8. Terlingua, Texas
Terlingua is a mining town on the border of Mexico, that mined out eventually and forced the miners to walk away, leave their homes and belongings behind.
At its peak, there were 3,000 inhabitants in 1903, but as the last Census in 2010 shows, only 58 people stayed in the town. Those who stayed, are making good money from the tourists that frequently visit the town, and stop to see the ruins and the abandoned buildings that still stand.
The town was once famous, known as the largest producer of mercury in the 18th century. It became a mining hub, owned by Chisos Mining Company. Terlingua produced 40 percent of the total mercury used in World War I.
Nonetheless, as the demand for mercury significantly reduced, the Chisos Mining Company had to file for bankruptcy. The closure of the mines has made 90 percent of the inhabitants leave the town, quickly turning Terlingua into a ghost town.
If you’re interested in visiting this place, you’ll find an almost-abandoned city made up of old buildings barely standing, mine shafts, tall tales, crotchety old-timers, cactus and other ruins.
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