The Tiny Ghost Town Of Brocksburg In Nebraska Has All But Disappeared

An untold number of towns have come and gone over the course of Nebraska’s history for a variety of reasons. Some of them linger in some way, while others have all but disappeared in every way but in memories. The little village of Brocksburg in Keya Paha County no longer appears on maps, and most people won’t remember it…but it’s left little reminders of its existence on the land.

Brocksburg was located in north-central Nebraska, not far from Highway 137. While it’s still officially a census-designated place and there are rural homes in the vicinity, no people now occupy the former town.

Google Maps

There are, however, still buildings and other remnants of human civilization here. The old school is reportedly still standing, and visitors have taken to writing their names on the old blackboard.

flickr/Andrew Filer

Homes, barns, sheds, and a few other buildings sit lonely and decaying on this town site; they have almost begun to meld into the earth as the years have gone by.

Andrew Filer (Brocksburg, NebraskaUploaded by AlbertHerring) [CC BY-SA 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Some are worse off than others. A few buildings still look as though you could walk right in and set up a home there. Others look like they may not be long for this world.

flickr/Andrew Filer

Brocksburg was always a tiny town, but at one point it was large enough to enjoy its own post office from 1899 to 1957.

flickr/Andrew Filer

A number of factors led to Brocksburg’s disappearance. The consolidation of farms and ranches, the loss of essential services like grocery stores, and residents relocating to find work were all likely contributors to the eventual abandonment of this previous town.

Andrew Filer (Brocksburg, NebraskaUploaded by AlbertHerring) [CC BY-SA 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Most people seem to have forgotten that Brocksburg ever existed. Folks who grew up in this area have fond memories of this tiny, peaceful town. And eventually, those fond memories will be all that’s left of Brocksburg.

Google Maps

flickr/Andrew Filer

Andrew Filer (Brocksburg, NebraskaUploaded by AlbertHerring) [CC BY-SA 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

There are plenty of fascinating ghost town stories in Nebraska. For one of the creepiest, check out this story from the archives.

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.