Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the ‘Ioway’ people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration.


Iowa is bordered by the Mississippi River on the east; the Missouri River and Big Sioux River on the west.


U.S. SETTLEMENT AND STATEHOOD, 1832–1860. The first American settlers officially moved to Iowa in June 1833. Primarily, they were families from Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Indiana, Kentucky, and Virginia.


On July 4, 1838, the U.S. Congress established the Territory of Iowa. President Martin Van Buren appointed Robert Lucas governor of the territory, which at the time had 22 counties and a population of 23,242. Almost immediately after achieving territorial status, a clamor arose for statehood.

 On December 28, 1846, Iowa became the 29th state in the Union when President James K. Polk signed Iowa's admission bill into law. Once admitted to the Union, the state's boundary issues resolved, Iowa set its direction to development and organized campaigns for settlers and investors, boasting the young frontier state's rich farmlands, fine citizens, free and open society, and good government.


At Iowa’s beginning many towns and villages were being planned and ultimately built. To those early town and village builders we dedicate this site....Iowa Ghost Towns!


Certain towns became important business areas with a diversity of businesses and prospered for a time. Others were no more then a plan or a dream. The businesses established were Grist Mills, Lumber Mills, Lumber Yards, General Stores, Harness & Blacksmiths, Clothing and others.


When the railroads came and located miles away even the towns that were doing well soon could not continue to exist.  People moved closer to the railroads and began establishing new towns.  Many river towns too that were heavily dependent

on river traffic could not continue to exist because of the railroads. The shipment of goods and people was much faster and could cover vast areas, where ever tracks could be laid.


The names of the towns and villages that came and went was a reflection of where the pioneers came from, where they settled and even the landscape. Sometimes the name was that of a river, grove of trees, a bluff and others from their new surroundings or even the name of a loved one who had died during their vigorous trip to Iowa.


Whatever their name or purpose was, many of these towns are now just corn fields, pasture or timber with nothing left to reveal that the town ever existed.


IOWA GHOST TOWNS is striving to bring to life (however small) the memory of those long lost towns and villages.


We invite you too look around and trust you will visit us often.

The Iowa Story

©2005 Iowa Ghost Towns - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Iowa Ghost Towns