Which US state has the most reportedly haunted places?

California, with 17 of the 261 places on Wikipedia's list of reportedly haunted locations that could be scored, followed by Alabama (15) and New York (15). 9 states have none: Alaska, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Nebraska, New Hampshire, Vermont, Wyoming.

Are reportedly haunted places in more violent parts of America?

Slightly, and at both ends. The median reportedly haunted place sits at the 56th percentile of the Haunting Index, weighted by where Americans live. 29% of them fall in the most violent fifth of the country and 23% in the least violent fifth. Ghost stories cluster in colonial New England, among the safest ground, and the antebellum South, among the deadliest.

Which reportedly haunted place has the highest Haunting Index?

McRaven House in Warren, Mississippi, at 87.7: 24.3 homicides and 14.8 suicides per 100,000 people a year recorded within fifty-five miles. The lowest is Jenny Lind Tower in Barnstable, Massachusetts, at 16.6.

What does the Haunting Index measure?

For each of the 3,142 US counties, the homicides and suicides recorded on death certificates within about fifty-five miles, per 100,000 residents per year, with a homicide counted as 3 suicides by default. It describes recorded deaths. It does not measure anyone's risk, and it does not claim that anywhere is haunted.

Where does the data come from?

County Health Rankings' March 2026 analytic supplement (release 2026-03-25), which repackages NCHS Mortality Files (death certificates), pooled over 7 years for homicide and 5 for suicide; Census Bureau population estimates; and English Wikipedia's category of reportedly haunted locations in the United States. Every source is public, keyless and linked on the page.

A Field Guide to Fear · Instrument 04

The Haunting Index

Every one of the 3142 US counties, weighted by the homicides and suicides recorded on death certificates within fifty-five miles — and the 261 places Wikipedia calls reportedly haunted, dropped on top of it.

Folklore does not avoid deadly ground. The median reportedly haunted place in America sits at the 56th percentile of violent death, weighted by where people actually live. American ghost stories cluster at two poles instead — colonial New England, which is among the safest ground in the country, and the antebellum South, which is among the deadliest. What they have in common is a preserved old building and a ticket booth.

Colour

A murder counts this many suicides

3×

Reportedly haunted places (261)

Kernelσ = 55.5 mi

16.6222.9 too little data to shade reportedly haunted

Counties

Ranked · per 100k per year · murder 3×

Rank	County	State	Homicide	Suicide	Index
1	Kusilvak	AK	34.4	119.7	222.9
2	Bethel	AK	22.3	70	136.9
3	Yukon-Koyukuk	AK	23.3	59.8	129.7
4	Washington	MS	26.4	15	94.2
5	Sharkey	MS	26	14.7	92.7
6	Humphreys	MS	25.9	14.5	92.2
7	Issaquena	MS	25.7	15	92.1
8	Sunflower	MS	25.7	14.7	91.8
9	Chicot	AR	25.3	15.7	91.6
10	Bolivar	MS	25.2	15.2	90.8
11	East Carroll	LA	25.1	15.4	90.7
12	Leflore	MS	24.7	14.5	88.6
13	West Carroll	LA	24.2	15.9	88.5
14	Yazoo	MS	24.6	14.3	88.1
15	Desha	AR	24	15.9	87.9
16	Warren	MS	24.4	14.7	87.9
17	Madison	LA	23.9	15.3	87.0
18	Coahoma	MS	23.8	14.8	86.2
19	Holmes	MS	23.7	14.3	85.4
20	Quitman	MS	23.4	14.5	84.7
21	Tallahatchie	MS	23.4	14.5	84.7
22	Bennett	SD	15.9	36.7	84.4
23	Hinds	MS	23.2	14.5	84.1
24	Phillips	AR	22.9	15.2	83.9
25	Tunica	MS	22.9	14.7	83.4
26	Apache	AZ	15.5	36.8	83.3
27	Ashley	AR	22.1	16.8	83.1
28	Claiborne	MS	22.7	14.9	83.0
29	Drew	AR	22	16.9	82.9
30	Carroll	MS	22.6	14.5	82.3
31	Tensas	LA	22.3	15.4	82.3
32	Morehouse	LA	21.8	16.6	82.0
33	Madison	MS	22.5	14.3	81.8
34	DeSoto	MS	22.4	14.6	81.8
35	Tate	MS	22.4	14.5	81.7
36	Panola	MS	22.4	14.5	81.7
37	Lee	AR	22.1	15.2	81.5
38	Crittenden	AR	22.1	15	81.3
39	Richland	LA	21.6	16.3	81.1
40	Shelby	TN	21.9	14.8	80.5
41	Arkansas	AR	21.3	16.4	80.3
42	St. Francis	AR	21.6	15.3	80.1
43	Franklin	LA	21.3	16	79.9
44	Grenada	MS	21.7	14.5	79.6
45	Jefferson	MS	21.4	15	79.2
46	Lincoln	AR	20.5	17.2	78.7
47	Copiah	MS	21.3	14.7	78.6
48	Cross	AR	20.9	15.7	78.4
49	Monroe	AR	20.6	16.1	77.9
50	Yalobusha	MS	21.1	14.6	77.9
51	Tipton	TN	20.9	15.2	77.9
52	Navajo	AZ	13.4	37.3	77.5
53	Rankin	MS	21	14.5	77.5
54	Marshall	MS	20.9	14.8	77.5
55	Mississippi	AR	20.4	15.7	76.9
56	Montgomery	MS	20.7	14.6	76.7
57	Poinsett	AR	20.2	16	76.6
58	Fayette	TN	20.5	15.1	76.6
59	Lafayette	MS	20.4	14.7	75.9
60	Attala	MS	20.4	14.5	75.7

