Picher, Oklahoma, was a thriving town in the early 20th century due to its lead and zinc mining industry. However, the industry declined, leaving behind toxic waste and contaminated water. The Environmental Protection Agency declared Picher a Superfund Site in 1983 and began buying up properties. The town’s population dwindled, and in 2008, an EF-4 tornado struck, causing further destruction and prompting more residents to leave. In 2009, Oklahoma officially disincorporated Picher, and by 2010, the population was down to just 20. Today, Picher is an abandoned ghost town with boarded-up buildings and toxic chat piles.
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