Why is northern Eriador (Lake Evendim, Fornost) deserted at the end of the 3rd Age?

[Legate of Amon Lanc]

Originally Posted by CSteefel

I have seen a reference to the fact that the Rangers occasionally go up to Deadman's Dike, but the reason for this is not readily apparent. Only thing I can think of is that most of this land is "haunted" in some way or another by the Witch King 1,000 years before and it took the downfall of Sauron to make it possible for Lake Evendim to be resettled in the 4th Age...

Your references to the Rangers' visiting Deadman's Dike are correct (Gandalf himself says it to Barliman Butterbur when he and the Hobbits are returning to the Shire. There is the main source of information about it, apart from the Appendices).

Originally Posted by RotK Chapter 7, "Homeward Bound"

"And many folk used to dwell away north, a hundred miles or more from here, at the far end of the Greenway: on the North Downs or by Lake Evendim."
"Up away by Deadmen's Dike?" said Butterbur, looking even more dubious. "That's haunted land, they say. None but a robber would go there."
"The Rangers go there," said Gandalf. "Deadmen's Dike, you say. So it has been called for long years; but its right name, Barliman, is Fornost Erain, Norbury of the Kings. And the King will come there again one day; and then you'll have some fair folk riding through."

However, I imagine it more like visiting an old monument of Arnor, an act of piety. I don't actually think there would be something like evil ghost-haunted area in there. It is only the superstitiousness of the Breelanders to say that it is a haunted place: of course, because there was a big battle long ago, something evil (Witch-King) resided there for some time, and so on. But I would imagine even if some evil spirits lived there, the Rangers would go and clean it up ASAP. Sounds nondúnedainish to me to leave the main city of their ancestors unhallowed, if they had no problems with cleansing it (unlike for example Morgul, which was occupied by armed force - but in the end, we know that Aragorn did the same, I imagine this would be a similar situation).

Isn't it just lack of people, a result of the low birth rate after the fall of the north kingdom, it regained people after the third age because there was a baby boom amongstt the people of that region.

One of the factors, probably as well. The main thing would be, I think, that people were trying to concentrate at one point in the wilderness which now became of Eriador, although I can imagine a few settlements here and there, but not that significant.

[Elmo]

However, I imagine it more like visiting an old monument of Arnor, an act of piety. I don't actually think there would be something like evil ghost-haunted area in there. It is only the superstitiousness of the Breelanders to say that it is a haunted place: of course, because there was a big battle long ago, something evil (Witch-King) resided there for some time, and so on. But I would imagine even if some evil spirits lived there, the Rangers would go and clean it up ASAP. Sounds nondúnedainish to me to leave the main city of their ancestors unhallowed, if they had no problems with cleansing it (unlike for example Morgul, which was occupied by armed force - but in the end, we know that Aragorn did the same, I imagine this would be a similar situation).

If they managed to cleanse Fornost why did the not cleanse the Barrowdowns? Aren't they much more holy and revered because they held the remains fo the Dunedain's ancient ancestors.

[Legate of Amon Lanc]

I suppose there were also graves of some Dúnedain in Fornost, but mainly, it was an entire city. The Downs were, well, just downs But the main point is, I am saying even if Fornost was haunted. I believe it actually was not, that it was only superstitiousness of the Breelanders to think it haunted. Just imagine it: a large, abandoned city in the midst of wilderness, and many graves of those who died in the Battle of Fornost a long time ago. It is only natural the village-folk would think such place haunted.

[Mithalwen]

I imagine that the Rangers used the ruins of Fornost rather like Weathertop, or even as the High Elves used Wood Hall ..not maybe as a permanently occupied base but as a meeting place, where they could leave messages and maybe basic supplies (remember the stock of kindling at Amon Sul). Even for a people as resourceful as the Dunedain, this kind of thing is useful - and as has been pointed out it is handy for the Shire - rather closer than the Havens which is the nearest permanent settlement where the Rangers would have been actually welcome. And of course as a trade route used by dwarves as well the route to the havens would be much less discreet.

The place's reputation for "hauntedness" would have been a bonus for them to prevent outsiders meddling in what was a long term covert operation of protecting the Shire.