Reportedly haunted places

261 places · median sits at the 56th percentile of where Americans live

Place	County and state	Homicide	Suicide	Index	Pctl
McRaven House	Warren, MS	24.3	14.8	87.7	100
Chapel of the Cross (Mannsdale, Mississippi)	Madison, MS	22.9	14.3	83.0	100
Orpheum Theatre (Memphis)	Shelby, TN	22.2	14.8	81.4	100
King's Tavern	Adams, MS	20.1	15.3	75.6	99
Brennan's	Orleans, LA	18.3	14.4	69.3	99
Haunting of the Octoroon Mistress	Orleans, LA	18.3	14.4	69.3	99
Myrtles Plantation	West Feliciana, LA	17.8	14.7	68.1	98
Stuckey's Bridge	Lauderdale, MS	16.2	15.3	63.9	98
Cahaba, Alabama	Dallas, AL	16.1	15.1	63.4	98
Cahaba Prison	Dallas, AL	16.1	15.1	63.4	98
Riley Center	Lauderdale, MS	16	15.3	63.3	98
Pigford Building	Lauderdale, MS	16	15.2	63.2	98
Sturdivant Hall	Dallas, AL	16	15	63.0	98
Kenworthy Hall	Perry, AL	15.9	14.8	62.5	98
KiMo Theater	Bernalillo, NM	12.7	24	62.1	97
Eliza Battle	Marengo, AL	15.5	15.4	61.9	97
Lemp Mansion	St. Louis, MO	15	16.3	61.3	97
Gurdon Light	Clark, AR	13.8	19.8	61.2	97
Huntingdon College	Montgomery, AL	15.3	15.2	61.1	97
Red Lady of Huntingdon College	Montgomery, AL	15.3	15.2	61.1	97
McPike Mansion	Jersey, IL	14.8	16.2	60.6	96
Cherokee Plantation (Natchez, Louisiana)	Natchitoches, LA	14.3	17.4	60.3	96
Dr. John R. Drish House	Tuscaloosa, AL	15	15.1	60.1	96
Penitentiary of New Mexico	Santa Fe, NM	11.9	23.8	59.5	96
Santa Fe courthouse ghost	Santa Fe, NM	11.7	23.9	59.0	96
James T. Staples	Choctaw, AL	14.2	16.4	59.0	96
Hotel Alex Johnson	Pennington, SD	9.9	27.9	57.6	95
Mount Nebo Cemetery	Washington, AL	12.2	17.3	53.9	94
Bullock Hotel	Lawrence, SD	9	26.4	53.4	94
Elmwood Cemetery (Kansas City, Missouri)	Jackson, MO	11.4	18.5	52.7	94
Epperson House	Wyandotte, KS	11.3	18.5	52.4	94
Coates House Hotel	Wyandotte, KS	11.3	18.5	52.4	94
University of Missouri–Kansas City	Wyandotte, KS	11.3	18.5	52.4	94
Boyington Oak	Mobile, AL	11.6	17.4	52.2	94
Church Street Graveyard	Mobile, AL	11.5	17.4	51.9	94
Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument	Big Horn, MT	7.2	28.3	49.9	93
The Grove (Jefferson, Texas)	Marion, TX	10.7	17.5	49.6	93
Magnolia Plantation and Gardens (Charleston, South Carolina)	Charleston, SC	11.5	14.9	49.4	92
Ramsey Cemetery	Effingham, IL	11	16.3	49.3	92
Sallie House	Atchison, KS	10.3	18.2	49.1	92
