Bethel Ghost Town
Clay County, Illinois38.7042, -88.6881
Can you visit?
Likely private land
Private or unlisted land · Ask the owner first
- Nearest town
- 11 miLouisville, IL
- Mild months
- Mar–Nov9 of 12
- Elevation
- 520 ft157 m
Bethel is an abandoned town in Clay County, Illinois. It lies at about 520 feet above sea level.
On the map
- Private or unlisted
Star: Bethel. Dots: other ghost towns within 40 miles, colored by land manager. Squares: towns over 1,000 people. Rings are straight-line distance. Live map: © OpenFreeMap, OpenMapTiles, OpenStreetMap contributors.
The closest town with more than 1,000 people is Louisville, IL, about 11 miles northeast in a straight line. The nearest city over 50,000 is Evansville, IN, 80 miles away.
Ghost towns nearby
- Piankashawtown37 mi southeast
- Wanborough39 mi southeast
- Mills Prairie41 mi east
- Lexington44 mi southeast
- Fremont45 mi west
- Elm Point47 mi northwest
- Palmyra53 mi east
- Crawfordsville56 mi east
Distances are straight lines. Roads to ruins are often dirt, and a 20-mile hop can take an hour.
Who owns the land
Private or unlisted land
The point we have for this town is not on any public or protected parcel in PAD-US, the national map of public land. That usually means private land. Ruins on private land are off limits without the owner's permission, even when no fence or sign is visible. Look from the public road.
The point is the town location from Wikidata, and the land record is from PAD-US 3.0 (USGS). Ruins can spread past that point, and land changes hands faster than the database. How we read PAD-US.
Weather by month
Mild months here run March to November, judging by NOAA normals from Flora 5 Nw. July to August bring 10 or more days at 90°F and up; snow is normal from December to March.
NOAA 1991–2020 normals from the Flora 5 Nw station (USC00113109), 6.1 miles away. About 46.4 inches of precipitation a year.
Facts
| Location | Clay County, Illinois |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 38.70420, -88.68810 |
| Elevation | 520 ft (157 m) |
| Also known as | Bethel, Illinois, Bethel, IL |
| Sources | Wikidata Q4897817 · Wikipedia article |
Questions
Where is Bethel ghost town?
In Clay County, Illinois, at 38.7042, -88.6881. The closest town with more than 1,000 people is Louisville, IL, about 11 miles northeast in a straight line. The nearest city over 50,000 is Evansville, IN, 80 miles away.
Can you visit Bethel?
Likely private land. The point we have for this town is not on any public or protected parcel in PAD-US, the national map of public land. That usually means private land. Ruins on private land are off limits without the owner's permission, even when no fence or sign is visible. Look from the public road.
When is the best time to visit Bethel?
Mild months here run March to November, judging by NOAA normals from Flora 5 Nw. July to August bring 10 or more days at 90°F and up; snow is normal from December to March.
Are there other ghost towns near Bethel?
Yes. Piankashawtown (37 mi), Wanborough (39 mi).
