Every town has that house on the corner standing silent and still -- a hostile presence that only the bravest neighborhood kids dare to walk past after dark. Or, maybe it's that stretch of road twisting like a serpent through a dense forest, fabled to be home to a phantom hitchhiker that died in a fiery crash years ago. Or maybe in your town it's a lake … rather the shadowy creature said to glide beneath its surface.
Whatever urban legend you were raised on, chances are that it was formative; you remember it to this day and maybe, just maybe, a tiny part of you still believes.
To celebrate the prevalence of spine-chilling local lore, we compiled a map featuring a legend from each state. Click around to see some of the craziest legends out there. No judgement if you leave the hall light on tonight.
Nicole Herviou contributed copy