MICHIGAN GHOST TOWN: Columbus, in St. Clair County

The St. Clair County ghost town of Columbus was founded in 1832 and settled in 1833, after the Gratiot Turnpike (now known as Gratiot Road) was finished.

It was basically a postal stop and became a railway station along the Grand Trunk Railroad. The original post office closed down in 1904; then, a nearby settlement named Hickey transferred its post office to the area which then became known as Columbus, after explorer Christopher Columbus.

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When that post office finally went kaput in 1940, so did the town. Now there are no businesses left, except the old Columbus grain elevator.

The pictures below show what Columbus looks like now and some atlases from 1876 and 1916, thanks to historical mapworks.

Just 2 ½ miles east of Columbus is the site of a very strange, gruesome Michigan murder, at the intersection of Rattle Run Road and Mayer Road. CLICK HERE to read about it!

LOOK: Here are the 25 best places to live in Michigan

Stacker compiled a list of the best places to live in Michigan using data from Niche. Niche ranks places to live based on a variety of factors including cost of living, schools, health care, recreation, and weather. Cities, suburbs, and towns were included. Listings and images are from realtor.com.

On the list, there's a robust mix of offerings from great schools and nightlife to high walkability and public parks. Some areas have enjoyed rapid growth thanks to new businesses moving to the area, while others offer glimpses into area history with well-preserved architecture and museums. Keep reading to see if your hometown made the list.

MICHIGAN GHOST TOWN: Columbus, in St. Clair County

LOOK: Here are the 25 best places to live in Michigan

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