Rhode Island has a lengthy and fascinating history, much of which has been well-preserved. But unlike the rest of New England, something it doesn't have is a ghost town... at least, not anymore. Rumor has it that a colonial-era ghost town by the name of Hanton City once existed, and it served quite a purpose when it did.
Hanton City is also known as Lost City, especially to the residents of Smithfield.
That's where this tiny settlement was located. The Hanton City community was a small farming town that was noticeably isolated from the main town of Smithfield. Exact dates are unknown, but it is thought to have been formed sometime around 1776.
But were the residents of Hanton City isolating themselves on purpose, or were they forced into it? There are several theories.
Some think that the town was made up of runaway slaves, lepers, or victims of some other communicable disease. Others assume they simply chose to form an enclave of like-minded people. One other likely theory is that the town was made up of a small group of Loyalists who remained devoted to England.
But whatever their reasons, the residents of Hanton City remained isolated from the rest of Rhode Island... until the little town slowly disappeared.
Nothing dramatic happened, at least not on record. Research indicates that the town was founded by three families: the Paines, Hantons, and Shippees. The town residents simply left, and the last members of the Hanton family to reside there died around 1900.
These days, all that remains of Hanton City are several stone foundations, a burial site, a defunct dam, and scattering of stone walls.
The three headstones at the burial site all have the last name of Smith.
Surprisingly, there is hardly a mention of this lost city in most of Rhode Island's records.
Curious visitors will have an extremely difficult time locating its remains, as online directions aren't always accurate and the land is owned by The Dow Chemical Company. It's almost as if Rhode Island's forgotten city never even existed.
Have you ever heard of Hanton City?
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