Ghost towns built around coal — from Appalachian mining camps to western railroad towns.
Centralia, Pennsylvania: The Town That Set Itself on Fire in 1962 and Still Hasn’t Gone Out Pennsylvania Coal Mining Active hazard zone · Do not trespass · ~14 min read Quick facts Founded1832 (as Bull’s Head); renamed 1865 IncorporatedFebruary 1866 Peak population2,761 (1890 census) Current population5 (2020 census); ~8 estimated 2026 Fire startedMay 1962 Fire…
Thurmond, West Virginia: The Coal Town That Out-Earned Cincinnati and Died When Steam Did West Virginia Coal Mining Free to visit · ~13 min read Quick facts Founded1873 (land surveyed by Capt. Thurmond) Peak population~500 (early 1900s) Current population3–5 residents Peak freight revenue$4,824,911 (highest on C&O mainline) Coal shipped annually4,000,000 tons (at peak) Primary industryCoal…