USS Yorktown (CV-10)	Charleston, SC	11.4	14.9	49.1	92
Old Charleston Jail	Charleston, SC	11.4	14.9	49.1	92
Moon River Brewing Company	Chatham, GA	10.6	15.4	47.2	91
17 Hundred 90 Inn	Chatham, GA	10.6	15.4	47.2	91
Crystal Beer Parlor	Chatham, GA	10.6	15.4	47.2	91
Waverly Hills Sanatorium	Jefferson, KY	9.9	16.9	46.6	91
Greenwood (Alexandria, Alabama)	Calhoun, AL	10.4	15.3	46.5	91
Old Talbott Tavern	Nelson, KY	9.7	17.1	46.2	90
Igbo Landing	Glynn, GA	9.9	16.5	46.2	90
Rosemary Hall (North Augusta, South Carolina)	Richmond, GA	10.1	15.4	45.7	90
Sweetwater Mansion	Lauderdale, AL	9.6	16.7	45.5	90
Dude Rancher Lodge	Yellowstone, MT	5.9	27.6	45.3	89
Spook Bridge	Brooks, GA	9.6	16.5	45.3	89
Rocky Hill Castle	Lawrence, AL	9.5	16.7	45.2	89
Ferry Plantation House	Virginia Beach, VA	10.2	14.1	44.7	88
Mizpah Hotel	Esmeralda, NV	6	26.5	44.5	88
Bethesda Presbyterian Church (Camden, South Carolina)	Kershaw, SC	10.1	13.9	44.2	87
Givins Beverly Castle	Cook, IL	11	11	44.0	87
SS Eastland	Cook, IL	11	11	44.0	87
Former Chicago Historical Society Building	Cook, IL	11	11	44.0	87
Willard Library	Vanderburgh, IN	8.4	18.7	43.9	85
Bachelor's Grove Cemetery	Will, IL	10.9	11	43.7	85
The House of Blue Lights	Marion, IN	9.5	15.2	43.7	85
Heady Lane Cemetery	Hamilton, IN	9.5	15.2	43.7	85
Ashmore Estates	Coles, IL	9.2	15.8	43.4	84
Pemberton Hall (Eastern Illinois University)	Coles, IL	9.1	16	43.3	84
Wolf Creek Inn State Heritage Site	Josephine, OR	4.7	29.2	43.3	84
Joliet Correctional Center	Will, IL	10.6	11	42.8	83
Franklin Castle	Cuyahoga, OH	9.2	15.1	42.7	82
Eloise (psychiatric hospital)	Wayne, MI	9.5	14	42.5	82
King House (Mayport)	Duval, FL	8.6	16.5	42.3	81
Overholser Mansion	Oklahoma, OK	7.5	19.8	42.3	81
Ludwell–Paradise House	Williamsburg, VA	9.7	13.2	42.3	81
Madison Seminary	Lake, OH	8.9	15.4	42.1	80
Skirvin Hilton Hotel	Oklahoma, OK	7.4	19.8	42.0	80
Victor Hotel	Teller, CO	6.2	23.3	41.9	79
Briarcliff (mansion)	DeKalb, GA	9.3	13.9	41.8	79
Theorosa's Bridge	Harvey, KS	7.2	20.1	41.7	79
Public School Number Four	Duval, FL	8.4	16.5	41.7	79
Goldfield Hotel	Esmeralda, NV	7	20.4	41.4	78
Wood County Museum	Wood, OH	9	14.4	41.4	78
English Building (University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign)	Champaign, IL	9	14	41.0	77
George Stickney House	McHenry, IL	9.9	11.2	40.9	76
E. H. Harrison House	Hancock, IL	7.8	17.1	40.5	74
