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Arcediano, Mexico

Arcediano was tucked into Barranca de Huentitán, a picturesque canyon on the outskirts of Guadalajara. Villagers supported themselves through farming, livestock raising, supplying food and drinks to Barranca's hikers, and--before toxic dumping poisoned the Santiago River--fishing. The town was also the site of a bridge, built in 1888, that was the third suspension bridge in the Americas. In 2002, the Jalisco government announced that Arcediano inhabitants needed to relocate to make way for a dam. Although residents initially fought to save their town, by 2008 the government had bought out or otherwise evicted everyone. Guadalupe Lara--who led the struggle against the dam--was the only resident who refused to leave, and her house was leveled while she was out of town. In 2009, plans for the dam were canceled.