I was in Scranton for the weekend, and on our way back south today the wife and I decided we'd go check out Centralia. If you don't know what it is;
Centralia is a borough and ghost town in Columbia County, Pennsylvania, United States. Its population has dwindled from over 1,000 residents in 1981 to 12 in 2005,[1] 9 in 2007, and 7 in 2010[2] as a result of a mine fire burning beneath the borough since 1962. Centralia is now the least-populous municipality in Pennsylvania, with four fewer residents than the borough of S.N.P.J..
Centralia is part of the Bloomsburg–Berwick Micropolitan Statistical Area. The borough is completely surrounded by Conyngham Township.
All properties in the borough were claimed under eminent domain by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in 1992 (and all buildings therein were condemned), and Centralia's ZIP code was revoked by the Post Office in 2002.[1] However, a few residents continue to reside there in spite of a failed lawsuit to reverse the eminent domain claim.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centralia,_Pennsylvania
Check the source for more fascinating reading...
I've always been curious about this town that's been burning underground since 1962. It's crazy. I'm just gonna show you guys the pics and try to explain them. I'd recommend you check it out.
***All these photographs were taken by my wife and are her property, and cannot be reproduced or used in anyway with her consent, etc. Just saying. (Her website; [url]http://www.holdinglifestillphotography.com)***[/url]
Inviting huh?
This smoking hillside used to be on a block in a residential neighborhood. Not so much anymore. There are quite a few spots around town where gas and smoke vents out through the earth. If you go, BE CAREFUL.
More smoking vents.
My sweet ***.
"I don't see what the big deal is, just noxious gasses, sinkholes opening up all around you, no big deal, right?"
This is my favorite part. There was a divided highway that ran through the town, Route 61. Evidently things got nasty under the road, and it split, cracked, opened up, you name it. So, in 1993 they closed of the affected section of it. Dirt berms (Think a closed rest stop on the Turnpike) were built at either end and the road rerouted. There is about a mile, maybe a little more of road that is totally deserted, save an extensive graffiti gallery. This is eerie. Just about as spooky as it gets.
Road upheaval.
From the top down.
