Voting Station

Centralia, Pennsylvania

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Location

The Resume

    (1866- )
    Population (1962): 1,435
    Population (2007): 9
    Location of an underground coal fire that has been burning since 1962

Why Centralia, Pennsylvania might be annoying:

    Town founder Alexander Rea was murdered by the Molly Maguires (1868).
    The technique for cleaning the town landfill, located in an old strip mine pit, was to set it on fire.
    In 1962, the fire from the landfill spread into the network of abandoned mines in and around the town.
    The fire was largely ignored until a 150-foot deep sinkhole opened up beneath 12-year-old Todd Domboski (1981).
    Pennsylvania claimed eminent domain on all remaining properties in the town and declared all buildings condemned (1992).
    Some of the more paranoid ex-residents think this was a ploy for the state to claim mineral rights on the coal beneath the town.
    The town's zip code was officially revoked by the post office (2002).
    Fissures in the town belch carbon monoxide and the ground is prone to sudden collapses.
    There are no plans to extinguish the fire, which is expected to burn for 250 years.

Why Centralia, Pennsylvania might not be annoying:

    Domboski was saved from falling to his death by a cousin.
    Two state legislators and a mine safety expert were coincidentally conducting a tour of Domboski's neighborhood at the time of the accident.
    Congress appropriated $42 million to relocate the residents to nearby towns (1984).
    Although forests are reclaiming much of the town, its four cemeteries remain well-maintained.
    Many former residents are expected to return in 2016 to open a time capsule buried in 1966.
    It reportedly inspired the 'Silent Hill' video game series.

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    For 2024, as of last weekly ranking, Out of 7 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2023, Out of 4 Votes: 75.00% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 6 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 7 Votes: 71.43% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 3 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 3 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 6 Votes: 16.67% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 9 Votes: 44.44% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 4 Votes: 75.00% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 9 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 18 Votes: 61.11% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 16 Votes: 62.50% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 17 Votes: 64.71% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 72 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 59 Votes: 64.41% Annoying
    In 2009, Out of 43 Votes: 55.81% Annoying
    In 2008, Out of 33 Votes: 42.42% Annoying