Centralia, Pennsylvania - Did anyone used to live here? (Sunbury: houses, college)

[LondonUSA]

I know that there is a mine fire under the town and just about everyone left apart from 7 people.

Did anyone used to live here or do they know people who did and what there a mass exodus or was it a gradual decline?

[Dawne]

I believe it was pretty much a mass exodus when the government came in and bought people out. There's a town of "New Centralia" near Kulpmont (or Mount Carmel) where some of the people relocated. It's more of a housing development than an actual town, though.

[WonderingWanderer]

I went to college with a guy from Centralia. He said most left as a large group, and then the few remaining gradually dwindled down. Only a handful there now, older folks I think. Been by it a few times, not much to see at all.

[blauskies]

Originally Posted by LondonUSA

I know that there is a mine fire under the town and just about everyone left apart from 7 people.

Did anyone used to live here or do they know people who did and what there a mass exodus or was it a gradual decline?

I had some relatives that lived there and left a long time ago before it got really bad, the town was a typical small town in the coal regions up to around the mid 80's it was populated, then around that time 1986 or so they started the relocation project. Houses were vacated and torn down. I have not been there in years, but looking at images it's not even close to what it use to look like.

There was a movie that was partially filmed there in the spring of 1986 (though it's listed as 1988 which is not correct) called "Made In USA", with Adrian Pasdar and the late Chris Penn. Wasn't a great movie, but it had some scenes of the Centralia.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zIkt-...embedded#at=27

[LondonUSA]

Originally Posted by WonderingWanderer

I went to college with a guy from Centralia. He said most left as a large group, and then the few remaining gradually dwindled down. Only a handful there now, older folks I think. Been by it a few times, not much to see at all.

Yeah I've seen it on Google and Bing maps and there literally is nothing there. Only a few houses are even visible and even the roads are starting to disappear. I'll be surprised if anyone lives here in 20 years time.

[WonderingWanderer]

Originally Posted by LondonUSA

Yeah I've seen it on Google and Bing maps and there literally is nothing there. Only a few houses are even visible and even the roads are starting to disappear. I'll be surprised if anyone lives here in 20 years time.

Here's a link to the most recent Centralia article in the local paper;

Few remain as 1962 fire still burns in Centralia » The Daily Item, Sunbury, PA

[Craziaskowboi]

Ol' King Coal used to live there.

[Lehigh Valley Native]

"Centralia, Pennsylvania - Did anyone used to live here?"

Rumor has it people inhabited the town at one time, now nothing but trolls live there. I hear Charlie Sheen might be going there to clean the place up.

**Winning**

[wanneroo]

Originally Posted by LondonUSA

Yeah I've seen it on Google and Bing maps and there literally is nothing there. Only a few houses are even visible and even the roads are starting to disappear. I'll be surprised if anyone lives here in 20 years time.

I drove through maybe 4-5 years ago and there really isn't anything left except overgrown streets and overgrown lots. A few houses, the church on the hill and the town municipal building were there. You can clearly see the steam from the fire.

[LondonUSA]

Originally Posted by wanneroo

I drove through maybe 4-5 years ago and there really isn't anything left except overgrown streets and overgrown lots. A few houses, the church on the hill and the town municipal building were there. You can clearly see the steam from the fire.

Someone posted a news article on here. I think it says how they are trying to get rid off all the people still and get rid of the houses.