South Boardman, Michigan: Founded 1872, Abandoned 1923

South Boardman, Michigan is described as a "real, live ghost town" as found in the book, "Michigan Ghost Towns of the Lower Peninsula" and is located about 25 miles southeast of Traverse City, near the Traverse City State Forest.

I prefer to call it a "shadow town", as there are still a handful of residents and buildings.

South Boardman was settled in 1872 and had a population of a mere 25. By 1918 the populace had grown to about 400 people and business was prosperous, thanks to the logging industry.

At one time, this little town boasted having:
5 SALOONS
4 CHURCHES
3 LUMBER MILLS
2 HOTELS
1 POST OFFICE
1 BOARDINGHOUSE
1 FLOUR MILL

Even so, early residents had no store where they could buy groceries...they had to walk 25 miles to Traverse City for their food and walk back again.

But only 5 short years later - 1923 - the town became all but deserted thanks to a fire that swept through the business district and destroyed the shops, stores and establishments, as related in "Michigan Ghost Towns of the Lower Peninsula." 

Nowadays there are still some old buildings that stand among newer structures and homes.

So if there are still some people living there, why are some people calling it a "ghost town"?

According to nbparanormal.wordpress.com, a ghost town is described as being:
"an abandoned village, town or city, usually one which contains substantial visible remains.....The term can sometimes refer to cities, towns, and neighborhoods which are still populated, but significantly less so than in years past, for example those affected by high levels of unemployment and dereliction."

It's another little interesting stop to add to this year's Michigan Roadtrip. Check it out!