A city does not die when its last resident moves away.  Death happens when municipalities lose the industries and vital populations that made them important cities.

 

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The economy has evolved so much since the middle of the 20th Century that many cities that were among the largest and most vibrant in America have  collapsed. Some have lost more than half of their residents. Others have lost the businesses that made them important centers of finance, manufacturing, and commerce

Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/10-american-cities-that-are-dead-forever-2010-9#ixzz0yL0dUMQZ