American ghost counties

American ghost counties 

We've all heard of ghost towns. Well, it isn't just towns that disappear.Ghost Counties exists - to honor the memory of these forgotten dead counties.

High unemployment and foreclosure rates, combined with overbuilding before the economy went south, have meant that once-booming areas – many of them tourist destinations -- have become modern-day "ghost counties." We review 10 American cities with vacancy rates of more than 55 percent, according to 24/7 Wall St.

Lake County, Mich

 Long a vacation and fishing destination for residents of nearby industrial centers, such as a once-booming city and a car-centric city, Lake County has seen its fortunes decline as the number of second-home owners there has dropped.

Vilas County, Wis

 This county, located on Wisconsin's northern border has depended on tourism and logging, forestry and construction industries – all of which have declined dramatically during the recession.

Summit County, Co

 A major drop in revenue in this area  home to several ski resorts west of its capital city, has hit hard, and property values are projected to keep falling.
Worcester County, Md

 The easternmost county in the state has a distinctive location but has experienced an unenviable drop in its tax base.

Mono County California

 Ironically home to an official "gold rush" town, this county near a major mountain chain and a national park in the east-central part of the state has seen a huge drop in property tax receipts.

Dare County, N.C

 Yet another vacation destination hard-hit by huge drops in tourism, Dare County's seaside location hasn't been able to weather the recent economic storm without drops in the tax base and county services.

Dukes County, Mass

 Still home to a popular summer destination Dukes County now empties during the colder months of the year, and property values have fallen accordingly.

Sawyer County, Wis

 This county in the northwest corner of Wisconsin has been hit hard by a drop in visitors coming for outdoor recreation opportunities.

Burnett County, Wisconsin

 This western Wisconsin county  not far from a twin city, has faced a decline in population and a foreclosure wave that have devastated its vacation home communities.

Aitkin County Minn

This recreational hub in north-central Minnesota, like other rural tourist regions, has been hit hard by the recession. It's a hub for fishing and a winter sport.