List of ghost towns in Pennsylvania facts for kids

A ghost town is a place where most or all people have moved away, leaving behind empty buildings. Pennsylvania has many ghost towns, especially in its western and mountainous areas. These places, like the Appalachian and Allegheny regions, were once busy.

In the late 1800s and early 1900s, Pennsylvania's mountains were full of coal mining. Many towns grew around these mines. Some towns also had factories that turned coal into "coke," a fuel used in steelmaking. Today, you can still see old, abandoned coke ovens in some of these areas.

What Makes a Town a Ghost Town?

The bridge at Arroyo, a former town site.

The famous graffiti highway in Centralia.

Restored 19th century buildings at Eckley.

Ghost towns aren't all the same. They can be classified by how much is left of them. Here are some ways we describe them:

Barren Sites: Completely Gone

A "barren site" means almost nothing is left of the town.

• These places might have been destroyed.
• Some are now covered by water, like a lake.
• Others have turned back into fields or forests.
• You might only find a few old foundations if you look very closely.

Neglected Sites: Mostly Ruins

"Neglected sites" have more left than barren ones, but they are still very empty.

• You might see piles of rubble.
• All the buildings are empty and unused.
• Many buildings might have no roofs left.
• Some houses might still stand, but most are just ruins.

Abandoned Sites: Empty Buildings Remain

In an "abandoned site," buildings are still standing, but no one lives there.

• All the houses and buildings are empty.
• There might be no people at all, except maybe a caretaker.
• Sometimes, only one or two buildings, like an old church or store, are left.

Semi-Abandoned Sites: A Few People Left

A "semi-abandoned site" is a town that's mostly empty but still has a few residents.

• Many buildings are still standing.
• Most houses and buildings are abandoned.
• Only a small number of people still live there.
• There are many empty buildings mixed with occupied ones.

Historic Communities: Smaller but Still Alive

A "historic community" is a town that was once much bigger and busier.

• Buildings and houses are still standing.
• It's still an active community today.
• However, it's much smaller than it was in its busiest years.
• The number of people living there has dropped a lot, sometimes to less than one-fifth of its past size.

Explore Pennsylvania's Ghost Towns

Here is a list of some of Pennsylvania's ghost towns. Many of these towns were once busy places for mining, logging, or other industries. They became ghost towns when those industries ended or when new projects, like dams, covered them with water.

Learn More

• Kinzua Dam
• Rust Belt
• Night in the Woods, a video game 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
  • List of cities in Pennsylvania
  • List of towns and boroughs in Pennsylvania
  • List of counties in Pennsylvania