Appleton

Appleton is a ghost town in Persifer Township, Knox County, Illinois, sitting about a mile north of U.S. Highway 150 and Interstate 74. Knox County Highway 12 passes through on a north-south axis, and BNSF Railway tracks cross through on an east-west alignment. Court Creek winds through the old townsite before joining the Spoon River to the south at Dahinda.

Visitors will find little more than a quiet rural crossroads. The railway and highway infrastructure remain active, but Appleton itself offers no developed amenities, interpretive signage, or preserved structures to speak of. It is the kind of stop that appeals to ghost town enthusiasts and history-minded travelers who appreciate the atmosphere of a place that once supported a community.