List of ghost towns in Pennsylvania
Appearance
This is an incomplete list of ghost towns in Pennsylvania.
Many of the ghost towns in Pennsylvania are located in Western Pennsylvania, particularly in the Appalachian and Allegheny regions of the Rust Belt.[1] During the late 19th century and early 20th century, the mountainous parts of Pennsylvania were home to a booming coal industry.[2] Many of these towns also housed coking facilities for the coal mined nearby, many of which still have the remains of the abandoned coke ovens.[3]
Classifications
Barren site
- Sites no longer in existence
- Sites that have been destroyed
- Covered with water
- Reverted to pasture
- May have a few difficult to find foundations/footings at most
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d5/Arroyo_Bridge_replacement.jpg/220px-Arroyo_Bridge_replacement.jpg)
Neglected site
- Only rubble left
- All buildings uninhabited
- Roofless building ruins
- Some buildings or houses still standing, but majority are roofless
Abandoned site
- Building or houses still standing
- Buildings and houses all abandoned
- No population, except caretaker
- Site no longer in existence except for one or two buildings, for example old church, grocery store
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/17/A421%2C_Centralia%2C_Pennsylvania%2C_USA%2C_Route_61%2C_abandoned_section_above_coal_mine_fire%2C_2016.jpg/220px-A421%2C_Centralia%2C_Pennsylvania%2C_USA%2C_Route_61%2C_abandoned_section_above_coal_mine_fire%2C_2016.jpg)
Semi abandoned site
- Building or houses still standing
- Buildings and houses largely abandoned
- few residents
- many abandoned buildings
- Small population
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5c/ECKLEY_HISTORIC_DISTRICT.jpg/220px-ECKLEY_HISTORIC_DISTRICT.jpg)
Historic community
- Building or houses still standing
- Still a busy community
- Smaller than its boom years
- Population has decreased dramatically, to one fifth or less.
List of towns
See also
- Kinzua Dam
- Rust Belt
- Night in the Woods, which takes place in the fictional semi-abandoned town of Possum Springs inspired by the creator's hometown in Pennsylvania.
- Coal mining in the United States
- Pennsylvania
References
- ^ Smerker, Nick (November 3, 2017). "Tomorrow Night 11/4: Gary Fincke". Allegheny West. Retrieved June 2, 2023.
- ^ "PA's Mining Legacy and AML". Department of Environmental Protection. Retrieved June 2, 2023.
- ^ "Rust Belt Pennsylvania". Abandoned. May 4, 2015. Retrieved June 2, 2023.
- ^ a b c d "Ghost Towns of Pennsylvania (A-D)". United States Ghost Towns. March 2021. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
- ^ Enhancing Wildlife Habitat: Demonstration Sites in Pennsylvania. PennState, College of Agricultural Sciences, Cooperative Extension. 1997. p. 39.
accesses are at the Aitch Boat Launch...
- ^ Glessner, Rusty (October 27, 2020). "Exploring the Abandoned Alvira Bunkers in Union County". PA Bucket List. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
- ^ Washlaski, Raymond A. "ANDRICO: Andrico Mines (New Alexandria Mines), Andrico, Derry Twp., Westmoreland Co., Pennsylvania, U.S.A. "Coal Mining Ghost Town." "Contains: Andrico Miners Memorial."". Academia.
- ^ "The Call of the Clarion". Pennsylvania Heritage Magazine. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
- ^ Washlaski, Raymond A. "APPALACHA: Coal Mining Ghost Towns of Appalacha, Ferrier, Meco & Tidedale, On Yellow Creek, Brushvalley, Center & White Townships, Indiana County, Pennsylvania, U.S.A. "Contains: Miners Memorial for the Mines." Includes "Appalacha: A Forgotten Mining Town."". Academia.
- ^ a b "Ghost Town Trail". Indiana County Parks & Trails. Retrieved November 7, 2008.
- ^ "Woman shares sounds, sights of Bagdad's past". www.tribliveoffers.com. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
- ^ Washlaski, Raymond A. "ISABELLA: Isabella Furnace Mine & Coke Works, Coketon (Cokeville), Derry Twp., Westmoreland Co., Pennsylvania, USA "Another Coal Mining Ghost Town"". Academia.edu: 9.
- ^ "Bennington - Ghost Town". www.ghosttowns.com. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
- ^ Bleyden, Paul (1947). "Beula". Pennsylvania History: A Journal of Mid-Atlantic Studies. 14 (2): 118–130. ISSN 0031-4528. JSTOR 27766775.
- ^ "Big Creek Valley before Beltzville Lake". Times News. Pencor Services, Inc. May 4, 2013. Retrieved April 28, 2014.
- ^ "The History of Big Run, Elk County, Pennsylvania | Visit PA Great Outdoors". visitpago.com. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
- ^ "The White Cliffs of Conoy". Atlas Obscura. Retrieved July 6, 2023.
- ^ "RiverRoots: Forgotten Town". Susquehanna NHA. May 5, 2020. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
- ^ "Daniel Boone Homestead". Atlas Obscura. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
- ^ Davis, Tarring S. (1931). "Chapter 19". A HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY PENNSYLVANIA. Vol. 1.
- ^ Caldwell, Dave (April 27, 2007). "The Northeast's Spine". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
- ^ Straub, John; Liebendorfer, Bret (December 1, 2008). "Braddock, Pennsylvania Out of the Furnace and into the Fire". Monthly Review. 60 (7): 39. doi:10.14452/MR-060-07-2008-11_3.
- ^ Hotz, Mark (December 3, 2018). "A Ghost Town Worth Visiting". numisaticnews.net. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
- ^ Griffith, Randy. "More for the money: Ghost Town Trail extension nearly doubles in length". The Tribune-Democrat. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
- ^ a b Crocco, S. R. (1972). "BRIEF HISTORY OF BENNETTS VALLEY and ST. JOSEPH CHURCH" (PDF). liturgicalcenter.org. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
- ^ "Sullivan County PA Historical Society and Museum - Celestia". www.scpahistory.com. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
- ^ "Former food plant in North Huntingdon put Cereal on map". www.tribliveoffers.com. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
- ^ Washlaski, Raymond. "CHESTER: Chester No. 2 Mine & Coke Works, Chester (Humphries), Superior No. 2, Derry Twp., Westmoreland Co., Pennsylvania, U.S.A. "Coal Mining Ghost Town." Contains: Miners Memorial Chester No. 2 Mine & Coke Works". Old Miner Project.
- ^ Tribune-Review, Megan Tomasic. "Ghost towns dot Western Pa., Pittsburgh landscape and history". The Indiana Gazette Online. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
- ^ a b Cheney, Jim (October 2, 2019). "7 Ghost Towns in PA You Can Still Visit". Uncovering PA. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
- ^ Malawskey, Nick (November 17, 2014). "This Central Pennsylvania township does -- and doesn't -- exist". pennlive. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
- ^ a b c "Ghost Towns of the Clarion River Corridor: Lily Pond | Visit PA Great Outdoors". visitpago.com. July 11, 2019. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
- ^ Meck Carroll, Sharman (December 9, 2015). "History of Branch Twp., Schuylkill County, Pa. Prior 1875 – Llewellyn" (PDF). Press and Journal. p. 2. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
- ^ Watch, National Wind. "Old Crum Village: a Somerset County ghost town". National Wind Watch. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
- ^ "PENNSYLVANIA GENEALOGY EXPRESS - FRANKLIN COUNTY - Antrim - 1741". www.usgenealogyexpress.com. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
- ^ Patterson, Ed (March 2018). Ghost Town Trail Guidebook - 2nd Edition (2nd ed.). Indiana County Parks & Trails.
- ^ Stewart, Joshua T. (1913). "Chapter 25". Indiana County Pennsylvania, Her People, Past and Present.
- ^ "History of Dunbar, PA | Dunbar, PA | Dunbar Historical Society". www.dunbarhistoricalsociety.com. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
- ^ "Dunbar Historical Society houses glass sculptor's most famous piece | Helping the Helpers". Pennsylvania Capital-Star. December 22, 2022. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
- ^ a b Washlaski, Raymond A. "EDRI & FOSTER: Edri & Foster Mines, Villages of Edri & Foster Mines, Conemaugh Twp., Indiana Co., Pennsylvania, U.S.A. "Coal Mining Ghost Towns"".
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(help) - ^ Washlaski, Raymond A. "ELEANORA: Eleanora Mines & Coke Works, Eleanora, McCalmont Twp., Jefferson Co., Pennsylvania, U.S.A. "Coal Mining Ghost Town,"".
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(help) - ^ Glessner, Rusty (February 17, 2023). "Exploring the Blue Rock Swinging Bridge in Elk County". PA Bucket List. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
- ^ Washlaski, Raymond A. "ERITON. History of the Eriton Mine (Eriton Shaft Mine), Eriton, Sandy Twp., Clearfield Co, Pennsylvania, USA "Another Coal Mining Ghost Town."".
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(help) - ^ Washlaski, Raymond A. "FAIRBANKS: Fairbanks Mine (Fairbanks Coal Works) (Fairbanks Mine & Coke Works), Fairbanks, Loyalhanna Twp., Westmoreland Co., Pennsylvania, U.S.A. "Coal Mining Ghost Town"".
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(help) - ^ Washlaski, Raymond A. "APPALACHA: Coal Mining Ghost Towns of Appalacha, Ferrier, Meco & Tidedale, On Yellow Creek, Brushvalley, Center & White Townships, Indiana County, Pennsylvania, U.S.A. "Contains: Miners Memorial for the Mines." Includes "Appalacha: A Forgotten Mining Town."".
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(help) - ^ a b "Ghost Town, Hoodlebug & West Penn Trails: Regional Trail Guide" (PDF). visitindianacountypa.org. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
- ^ Washlaski, Raymond A. "Fort Palmer. History of the Fort Palmer Mines & Coke Works, Fort Palmer, Fairfield Twp., Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, U.S.A. "Another Coal Mining Ghost town." Contains: "Miners Memorial Fort Palmer Mines"".
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(help) - ^ "ff31.html". www.usgwarchives.net. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
- ^ WESTMORELAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA - An Inventory of Historic Engineering and Industrial Sites (PDF). 1994. p. 192.
- ^ "Freytown - Ghost Town". www.ghosttowns.com. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
- ^ a b Washlaski, Raymond A. "SALEM: Salem No. 1 Mine & Coke Works and Salem No. 2 Mine, Salemville, Salem Township, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, U.S.A. "Forgotten Mining Town"".
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(help) - ^ a b c Crable, Ad. "Once a year, take the road not traveled to find ghosts of Pennsylvania's past". Bay Journal. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Forgotten Heritage | Pennsylvania Center for the Book". pabook.libraries.psu.edu. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
- ^ "History of Greenwood Furnace State Park". Pennsylvania Department of Conservation & Natural Resources. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
- ^ a b Archives, Special Collections and University; Stapleton Library, Room 302 431 South Eleventh Street Indiana; Phone: 724-357-3039; Fax: 724-357-4891. "The Company Town of Whiskey Run". Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
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: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ Miller, Barbara S. "A Halloween search for ghost towns". Observer-Reporter. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
- ^ Washlaski, Raymond A. "HURON: Huron Mines & Coke Works (Patton Mine), Huron, Salem Twp., Westmoreland Co., Pennsylvania, U.S.A. "Coal Mining Ghost Town."".
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(help) - ^ "Instanter-The Town Lost to Flood Control | Visit PA Great Outdoors". visitpago.com. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
- ^ "East Broad Top Railroad Virtual Tour: Joller". oldeastie.com. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
- ^ a b Quin, Richard H.; Rose, Kenneth D. (1993). "INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA An Inventory of Historic Engineering and Industrial Sites" (PDF). npshistory.com. p. 243 (pdf page 255).
- ^ "Ghost Town Trail History | Indiana County Parks and Trails". www.indianacountyparks.org. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
- ^ "Public invited to take 'Walk in the Woods'". Tioga Publishing. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
- ^ Wentz, Jennifer. "Underwater ghost town: Codorus State Park celebrates 50 years". The Evening Sun. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
- ^ "WESTMORELAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA An Inventory of Historic Engineering and Industrial Sites" (PDF). gis.penndot.gov. 1994. pp. 121–122 (pdf page 138–139).
- ^ "McKinley - Ghost Town". www.ghosttowns.com. Retrieved August 4, 2023.
- ^ Washlaski, Raymond A. "APPALACHA: Coal Mining Ghost Towns of Appalacha, Ferrier, Meco & Tidedale, On Yellow Creek, Brushvalley, Center & White Townships, Indiana County, Pennsylvania, U.S.A." academia.edu.
- ^ Washlaski, Raymond A. "MILLWOOD SHAFT: Millwood Shaft Mine (Millwood Mine), Millwood Shaft, Derry Township, Westmoreland Co., Pennsylvania, U.S.A. "Coal Mining Ghost Town"".
- ^ "Pennsylvania Archaeological Site Survey Annual Site Reporting Activity in 2020" (PDF). phmc.pa.gov. 2020. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
- ^ a b "Explore the historic ruins of the Pennsylvania Wilds". Pennsylvania Wilds. November 21, 2019. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
- ^ "Boom and Bust | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette". newsinteractive.post-gazette.com. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
- ^ Tomasic, Megan (May 20, 2022). "Ghost towns dot Western Pa., Pittsburgh landscape and history". TribLIVE.com. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
- ^ Himler, Jeff (August 18, 2019). "Dig at Indiana County ghost town unearths prehistoric past". TribLIVE.com. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
- ^ Stout, Lee (February 1, 2018). "Penn State Diary: Names of places in Centre County have lessons to teach". StateCollege.com. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
- ^ LaVO, Carl. "The 12:10 to Rushland". PhillyBurbs. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
- ^ "Along the Susquehanna at the mouth of the Conestoga River lies a village born in fire but died from ice. Survey the razed company ghost town of Safe Harbor". Uncharted Lancaster. April 23, 2019. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
- ^ "Culture and Community of Spruce Creek" (PDF). Retrieved September 29, 2006.
- ^ "Bear Run Watershed Renaissance Mine Drainage Restoration Project" (PDF). Susquehanna River Basin Commission (290). December 2013.
- ^ Quin, Richard H. (1993). "Indiana County, Pennsylvania – An Inventory of Historic Engineering and Industrial Sites" (PDF). Historic American Buildings Survey/Historic American Engineering Record: 15, 16, 19.
- ^ WESTMORELAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA - An Inventory of Historic Engineering and Industrial Sites (PDF). 1994. p. 45.
- ^ "A bridge to the 19th century". old.post-gazette.com. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
- ^ Kissel, Kelly P. (December 15, 1991). "Fading Lake Reveals 'Allegheny Atlantis' : History: Former residents come from miles around to see old haunts thought gone forever". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
- ^ "Adams County Parcel Locator". Archived from the original on November 28, 2012. Retrieved March 2, 2013.
- ^ Washlaski, Raymond A. "WALSTON: Walston Mines & Coke Works, Walston, Young Twp., Jefferson, Co, Pennsylvania, USA "Forgotten Mining Town"".
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(help) - ^ "West Overton, Livermore listed among Pennsylvania's 'ghost towns' to explore". www.tribliveoffers.com. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
- ^ "Geocaching - The Official Global GPS Cache Hunt Site". www.geocaching.com. Retrieved February 23, 2023.