CENTRALIA, PA
Centralia is a borough (town) in Eastern Pennsylvania’s coal country. The town is infamous for it’s underground mine fire that’s been burning since 1962. In 1992, the state declared eminent domain on the entire town and razed the empty houses, though several diehards refused to leave. The population in 1980 was over 2,000, the 2010 census records 10 people. The borough is still incorporated, has a mayor, a fire department, a small police force, and a church. This has been one of the most interesting places I’ve ever been. I found residential streets that still had sidewalks, street lights, and street signs, but are empty of houses or had one or two. Only one street felt fully-occupied. The town felt almost post-apocalyptic. The few current residents are currently fighting with the state to keep their town on the map, as the state wants to evict the remaining residents.
Before and after I found:
An occupied row house stands alone:
A still-occupied part of Centralia:
Centralia’s old main street. It still had a lot of traffic:
Centralia’s Municipal Building:
Still-active Centralia Fire Department:
Still-occupied row house with wind turbines (sorry for poor quality):
Twin row houses:
Looking toward Centralia’s still-used church:
Tourists:
Centralia Police Officer:
Entering the Wasteland Area (fire still burning here):
Smoke was coming out of here:
Pond of sludge:
Wind Turbines:
Cemeteries:
Wood Street:
Centralia Mayor Carl Womer and his house on Wood Street (sorry about the quality):
Abandoned PA-61 Expressway, still driven on by locals:
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