How This Abandoned Texas Ghost Towns Video Is Crazy Wrong

I love a good video about ghost towns. The history is usually fascinating. The buildings are spooky. Most of the time, these videos are a great way to see places you would normally ever get a chance to look at.

However, this video about ghost towns in the Texas panhandle couldn't have gotten it more wrong.

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The Difference Between A Ghost Town And A Quiet Small Town

Small towns catch a lot of crap just for being small. Most people think they're boring and the inhabitants are all backwards yokels. It isn't right, and it isn't fair.

These towns are quiet. There's no hustle and bustle. I grew up in a town like that, and I loved it. Just because you don't see people everywhere, running around like chickens with their heads twisted off, doesn't mean that it's a ghost town.

People are just at home taking it easy.

I looked up a guide on how to classify ghost towns that was put together by people who make ghost towns their business, beyond just getting views. To be classified as a ghost town, the town must be mostly abandoned. Only a small handful of residents or part-time residents may remain. No businesses are in operation.

So, What Makes This Video So Bad?

What makes this video so insanely bad is that it uses places that aren't ghost towns. Every town has its share of empty houses and abandoned buildings. It doesn't mean its a ghost town.

I could drive through certain parts of Amarillo and make it look like Yellow City is a ghost town. You can do that for any town, honestly.

Claude is tiny. Is it a ghost town? No.

Clarendon is tiny. Is it a ghost town? No.

Memphis is tiny. Ghost town? I wouldn't say so.

Ask any of the thousands of residents spread across those towns, and they'll probably agree with me.

Stop Labeling Small Towns "Ghost Towns" For Clicks

Ghost towns don't have high school football teams. Ghost towns don't have active colleges in them. Ghost towns don't have populations over 1,000 (according to the census info I was able to find).

I'm all about learning about ghost towns and their history. I'm not all about labeling a town a ghost town just because it's in the middle of nowhere and doesn't have a Starbucks (which a lot of small towns are now starting to get, by the way).