Why was Ardmore SD abandoned?

The lack of drinking water was the primary reason the town of Ardmore was abandoned, but the town still has a standing water tower. Unlike many of the mining ghost towns of the Black Hills, Ardmore was not completely abandoned until the 1980s.

Does anyone live in Ardmore South Dakota?

Ardmore is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Fall River County, South Dakota, United States. The town was founded in 1889 by European-American settlers. The population was 1 at the 2020 census.

Is Deadwood a ghost town?

Deadwood has survived three major fires and numerous economic hardships, pushing it to the verge of becoming another Old West ghost town. But in 1989 limited-wage gambling was legalized and Deadwood was reborn. Today, the town is booming once again.

What causes a ghost town?

Factors leading to the abandonment of towns include depleted natural resources, economic activity shifting elsewhere, railroads and roads bypassing or no longer accessing the town, human intervention, disasters, massacres, wars, and the shifting of politics or fall of empires.

What is the history of Ardmore South Dakota?

The town was founded in 1889 and survived the Great Depression without one family on welfare. Rough times eventually fell on Ardmore and by 2004 it was considered an isolated ghost town. Ardmore is South Dakota’s most southwest town, located in a dry plain of rolling hills and short grass.

What is Ardmore known for?

Founded in 1889, Ardmore was what anyone would expect when it came to a midwestern frontier town. The goal of the town was to become a halfway point for the New Burlington Railroad which, unfortunately, never fully came to fruition due to the town’s problems.

What is the elevation of Ardmore SD?

The town is believed to have been derived from the name of Dora Moore, a local teacher. It is at an elevation of 3,556 feet. Ardmore was featured in the May 2004 issue of National Geographic Magazine. The community is located approximately one mile north of the South Dakota – Nebraska border along South Dakota Highway…

How did Ardmore become a ghost town?

When the above photo was taken in 1936, the photographer was already referring to Ardmore as a “ghost town that is decaying as a result of drought.” When steam locomotives were replaced by diesel, the New Burlington Railroad no longer needed to stop for water.