Some of Lancaster County’s first white settlers made their home near two of these towns of the past. The following are a few short stories of possible 'ghost towns' that are part of Lancaster County’s history and one that survived into modern time. The fact that many towns were located near creeks, the potential site of regular flooding also brought on their demise. Later many of the towns created by the railroads lost their importance with the coming of the automobile and the ability to travel farther in a shorter period of time. Many of the early settlements quickly disappeared when they were not located near a railroad. That was a town for almost every ten square miles of the county. In the 1880’s Lancaster County had around 70 towns of all sizes. As with most prairie towns the main reason for their demise is the railroads, automobile, and nature. The only real 'ghost' of these towns is the spirit of those who once lived in these towns of the past. The county has only a few possible ghost towns where evidence of their existence can still be seen and there is a real history connected to them. There are many towns whose names are known, but nothing else is remembered of them. There are also towns that were never more than a building used as a post office or a train station at their peak. As for Lancaster County there are many towns that were planned on paper or even surveyed which never came to be. As for Nebraska there would be many more towns that could have been called 'ghost towns' over the years, but evidence of those locations has completely disappeared with the need for more land to farm and the march of time. While people travel throughout the Rocky Mountains and western deserts they see many locations which would meet all definitions of 'ghost town'. Are there any ghost towns left in Lancaster County? Depending on what definition is used for 'ghost town' it can be said both yes or no.

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