The Abandoned Town Near Philadelphia That Most People Stay Far, Far Away From
In 1962, a coal mine fire began burning in Columbia County, Pennsylvania. By the 1980s, the cracking ground and smoldering soil had chased most of the residents away from Centralia, the town built over the mine. The town, once full of life, quickly became nearly abandoned. It was bought by the state of Pennsylvania and condemned in 1992. Even the zip code was discontinued. To this day, people flock to the area today to observe one of the creepiest places in the United States.
We’re aware that these uncertain times are limiting many aspects of life as we all practice social and physical distancing. While we’re continuing to feature destinations that make our state wonderful, we don’t expect or encourage you to go check them out immediately. We believe that supporting local attractions is important now more than ever and we hope our articles inspire your future adventures! And on that note, please nominate your favorite local business that could use some love right now: https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/nominate/
Centralia was once a busy mining town with around 2,000 residents.
If you decide to visit Centralia, be cautious. Aside from the obvious fact that the fire is still actively burning, most of the city is on private property and you will be fined for trespassing.
As the fire weakens the ground, sinkholes regularly cave in, and cracks in the structures make this a dangerous place to explore. Stay safe and live vicariously through these photos and take a spooky tour via this fascinating video about the spooky history of Centralia... if you dare.
Kim Magaraci graduated Rutgers University with a degree in Geography and has spent the last seven years as a freelance travel writer. Contact: [email protected]
