Phantom settlement

Not to be confused with Ghost town.

Phantom settlements are settlements that appear on maps but do not actually exist. They are either accidents or copyright traps. Notable examples include Argleton, Lancashire, UK and Beatosu and Goblu, Ohio, USA.[1].

Agloe, New York was invented on a 1930s map as a phantom settlement. In 1950, a general store was built there and named Agloe General Store, as that was the name seen on the map. Therefore, the phantom settlement actually became a real one.

There are also misnamed settlements such as the villages of Mawdesky and Dummy1325 in Lancashire, UK, on Google Maps. [2]

See also

References

  1. ^ Punt, Steve (2010) Punt PI, Series 3, Episode 1, BBC Radio Four, Aired 17 September 2010 Accessed September 17 2010
  2. ^ Byrne, Michael (2009) See the new villages of Mawdesky and Dummy 1325 on Google MapsvNov 20 2009, Southport Visiter Accessed 17th September 2010