The Pfister Hotel	Milwaukee, WI	9.5	12	40.5	74
Horseshoe Las Vegas	Clark, NV	7.5	17.8	40.3	74
Bell Witch Cave	Robertson, TN	7.7	17.2	40.3	74
Big Thicket	Hardin, TX	8.8	13.8	40.2	74
Bird Cage Theatre	Cochise, AZ	5.8	22.3	39.7	73
Bonnie Springs Ranch	Clark, NV	7.5	17.1	39.6	73
Heritage Square (Fayetteville, North Carolina)	Cumberland, NC	8.8	13	39.4	72
Ohio State Reformatory	Richland, OH	8.2	14.7	39.3	72
Thomas House Hotel	Macon, TN	7.3	17.4	39.3	72
Tennessee State Prison	Davidson, TN	7.5	16.7	39.2	71
Attmore–Oliver House	Craven, NC	8.2	14.5	39.1	71
Harvey Mansion	Craven, NC	8.2	14.5	39.1	71
Gadsden Hotel	Cochise, AZ	4.8	24.6	39.0	70
Palace Theatre (Canton, Ohio)	Stark, OH	7.8	15.6	39.0	70
Garnet, Montana	Powell, MT	3.6	28.2	39.0	70
Montana State Prison	Deer Lodge, MT	3.2	29.1	38.7	70
Carnton	Williamson, TN	7.4	16.5	38.7	70
Amargosa Opera House and Hotel	Inyo, CA	7.6	15.8	38.6	69
Bobby Mackey's Music World	Hamilton, OH	7.8	15	38.4	69
Cincinnati Music Hall	Hamilton, OH	7.8	14.9	38.3	69
Spring House Gazebo	Hamilton, OH	7.8	14.9	38.3	69
Arnold's Bar and Grill	Hamilton, OH	7.8	14.9	38.3	69
Broadway Cemetery Historic District	Galveston, TX	8.6	12.2	38.0	67
St. Augustine Light	St. Johns, FL	7.2	16.2	37.8	67
Peoria State Hospital	Peoria, IL	7.9	13.9	37.6	66
Pioneer Park (Aspen, Colorado)	Pitkin, CO	4.8	23.2	37.6	66
Chateau Laroche	Warren, OH	7.6	14.8	37.6	66
Olivewood Cemetery	Harris, TX	8.4	12.1	37.3	65
Jefferson Davis Hospital	Harris, TX	8.4	12.1	37.3	65
Houston Zoo	Harris, TX	8.4	12.1	37.3	65
Middleton Tavern	Anne Arundel, MD	9	10.3	37.3	64
Monkey Island (Denver)	Denver, CO	5.5	20.7	37.2	63
Phillips' Folly	Mason, KY	7.3	15.3	37.2	63
Dumas Brothel	Silver Bow, MT	2.7	29	37.1	63
Copper King Mansion	Silver Bow, MT	2.7	29	37.1	63
Falcon Rest	Warren, TN	6.7	16.9	37.0	62
Central Unit	Fort Bend, TX	8.3	12	36.9	62
Camp Chase	Franklin, OH	7.5	14.4	36.9	61
Devil's Tramping Ground	Chatham, NC	8	12.8	36.8	60
Prospect Place	Coshocton, OH	7.2	15.2	36.8	60
Moonville, Ohio	Vinton, OH	7.1	15.5	36.8	60
Hotel Colorado	Garfield, CO	4.2	24.1	36.7	60
Mudhouse Mansion	Fairfield, OH	7.3	14.8	36.7	60
Carolina Theatre of Greensboro	Guilford, NC	7.7	13.3	36.4	57
Boulder Hot Springs Hotel	Jefferson, MT	2.6	28.2	36.0	56
Theatre in the Park	Wake, NC	7.8	12.5	35.9	56
