Centralia, Pennsylvania
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Centralia is a borough located in Columbia County, Pennsylvania. Although as recently as 1981 there were over 1,000 residents, the population has dwindled to less than 20 as a result of a 40-year-old mine fire burning beneath the borough, one of at least 38 in Pennsylvania alone.
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History
Centralia was incorporated in 1866, but it had existed since 1841 as Bull's Head. The borough was founded by coal companies drawn to the rich anthracite coal veins in the region. Coal mining continued in Centralia until the 1960s, when most of the companies went out of business. Bootleg mining continued until 1982. Strip or open pit mining is still active in the area and there is an underground mine employing about 40 employees three miles to the west.
The Fire
A trash fire was lit in an abandoned mine pit in the southeast portion of Centralia in 1962. The fire ignited an exposed vein of coal, and spread throughout the mines beneath the borough. Several unsuccessful attempts were made to extinguish the fire. It continued to burn throughout the 1960s and 1970s. During this time, several people reported experiencing adverse health effects from the carbon monoxide produced by the fire.
In 1981, 12-year-old Todd Domboski fell into a sinkhole that suddenly opened beneath his feet. He was saved after a relative pulled him out of the hole, which was estimated to be hundreds of feet deep. The incident brought national attention to Centralia, and in 1984, Congress allocated more than $40 million for relocation efforts. Most of the residents accepted the buy-out offers and moved to nearby Mount Carmel and Ashland.
Several families opted to stay, despite warnings from state officials. In 1992, Pennsylvania claimed eminent domain on all properties in the borough, condemning all the buildings in the town. A subsequent legal battle waged by residents with the state was unsuccessful. In 2002 the US Postal Service revoked the town's Zip Code, 17927
Centralia Today
Only a handful of homes remain in Centralia, most of which are still occupied. Most of Centralia's roads and sidewalks are overgrown with brush, although most properties are mowed. The remaining church in the borough holds weekly Saturday night services, and the borough's four cemeteries are still well-maintained.
The only signs of the fire, which underlies some 400 acres, spreading along four fronts, are steam vents in the south of the borough. Additional steam can be seen coming from an abandoned portion of State Route 61, which was closed in the 1990s after several large cracks appeared on the road. However, the underground fire is still burning, and will continue to do so for at least 100 years. There are no plans to extinguish the fire, which is consuming an eight-mile seam with enough coal to fuel it for 250 years (Krajick 2005).
It is expected that many former residents will return in 2016 to open a time capsule buried in 1966 next to the veterans' memorial (Krajick 2005).
Mineral Rights
Several current and former Centralia residents believe the state's eminent domain claim was a ploy to gain the mineral rights to the anthracite coal beneath the borough. Residents estimate its value to be in the billions of dollars, although the exact amount of coal is not known. State officials have stated that Pennsylvania does not own the mineral rights and has no interest in acquiring them.
Geography
Centralia is located at 40°48'12" North, 76°20'30" West (40.803291, -76.341741)Template:GR.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 0.6 km² (0.2 mi²). 0.6 km² (0.2 mi²) of it is land and none of the area is covered with water.
Demographics
As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there are 21 people, 10 households, and 7 families residing in the borough. As of late March, 2004, there were 18 people residing in 9 dwellings. The population density is 33.8/km² (87.5/mi²). There are 16 housing units at an average density of 25.7/km² (66.7/mi²). The racial makeup of the borough is 100.00% White.
There are 10 households out of which 10.0% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.0% are married couples living together, 10.0% have a female householder with no husband present, and 30.0% are non-families. 30.0% of all households are made up of individuals and 10.0% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.10 and the average family size is 2.57.
In the borough the population is spread out with 4.8% under the age of 18, 4.8% from 18 to 24, 19.0% from 25 to 44, 33.3% from 45 to 64, and 38.1% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 62 years. For every 100 females there are 110.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 100.0 males.
The median income for a household in the borough is $23,750, and the median income for a family is $28,750. The per capita income for the borough is $16,083. None of the population is below the poverty line.
Source
- Kevin Krajick, "fire in the hole," in Smithsonian Magazine, May 2005
External links
- Offroaders.com Centralia photo album (http://www.offroaders.com/album/centralia/centralia.htm)
- CentraliaPA.com (http://www.centraliapa.com)
- Centralia-Conyngham Township History and Genealogy (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/centcony)