Instead of towns that disappeared, today we look at towns that never existed. Through my research I’ve found four categories of these so-called Paper Towns A town planned out on paper that never really took off. A town that was never meant to exist, but was advertised simply as a scam for investors. An area incorporated for political reasons, such as a town on the edge of a larger town incorporated to prevent annexation into the larger town.  The town provides no services, but exists on paper only. A copyright trap.   Links to more information: Kingsberry Find-a-Grave Kingsberry article by Louise Pettus Landsford Canal Lock Keeper's House - Library of Congress Paper Town Copyright Traps Phantom Settlements What Is a Paper Town?