Once a thriving community in southeastern Minnesota, Carimona is now little more than a name on old maps and in forgotten newspaper columns.

In this episode of Roots & Riddles, we explore the rise and quiet disappearance of Carimona—a town shaped by geography, railroads, and the ambitions of its residents. We trace where its name came from, who lived and worked there, and why Carimona faded while neighboring towns endured.

Using historic newspaper accounts, local records, and regional context, this episode looks beyond the label of “ghost town” to understand Carimona as a real place with real people—one whose story reflects the fragile nature of early Minnesota communities and the forces that determined which towns survived and which were left behind.

Carimona may be gone, but its story still lingers in the landscape.