USGS Geographic Names Information System (GNIS), including its historical and archived feature records. Population figures come from U.S. Census records. Historic-site status comes from the National Register of Historic Places. These are public-domain federal sources, and each town record lists the specific sources consulted.

Whose words these are.Every story is written in our own voice from primary and secondary sources — we don't reproduce encyclopedia text. Facts are attributed; prose is ours.

What our classifications mean. A Verified Ghost Townis a substantially abandoned town we've confirmed against records. Near-Abandoned means a small population remains. Historic Townsite means significant restoration or reconstruction. Vanished Placemeans little or nothing stands. Sites we haven't verified yet are labeled surveyed — records pending and are never presented as confirmed ghost towns.

Access and ethics.We never encourage trespassing and don't publish access routes across private land. Removing artifacts from federal land is a crime under the Archaeological Resources Protection Act; our access notes say so plainly wherever it applies.

Corrections. Errors get fixed, not buried — write to records@ghosttowntrails.com with sources and we'll review against the record.