Nestled within Kidder County in east-central North Dakota is a lost town that even many locals don’t know about. It may be a ghost town now, but back in its day, it was a hub of life and activity. Let’s take a look at the decaying town of Crystal Springs, a lost town in North Dakota with a fascinating – and lonely – history.

It all began in 1873 when the Northern Pacific Railroad built a stop at the site of the future town.

Andrew Filer/Flickr Soon enough, people began filing in, and it became more official. It was named after the nearby Crystal Springs Lake, and in the beginning, only about 100 Polish families called the town home. By 1884, though, there would be a Post Office, making it an officially-official “on-the-map” town.

In 1894, a school district was created, and by 1896, a small schoolhouse had been set up.

Andrew Filer/Flickr There were just ten children enrolled at the school, but the community was a tight-knit one all the same.

Soon enough, there would be some new additions to the town, like two grain elevators, a bank, some shops, and even a barber shop.

Andrew Filer/Flickr As the population grew, a church was added, and so was a pool hall. Crystal Springs was on the up-and-up.

In 1916, the brick schoolhouse that still stands today was built, initially offering only elementary school classes, but eventually, it added high school classes as well.

Andrew Filer/Flickr Unfortunately, adding the high school didn’t last, as enrollment was very low, and those classes were discontinued in 1935. In the 1950s, I-94 was built straight through town.

It didn’t take long for Crystal Springs to begin fading after that.

Dawn Hopkins/Flickr In 1993, the Post Office officially closed, and residents were leaving in droves. The town was officially dying, and today, only a few buildings - and plenty of memories - are left.

Today, you can still visit and check out some homes and buildings that still stand.

Andrew Filer/Flickr There’s a small population of folks who come here for church services, but other than that, Crystal Springs is nothing short of an official ghost town.

To see Crystal Springs on a map, check out Google Maps. There are many ghost towns – and dying towns – in North Dakota; which ones are the ones that intrigue you the most?

Andrew Filer/Flickr

Soon enough, people began filing in, and it became more official. It was named after the nearby Crystal Springs Lake, and in the beginning, only about 100 Polish families called the town home. By 1884, though, there would be a Post Office, making it an officially-official “on-the-map” town.

There were just ten children enrolled at the school, but the community was a tight-knit one all the same.

As the population grew, a church was added, and so was a pool hall. Crystal Springs was on the up-and-up.

Unfortunately, adding the high school didn’t last, as enrollment was very low, and those classes were discontinued in 1935. In the 1950s, I-94 was built straight through town.

Dawn Hopkins/Flickr

In 1993, the Post Office officially closed, and residents were leaving in droves. The town was officially dying, and today, only a few buildings - and plenty of memories - are left.

There’s a small population of folks who come here for church services, but other than that, Crystal Springs is nothing short of an official ghost town.

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Address: Crystal Springs, ND 58467, USA