Pennsylvania has its fair share of abandoned places – from long-forgotten cemeteries to the remains of buildings that are slowly being reclaimed by nature. Perhaps the most famous abandoned town in Pennsylvania, Centralia isn’t completely abandoned. However, it comes with a fascinating backstory.

Centralia was once a bustling, thriving mining town that had upwards of 1,000 residents. Coal fueled the town - both literally and figuratively.
Flickr/Douglas Muth
However, the mining industry came to a grinding halt in Centralia in 1962, not too long after a former mine had been transformed into a dump.
Wikipedia/U.S. Borough of Mines
The town council came together and, when discussing how to clean up the town for impending Memorial Day celebrations, some suggested cleaning the dump. That, at the time, meant setting it on fire.
Flickr/Brent Weichsel
Whether that’s what sparked the events that followed or it was something else, no one is really sure. One thing, however, is for certain. Mines underneath Centralia caught on fire back then.
Flickr/Douglas Muth
That fire is still going strong. If experts prove correct, the fire could continue to burn for decades to come. The population of nearly 1,200 has dwindled to, at last count in 2019, just nine residents.
Wikipedia/Brian W. Schaller

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The mine fires caused homes to collapse and resulted in illnesses in residents. Congress eventually purchased the town, providing payment to residents to move. Some, however, refused and remained behind.
Wikipedia/Z22
Then, in 1992, the Commonwealth took action. It condemned the entire town. Only a handful of residents remained with permission from the court. Once they move or pass away, the town will truly be abandoned.
Flickr/Travis Goodspeed
For decades Centralia was a prime destination for curiosity seekers, who wanted to get a firsthand look at the smoke that billowed from below the ground.
Flickr/Erin M.
Some of those who visited spray-painted graffiti on the roads, creating the so-called “Graffiti Highway.” Many came just to see Graffiti Highway, which has since been covered over, in an effort to curb the rush of curiosity seekers.
Wikipedia/Brian W. Schaller
Today, those who visit and trespass on private property will face fines, and the area is regularly patrolled by law enforcement.
Flickr/Travis Goodspeed

 

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Have you ever been to this mostly abandoned town in Pennsylvania? Did you visit before the police began the crackdown on trespassers? Share your experience in the comments! If you’re a fan of abandoned places, you might want to check out these nine abandoned destinations in Pennsylvania.

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