Mordecai House	Wake, NC	7.8	12.5	35.9	56
Poplar Hill (Hillsborough, North Carolina)	Orange, NC	7.7	12.7	35.8	55
Morrill Hall (University of Maryland)	District of Columbia, DC	8.5	10.2	35.7	54
The Rossborough Inn	District of Columbia, DC	8.5	10.2	35.7	54
Olde Park Hotel	Runnels, TX	5.2	20.1	35.7	54
Gadsby's Tavern	Alexandria, VA	8.4	10.1	35.3	54
Cutts–Madison House	District of Columbia, DC	8.4	10.1	35.3	54
White House	District of Columbia, DC	8.4	10.1	35.3	54
St. John's Episcopal Church (Lafayette Square)	District of Columbia, DC	8.4	10.1	35.3	54
Hay–Adams Hotel	District of Columbia, DC	8.4	10.1	35.3	54
The Octagon House	District of Columbia, DC	8.4	10.1	35.3	54
Omni Shoreham Hotel	District of Columbia, DC	8.4	10.1	35.3	54
Benjamin Ogle Tayloe House	District of Columbia, DC	8.4	10.1	35.3	54
Bannack, Montana	Beaverhead, MT	2.4	28.1	35.3	54
Bremo Historic District	Fluvanna, VA	7.4	13	35.2	53
Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum	Lewis, WV	5.6	18.2	35.0	52
Fort Delaware	New Castle, DE	8.1	10.5	34.8	52
Crescent Hotel (Eureka Springs, Arkansas)	Carroll, AR	4.9	19.6	34.3	50
The Stanley Hotel	Larimer, CO	4.7	20.2	34.3	50
The Farnsworth House Inn	Adams, PA	7.6	11.2	34.0	50
Harrisburg State Hospital	Dauphin, PA	7.3	11.9	33.8	50
Monocacy Aqueduct	Loudoun, VA	7.7	10.4	33.5	49
Menger Hotel	Bexar, TX	6.6	13.7	33.5	49
Brown Grand Theatre	Cloud, KS	5.1	17.9	33.2	48
Battle of Ball's Bluff	Loudoun, VA	7.6	10.3	33.1	48
Riddle House	Palm Beach, FL	6.3	12.8	31.7	45
Ghostlight Theatre	Niagara, NY	6.5	11.8	31.3	42
A.D. Oliver Middle School	Monroe, NY	6.5	11.8	31.3	42
Goodleburg Cemetery	Erie, NY	6.4	12	31.2	41
Baker Hotel (Mineral Wells, Texas)	Palo Pinto, TX	5.9	13.4	31.1	41
Pennhurst State School and Hospital	Montgomery, PA	6.9	10.3	31.0	40
Terrence Building	Monroe, NY	6.3	12	30.9	39
University of Texas at Dallas	Dallas, TX	6.1	12.6	30.9	39
Hot Lake Hotel	Union, OR	4	18.7	30.7	38
Old Washoe Club	Storey, NV	4.2	18	30.6	38
Abram's Delight	Winchester, VA	6.5	11	30.5	38
Vinoy Hotel	Pinellas, FL	4.8	16.1	30.5	38
General Wayne Inn	Philadelphia, PA	6.8	9.9	30.3	37
Nevada Governor's Mansion	Carson City, NV	4.4	16.8	30.0	35
Leverington Cemetery	Philadelphia, PA	6.7	9.8	29.9	35
Railroaders Memorial Museum	Blair, PA	5.1	14.4	29.7	34
Paw Paw Tunnel	Morgan, WV	5.8	12.3	29.7	34
