Monse, Washington — Town That Went on eBay

Monse eventually reached the strange point where much of a town was advertised for sale online.

Long before that, it was a farming settlement along the Okanogan River with a schoolhouse, store, post office, bridge and rail access.

Agriculture and transportation made the site useful without ever producing a large population.

As local commerce declined, Monse became something closer to a semi-ghost town than an abandoned one.

Residents remained.

In the early 2000s, an owner offered a substantial portion of the town on eBay, including acreage, buildings and platted parcels.

The novelty attracted attention but not an instant buyer.

Monse's internet listing became the famous part.

The more important fact is that the community never became entirely historical.