Lost Americana
Lost Americana - State By State
Mouse over the red dots below marking each of the states I have traveled through documenting Lost Americana.
Read the brief overview in the pop-up box, or click the dot for a more detailed look at the state. Most states will include a collection of photos, as well as my experiences stories traveling through them. This section is part state biography & personal journal and is intended to change over time.
Montana
Known as Big Sky Country, it's the 4th largest state, but 3rd for density, averaging 7 people per square mile. (click the red button for more)
New Mexico
(click the red button for more)
Colorado
Rural towns in the mountains were saved by tourism. The eastern plains towns have not been as lucky. (click the red button for more)
Iowa
an Iowa State study showed from 2010-13 the majority of the state communities shrank. (click the red button for more)
Illinois
The Prairie State.
Also my home state. Lost Americana started here. With the rise in corn prices in recent years, I've been finding many small towns bouncing back and finding abandoned barns harder. (click the red button for more)
Wisconsin
(click the red button for more)
Minnesota
30% of Rural Minnesota households have a person over the age of 65. (click the red button for more)
North Dakota
As of 2014 it was the fast growing state. But will the oil boom help small rural towns?
(click the red button for more)
Kentucky
The state grew by 6% from 2000-2010, but rural areas in the east & west saw an average 5% drop. (click the red button for more)
Georgia
Even with more labor needed for fruit farming, Georgia's rural population is in decline.
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New York
The Empire State has seen a population decline in 40 of its 62 counties over the last 5 years. (click the red button for more)
Nebraska
(click the red button for more)
Maryland
(click the red button for more)
Virginia
(click the red button for more)
Wyoming
The Cowboy State. Home to Yellowstone National Park. The state's main agricultural commodities are beef & hay. (click the red button for more)
Kansas
Kansas is estimated to have over 6,000 ghost towns. With 89% of towns under 3,000 residents, that number is sure to grow. (click the red button for more)
Oklahoma
Famous for being the center of the Dust Bowl, parts of the panhandle lost 21% of their population between 2000-2010. (click the red button for more)
Texas
Texas has more farms than any other state in the nation. (click the red button for more)
Arkansas
(click the red button for more)
Louisiana
Parts of rural Louisiana have seen a 50-75% population decrease since 1940. (click the red button for more)
Missouri
The Show me State will have more to show soon, I promise (click the red button for more)
Indiana
The "Small Town" singer John Mellencamp grew up in & sang about lost 3% of it's population in the last 10 years. (click the red button for more)
Michigan
Known for a declining urban population, Michigan might be the only state seeing an increase in rural areas. (click the red button for more)
South Dakota
(click the red button for more)
©1995-2021 Vincent David Johnson