If you have ever wondered about the Population & Steets in Pichler City, Oklahoma, you're not alone. The town is home to a ghost town that was once a major center for lead and zinc mining. It was in the heart of the Tri-State Mining District. But what has happened to the town? What did people do before it disappeared? How did the community manage to withstand the loss of its main industry?
The 2008 tornado destroyed more than 100 homes in Picher City, Oklahoma. After the storm, the EPA offered to purchase them and nearly all residents took the offer. Photographers Dan Watson captured the ghost town and documented the disappearance of businesses and residents. As of the time of this writing, the last business in Picher is the Burger Basket, and the ruins of the town's once vibrant population are left behind.
The population of Picher City is very diverse. Twenty-seven percent of the population was under 18 years old, while nine percent were between the ages of 25 and 44. Forty-three percent was forty-four to sixty-four years old, and 16 percent were over 65 years old. There are few shops or restaurants in Picher, and the city's landscape is brown and gray, with dry weeds and leafless trees. The town has a bright red Giant Gorilla as its mascot.