Exploring Places Built Around a Single Purpose

Across the world, there are towns that were founded—and still exist—because of a single industry. These places are shaped by mining, oil drilling, scientific research, or even space exploration. Some thrive, some struggle, and others become eerie ghost towns when their industry declines. Here’s a look at some of the most intriguing single-industry towns and what it’s like to visit them.

1. Mining Towns: Built on Precious Resources

Many towns sprang up around gold, coal, or diamond mines, often in remote locations.

• Pyramiden, Svalbard (Norway): A Soviet-era coal mining town abandoned in the 1990s, now frozen in time with empty buildings and Soviet monuments.
• Kolmanskop, Namibia: A former diamond mining town swallowed by the desert, now a popular ghost town for photographers.
• Broken Hill, Australia: One of the longest-running mining towns, famous for its deep history in silver and zinc extraction.

2. Space Industry Towns: Launch Sites and Science Hubs

Some towns exist solely to support space research and rocket launches.

• Baikonur, Kazakhstan: Built for the Soviet Union’s space program, this town still operates as a major launch site for Russia’s missions.
• Korolev, Russia: Home to the Russian space agency and mission control, essential to cosmonaut training.
• Cocoa Beach, Florida (USA): The support town for NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, where Apollo and SpaceX missions launch.

3. Oil Boomtowns: Riches and Risks

Oil and gas towns often experience rapid expansion and economic swings based on energy demands.

• Williston, North Dakota (USA): A town that grew explosively due to the oil boom, attracting thousands of workers.
• Fort McMurray, Canada: Built around Alberta’s oil sands, a high-stakes industry town shaped by both wealth and environmental debates.
• Ghawar, Saudi Arabia: A town existing for the world’s largest oil field, crucial to global energy production.

4. Factory Towns: Where Work Defines Life

Some towns revolve around a single factory or industrial plant.

• Ciudad Guayana, Venezuela: Entirely planned around the steel and aluminum industries.
• Toyota City, Japan: Named after the car company, this town’s economy depends entirely on the automobile giant.
• Foxconn City, China: A massive manufacturing hub producing Apple and other electronics, with dormitories housing thousands of workers.

5. Military and Research Towns: Hidden from the World

Certain towns were built for defense, nuclear research, or secret projects.

• Oak Ridge, Tennessee (USA): A secret city during WWII, where scientists worked on the Manhattan Project.
• Los Alamos, New Mexico (USA): Birthplace of the atomic bomb, still an important research site.
• Zheleznogorsk, Russia: A closed Soviet town dedicated to nuclear and space research, still restricted to outsiders.

What Happens When the Industry Leaves?

Some of these towns fade into ghost towns, while others adapt. Places like Detroit (once a car industry hub) have reinvented themselves, while others, like many former coal towns, struggle with economic decline.

Visiting Industry Towns

Exploring these places offers a unique glimpse into history, economics, and the way entire communities are built around one purpose. Some are thriving, others are eerie reminders of a different era, but all tell a compelling story of human ambition and resilience.