The Nation: Who's Lost?

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....