The Nation: Who's Lost?

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When a town dies, there is rarely a eulogy, a farewell or even a tear. Thus it was something of a commendable service when the U.S. Bureau of the Census took note last week of the passing of five tiny incorporated towns in the decade between counts. Lost River, Idaho, the bureau reported, had lost all 58 of its residents; Lakeside, Colo., declined from 28 to none; Westfall, Ore., from eight to none; Ridotto, Iowa, from six to none, and the lone resident of Ironton, Colo., either died or moved away. But towns, the bureau discovered, do not die easily. The inhabitants of Lost River complained loudly that any reports of the death of their town were greatly exaggerated. There are still 40 folks, mostly ranchers, living in the same Antelope Valley site, and they figure that the census bureau ought to be able to find them. Lakeside similarly claimed that it still has 17 residents, properly proud of their particular place in the world.