Ghost Town of the Week: January 11th, 2015: Oketo

Unlike my previous towns I've posted, Oketo still has some life; it's still an incorporated town and had a population in the 2010 census of 66. But it's declined rather rapidly in population over the last few decades and I consider it a Semi-Ghost Town. And it's pretty cool.

Oketo's tiny downtown. Most buildings are unused but still preserved as part of a historical museum.

Oketo is located in far northern Marshall County and is just two miles from the Nebraska line. The town still has a number of well-preserved limestone buildings in its downtown. I think only the post office and one other building are still in use as active businesses, but the rest appear to have been turned into a historical museum.

The landmark building in the town is their old bank, which appears to be the headquarters of the town's museum now.

The town doesn't have a whole lot of dilapidated abandoned buildings as a lot of them have been torn down. Marshall County must have some money, because the little town has a brand-new fire station.

Oketo's brand-new Fire Station. The building is surrounded by empty lots.

Their limestone Post Office, one of the very few buildings still in use in their old downtown.

The town's not attractive to people who want to see abandoned dilapidated buildings, but the history with the old downtown is really cool in my opinion. Check out the little quiet place sometime.

Oketo's little watertower, set in front of empty farmland.