Jean Bonnet Tavern	Bedford, PA	5.3	13.7	29.6	33
Sumpter Valley Gold Dredge	Baker, OR	3.3	19.6	29.5	33
Hibbing High School	St. Louis, MN	2.7	21.4	29.5	33
Montgomery House Bed and Breakfast	Columbia, OR	4.1	17.1	29.4	32
St. Ignatius Hospital	Whitman, WA	3.7	18.2	29.3	32
Waldo Hall	Benton, OR	3.4	19	29.2	31
Holcomb Creek Trestle	Washington, OR	3.9	17.4	29.1	31
Tokeland Hotel	Pacific, WA	3.9	17.1	28.8	31
New Jersey Pine Barrens	Burlington, NJ	6.5	9.3	28.8	31
Skinwalker Ranch	Uintah, UT	2.7	20.5	28.6	30
Geiser Grand Hotel	Baker, OR	2.9	19.9	28.6	30
Murphys Hotel	Calaveras, CA	5.5	11.9	28.4	30
Stow House	Santa Barbara, CA	5.8	10.1	27.5	28
Glen Tavern Inn	Ventura, CA	6	9.5	27.5	28
Burlington County Prison	Burlington, NJ	6.1	9.1	27.4	27
Butterworth Building	Kitsap, WA	4.1	15.1	27.4	27
Merchant's Cafe	Kitsap, WA	4.1	15.1	27.4	27
Ghost Alley Espresso	Kitsap, WA	4.1	15.1	27.4	27
Yuma Territorial Prison	Yuma, AZ	4.9	12.6	27.3	27
Sims, North Dakota	Morton, ND	2.9	18.6	27.3	27
Kay's Cross	Davis, UT	2.6	19.5	27.3	27
Tai Tung (restaurant)	Kitsap, WA	4.1	15	27.3	27
First Methodist Protestant Church of Seattle	Kitsap, WA	4.1	15	27.3	27
Harvard Exit Theatre	Kitsap, WA	4	15	27.0	26
Sylvan Grove Theater and Columns	Kitsap, WA	4	15	27.0	26
University Heights Center	Kitsap, WA	4	15	27.0	26
University of Washington	Kitsap, WA	4	15	27.0	26
Leonis Adobe	Los Angeles, CA	5.8	9.4	26.8	25
Saltair (Utah)	Salt Lake, UT	2.5	19.2	26.7	22
Rio Theater (Monte Rio)	Sonoma, CA	4.8	11.6	26.0	20
Brigham Young University	Utah, UT	2.4	18.6	25.8	20
Harold B. Lee Library	Utah, UT	2.4	18.6	25.8	20
Berkeley Faculty Club	Contra Costa, CA	5	10.6	25.6	20
The Palmer House (Sauk Centre)	Stearns, MN	3.8	14.1	25.5	19
Liberty Memorial Building	Burleigh, ND	2.6	17.5	25.3	19
Yorba Cemetery	Orange, CA	5.2	9.6	25.2	19
Katie Wheeler Library	Orange, CA	5.1	9.7	25.0	18
Union Hotel (Flemington, New Jersey)	Hunterdon, NJ	5.3	8.8	24.7	17
Winchester Mystery House	Santa Clara, CA	4.8	10.2	24.6	16
Searsville, California	San Mateo, CA	4.8	10.2	24.6	16
Woodside Store	San Mateo, CA	4.8	10.2	24.6	16
Colross	Mercer, NJ	5.3	8.6	24.5	15
Boy Scout Lane	Portage, WI	2.9	15.7	24.4	14
Mission San Juan Capistrano	Orange, CA	4.7	9.9	24.0	13
El Adobe de Capistrano	Orange, CA	4.7	9.9	24.0	13
The Devil's Tree	Somerset, NJ	4.8	8.3	22.7	12
