Centralia (Pennsylvania) Travel Guide — Things to Do, Food & Hotels
borough and near-ghost town in Columbia County, Pennsylvania, United States
About Centralia (Pennsylvania)
Centralia was founded as "Bulls Head" in 1811; the 155 acre Centralia Borough was incorporated in 1862. The primary local industry was the extraction of anthracite coal. Many of the original workers were Irish; there was a long history of labour disputes. Ukrainian immigrants soon followed. The borough had nearly 3,000 people at its peak; there were 1,100 people in Centralia in 1962. Centralia is now a ghost town with a population of less than five. An underground coal fire has been burning underneath the town since 1962. The full extent of the danger became known in 1979, and the town was abandoned between 1984 and 1992. In 1992, Pennsylvania claimed eminent domain over the remaining houses in the borough. The main highway has been re-routed away from the fire; most of the structures in t
Top Attractions in Centralia (Pennsylvania)
Explore the best things to see and do in Centralia (Pennsylvania):
- ★Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- ★Byrnesville
- ★Municipal Building
- ★Railroad Avenue
Centralia (Pennsylvania) Travel Guide Sections
Our comprehensive guide covers 13 sections including: