Katharina Buczek
But, this tragedy, which nearly took the life of a child, pushed the federal government to take authoritative action over Centralia.
Officials decided to purchase the town for forty-two million dollars, revoke the town’s ZIP code, demolish the remaining buildings, and relocate the remaining residents.
The government’s actions were not well received by all of Centralia’s residents, though. Instead, some actually fought legal battles to remain in their hometown, and by 1993, the state of Pennsylvania invoked eminent domain over Centralia.
In turn, sixty-three residents were able to remain in their homes that they had owned for decades and continued to run the town council, elect a mayor, and pay bills. Still, they were officially regarded as “squatters.”
And by 2013, less than ten residents remained in Centralia. Nonetheless, they won a large settlement against the state of Pennsylvania for trying to take away their homes.
Each individual was awarded just under three hundred and fifty thousand dollars and also won ownership of their property until the day they died.
Then, once all residents have passed, the state of Pennsylvania will finally obtain ownership of the town’s property and demolish all remaining structures.
But, for now, less than five people still reside in Centralia as of 2022.
Experts have also eerily estimated that there is enough coal beneath the town to continue fueling the fire for another two hundred and fifty years.
And the unbelievable occurrence has given Centralia a spooky reputation in popular media– inspiring classic horror films such as Silent Hill in 2006.
People from across the country have also visited Centralia to get an in-person glimpse of the ghost town.
