The little town of Centralia, an old mining in the hills of Pennsylvania, nearly perished after a coal fire was accidently ignited in a mine in 1962. The fire spread quickly, and is still burning today, underground.

For years, the ghost town of Centralia, PA has attracted gawkers and horror movie fans (the video game “Silent Hill” was based on Centralia’s history). People like to see the burned-out, abandoned buildings and hear the hisses of steam that escape from cracks in the ground.

The coal fire – which can open dangerous sinkholes and vent poisonous gasses – caused most of the town’s citizens to move away. Only a few people stayed behind: the population dropped from over 2000 to only a few dozen. In the 1980s and ‘90s, the federal government offered the holdouts cash to relocate, and most accepted it. Now, only 11 people remain.

But according to a new story by the LA Times, it seems that the real “Silent Hill,” Centralia, PA, will finally be abandoned completely. The last few people that choose to live near a coal fire will be relocated – a local judge is deciding how much they will be paid for their property – and they’ll likely be escorted away from the town.

You can find a lot of interesting online information about Centralia, PA: pictures, videos, and more. Check out the amateur documentary about Centralia, PA and the coal fire on the left. It’s otherworldly.

I've always been attracted to ghost towns and abandoned buildings. Since college, I've wanted visit Centralia, but if the remaining buildings are destroyed, there won't be much to see.


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