Hotel del Coronado	San Diego, CA	3.6	10.9	21.7	11
Whaley House (San Diego, California)	San Diego, CA	3.6	10.8	21.6	11
Cosmopolitan Hotel and Restaurant	San Diego, CA	3.6	10.8	21.6	11
Rose and Crown Tavern	Richmond, NY	4.5	7.9	21.4	10
Clinton Road (New Jersey)	Passaic, NJ	4.3	8.1	21.0	10
Alice Austen House	Richmond, NY	4.4	7.8	21.0	10
Palace Theatre (New York City)	New York, NY	4.2	7.7	20.3	8
Belasco Theatre	New York, NY	4.2	7.7	20.3	8
Merchant's House Museum	New York, NY	4.2	7.7	20.3	8
New York State Capitol	Albany, NY	3.2	10.5	20.1	7
Gracie Mansion	New York, NY	4.1	7.7	20.0	7
Morris–Jumel Mansion	New York, NY	4.1	7.7	20.0	7
Cherry Hill (Albany, New York)	Albany, NY	3.2	10.4	20.0	7
The Mount (Lenox, Massachusetts)	Berkshire, MA	3.2	9.8	19.4	5
Jewett House	Dutchess, NY	3.6	8.4	19.2	5
Yankee Pedlar Inn	Litchfield, CT	3.4	8.9	19.1	4
Fire Island Lighthouse	Nassau, NY	3.8	7.6	19.0	4
Gunntown Cemetery	Naugatuck Valley Planning Region, CT	3.5	8.4	18.9	4
Stepney Cemetery	Fairfield, CT	3.6	8.1	18.9	4
Union Cemetery (Easton, Connecticut)	Fairfield, CT	3.6	8	18.8	4
Kings Park Psychiatric Center	Greater Bridgeport Planning Region, CT	3.7	7.7	18.8	4
Old State House (Hartford, Connecticut)	Hartford, CT	3.2	9.1	18.7	4
Daniel Benton Homestead	Tolland, CT	3	9.5	18.5	3
New London Ledge Light	New London, CT	3.1	9.1	18.4	3
Norwich State Hospital	Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region, CT	3	9.3	18.3	3
Fort Adams	Newport, RI	2.7	9.7	17.8	2
General Nathanael Greene Homestead	Kent, RI	2.7	9.7	17.8	2
The Ladd School	Kent, RI	2.7	9.6	17.7	2
Belcourt of Newport	Newport, RI	2.6	9.7	17.5	2
Seaview Terrace	Newport, RI	2.6	9.7	17.5	2
Beechwood (Astor mansion)	Newport, RI	2.6	9.7	17.5	2
Rose Island (Rhode Island)	Newport, RI	2.6	9.7	17.5	2
Fleur-de-lys Studios	Providence, RI	2.6	9.7	17.5	2
Artillery Company of Newport	Newport, RI	2.6	9.7	17.5	2
Providence City Hall	Providence, RI	2.6	9.7	17.5	2
Crescent Park (defunct amusement park)	Bristol, RI	2.6	9.7	17.5	2
Lizzie Borden House	Bristol, MA	2.5	9.7	17.2	2
Bridgewater Triangle	Bristol, MA	2.4	9.7	16.9	1
Omni Parker House	Suffolk, MA	2.3	9.9	16.8	1
USS Salem (CA-139)	Suffolk, MA	2.3	9.8	16.7	1
The Witch House	Essex, MA	2.2	10	16.6	0
Hawthorne Hotel	Essex, MA	2.2	10	16.6	0
Jenny Lind Tower	Barnstable, MA	2.3	9.7	16.6	0

What the data says

California has more reportedly haunted places on Wikipedia's list than any other state: 17 of the 261 that could be scored, ahead of Alabama (15), New York (15) and Ohio (14). 9 states have none at all: Alaska, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Nebraska, New Hampshire, Vermont, Wyoming.

The list is mostly buildings with a door and a ticket booth: 67 houses and mansions, 44 hotels, inns and taverns, 18 schools and universities, 14 cemeteries, 13 theatres. Whole cities, counties and rivers that Wikipedia files in the same category are left out, because a city is not somewhere you can stand.

29% of the places sit in the most violent fifth of the country and 23% in the least violent fifth, against 13% in the middle fifth. The distribution is bimodal, not shifted — the folklore lives at both poles.

The highest-scoring place is McRaven House in Warren, Mississippi, at 87.7: 24.3 homicides and 14.8 suicides per 100,000 people a year within fifty-five miles. The lowest is Jenny Lind Tower in Barnstable, Massachusetts, at 16.6. 11 of the 20 lowest-scoring places are in Rhode Island.

Questions this map answers

Which US state has the most reportedly haunted places?: California, with 17 of the 261 places on Wikipedia's list of reportedly haunted locations that could be scored, followed by Alabama (15) and New York (15). 9 states have none: Alaska, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Nebraska, New Hampshire, Vermont, Wyoming.
Are reportedly haunted places in more violent parts of America?: Slightly, and at both ends. The median reportedly haunted place sits at the 56th percentile of the Haunting Index, weighted by where Americans live. 29% of them fall in the most violent fifth of the country and 23% in the least violent fifth. Ghost stories cluster in colonial New England, among the safest ground, and the antebellum South, among the deadliest.
Which reportedly haunted place has the highest Haunting Index?: McRaven House in Warren, Mississippi, at 87.7: 24.3 homicides and 14.8 suicides per 100,000 people a year recorded within fifty-five miles. The lowest is Jenny Lind Tower in Barnstable, Massachusetts, at 16.6.
What does the Haunting Index measure?: For each of the 3,142 US counties, the homicides and suicides recorded on death certificates within about fifty-five miles, per 100,000 residents per year, with a homicide counted as 3 suicides by default. It describes recorded deaths. It does not measure anyone's risk, and it does not claim that anywhere is haunted.
Where does the data come from?: County Health Rankings' March 2026 analytic supplement (release 2026-03-25), which repackages NCHS Mortality Files (death certificates), pooled over 7 years for homicide and 5 for suicide; Census Bureau population estimates; and English Wikipedia's category of reportedly haunted locations in the United States. Every source is public, keyless and linked on the page.

How the index is scored

K(d) = exp(−d²/2σ²)
Index = W_h·∑h_jK + W_s·∑s_jK

σ solved, not chosen. "Ten miles counts 5× a hundred miles" → σ = √(9900/2 ln 5) = 55.46 mi. K(10) = 0.98, K(100) = 0.20. Cut off at 166 mi. The kernel is linear, so the weighting recomputes in your browser.

Where the data comes from

County Health Rankings, March 2026 — repackaging NCHS Mortality Files (death certificates), not police reports, which depend on a department choosing to file.

Homicides pooled 7 years, suicides 5, both annualised before use. Nationally that is 21,968 homicides and 48,043 suicides a year, which is what CDC publishes.

What is withheld

Counties under ten deaths are withheld to protect the identifiable: 54% for homicide, 22% for suicide. Never estimated, never filled in.

Each cell carries the share of its kernel weight drawn from counties that do have data. Below half it is hatched, because blank there means unknown, not nothing happened. At the default weighting that is 204 counties; move the slider and the number moves with it.

What this map does not show

A county is an area; its deaths are placed at its centroid. In the West, where one county can be larger than nine states, that is crude — read this regionally, not locally.

Nothing here identifies a person, a house or an address, and nothing here measures anyone's risk of anything. "Reportedly haunted" is Wikipedia's characterisation, not a claim of ours.

If you are the reason this page found you. Roughly seven in ten deaths counted here are suicides. The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is free, confidential and staffed around the clock: call or text 988 in the US, or chat at 988lifeline.org.

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Sources — all public domain or openly licensed, no API keys

Mortality — homicides, suicides, firearm deaths County Health Rankings & Roadmaps, 2026 analytic supplement
…which repackages NCHS Mortality Files, National Vital Statistics System (death certificates)
Population denominators Census Bureau Population Estimates Program, vintage 2024
County centroids Census Gazetteer Files, 2018 and 2024
County boundaries Census cartographic boundary files, via us-atlas
Reportedly haunted places English Wikipedia, “Reportedly haunted locations in the United States”