🌱 How Centralia became one of America’s eeriest nearly empty towns
Centralia, Pennsylvania Patch AM: a 3 min readGood morning to you Centralia! Catch up on our news and events right here. Keep reading to stay in the know. ☀️
In today's newsletter:
- How Centralia became one of America’s eeriest nearly empty towns
Also on today's calendar: Purcellville Wine and Food Festival.
Today's riddle: What is seen in the middle of March and April that can’t be seen at the beginning or end of either month? 🤔 (Answer below!)
- Wednesday: Mostly sunny and hot, with a high of 93 and low of 66 degrees. 🌶 Hot!
- Thursday: Partly sunny and very warm, temps: high: 89, low: 62.
- Friday: Partly sunny and very warm, with a high of 87 and low of 61 degrees.
📰 News we're reading
• 16 Once-Bustling American Towns That Are Nearly Empty Today (cheapism.com) — Centralia’s long-burning mine fire and near-total evacuation earn it a place on a new list of once-bustling American towns that are now nearly empty. The piece explains how underground heat, gases, and unstable ground led to a government buyout, demolishing most buildings and leaving only a few residents amid dangerous, partly private land. 
📸 Around Centralia
Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!
🗓
Upcoming Events in
Centralia
Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!
★ Featured events ★
-
Purcellville Wine and Food Festival →
Fireman's Field Complex, 250 S. Nursery Ave., Purcellville, VA, 20132,
2:00 pm
Saturday July 18
Want to see your event featured? Click here!
Other local events
-
The Coal Fired Ramblers at Pioneer Tunnel Coal Mine & Steam Train →
Pioneer Tunnel Coal Mine & Steam Train, 1900 Oak St, Ashland
10:00 am -
Pioneer Day 2026 Celebration →
Pioneer Tunnel Coal Mine & Steam Train, 1900 Oak St, Ashland
10:00 am
Saturday July 25
📣 Centralia Shout Outs!
Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!
🗓 Events Nearby
-
Spartan Charge 5k – Ashland, PA →
North Schuylkill School, 38 Line St, Ashland
9:30 am -
Spartan Charge 5k →
North Schuylkill School, 38 Line St, Ashland
9:30 am -
Phillips Phun Run – Mount Carmel, PA →
Mt Carmel Area School District, 600 W 5th St, Mt Carmel
9:00 am -
Antonio Andrade →
Dorko’s Cafe, 300 W 4th St, Mt Carmel
2:00 pm -
Fall Festival — Camp Swatara →
Camp Swatara, 2905 Rd, Bethel
2:00 pm
Saturday August 1
Saturday September 5
Sunday October 4
Saturday October 24
Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.
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🗞 Nearby News
Ashland
- July 13, 2026: Around the Region (republicanherald.com)
- Bulletin board: Anime festival coming to Reading venue (readingeagle.com)
- Schuylkill County Obituaries for July 13th, 2026 (skooknews.com)
Frackville
- Calendar: July 13, 2026 (republicanherald.com)
- Trooper's death in I-81 crash leads to renewed call for CDL reforms (lehighvalleylive.com)
- Marriages-divorces, July 15, 2026 (republicanherald.com)
Ok Centralia! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!
-- The Patch AM Team
P.S. The answer to today's riddle: The letter “R.” (Thank you Manuela A. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!
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