Fayette
State: Michigan
County: Delta County
Founded: 1867
Abandoned: 1891
Peak Population: 500
Fayette is one of the best-preserved industrial ghost towns in the Midwest. The Jackson Iron Company produced 230,000 tons of pig iron here using charcoal smelting in a stunning Lake Michigan harbor setting. When the hardwood forests ran out, they shut down. Now a Michigan State Park with 22+ restored buildings.
Quick Facts
- Named for Fayette Brown, president of Jackson Iron Company
- Limestone cliffs provided flux for smelting
- Hardwood forests depleted themselves into closure
- One of best-preserved industrial ghost towns in Midwest
Location
Address: Garden Peninsula, Delta County, Michigan
Coordinates: 45.7178, -86.6717