While the town is not exactly abandoned, it has seen more prosperous days. Once known as the ‘Iron capital of the world’ due to the rich iron-ore fields to the north, Ironton, Ohio saw its greatest fortunes come from heavy industry. During the 1970s and 1980s, many industries closed, leaving thousands jobless. The town was referred to as being located in the ‘rust belt’ and is only just now recovering after many years of neglect.
