I was looking up different ghost towns in Oklahoma and stumbled across a documentary on YouTube about a town that's abandoned and even worse than that, the town is toxic, literally.

KZCD-FM logo
Get our free mobile app

Before today I had never heard of this place, it's a really crazy and heartbreaking story. The now-empty town of Picher, OK. is located in the far Northeast corner of the state in Ottawa, County.

Picher, Oklahoma is the most dangerous & toxic ghost town in the United States

YouTube.com- Arielle Farve
YouTube.com- Arielle Farve
loading...

It was once a mining town that was a part of the Zinc and Lead Tri-State Mining District that was in operation from the mid-1800s to the late 1960s. Due to over-mining and improper techniques, the entire town became toxic. Mining ceased back in 1967 and the town slowly died, in 2009 it was officially disincorporated.

Hit play on the video below to learn more about the ghost town of Picher, OK.

The town has areas that are completely filled with chat or mine tails that contain dangerous amounts of Lead, Zinc, and other metals. This poisoned the land and water making Picher unfit for humans and animals alike. It's one of the few places in the U.S. that has been declared uninhabitable due to mining contamination.

KEEP SCROLLING TO WATCH ANOTHER VIDEO ABOUT THIS OK. GHOST TOWN

Back in the early to mid-1900s the Picher, OK. mines provided close to 50% of all the lead and other metals needed by the U.S. Military during WWI and going into WWII.

This town has seen everything from mining contamination to massive tornadoes

YouTube.com- Arielle Farve
YouTube.com- Arielle Farve
loading...

Most of the ammo and other munitions used during the wars contained Picher metals. Picher was the most productive Zinc and Lead mine in the Tri-State Mining District. But it came at a great cost and ended up destroying the town in the end.

Watch the video below for more details on the most dangerous ghost town in Oklahoma

The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) has listed Picher, OK. as the most toxic and dangerous city in the U.S. There are a few people who still live there, around 20 total. A few houses remain and one business is still open in the town. The rest has either fallen down or has been demolished.

SEE THE TOP 5 MOST FRIGHTENING OK. MYTHS & MONSTERS BELOW

Cleanup efforts have been ongoing and continue to this day. The damage that was done due to mining was catastrophic and the entire area will be uninhabitable pretty much forever even with the cleanup and removal of toxic materials. This is one Oklahoma ghost town that you really don't want to visit.

The Top 5 most frightening Oklahoma myths & monsters

These five frightening Oklahoma myths and monsters will keep you up at night. We're talking about pure nightmare fuel. No matter what you believe or where you live you aren't safe from these legendary fiends of absolute terror. You can find these sinister creatures in the deep woods, lakes, and even within city limits across the Sooner State. Even your home isn't safe from these monstrous beasts. If you've lived here for a while you may have heard of some, maybe even all of these mythological and supernatural monsters below.

Gallery Credit: Don "Critter" Brown

Top 10 terrifying towns & creepy cities in Oklahoma

While Oklahoma is well known for its beauty and friendly people there are a few places in the Sooner State you'll want to avoid. These are the most terrifying towns and scary cities in the state. It's not that they're bad places, or plagued with crime and other negative factors. The towns and cities below have one single thing in common. They all have active paranormal and supernatural phenomenons. From ghost stories to urban legends and tragic tales. A lot of these places are well known to those who live in Oklahoma and even all over the nation. If you're looking to get scared or do a little ghost hunting you can start with the list below.

Gallery Credit: Don "Critter" Brown

Lake Altus-Lugert and SWOK's Underwater Ghost Town

Like most rare things, conditions have to be just right to see one of Oklahoma's hidden gems. In years of good and average rainfall, the lost town of Lugert stays buried beneath the waves... but in dry years, especially those stricken by drought, you can walk around this pre-statehood townsite while enjoying one of Oklahoma's prettiest areas, Quartz Mountain State Park.

Gallery Credit: Kelso

The Dreadful Downtown Hauntings of Lawton, OK.

When it comes to ghost tales and hauntings Lawton, Fort Sill has more than a few scary stories to tell. The most active hauntings and paranormal/supernatural occurrences that have been reported seem to be centered around downtown Lawton. If you've lived here a while I'm sure you've heard a few of these terrifying tales yourself. If not check out the photo gallery below of the dreadful downtown hauntings of Lawton, OK.

Gallery Credit: Don "Critter" Brown

More From KZCD-FM