Centralia is located in the state of Illinois and has a lot of culture to offer as well as great sights and interesting destinations. So if you’re planning a trip to Centralia (Illinois), you’ve come to the right place!
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Vacation in Centralia (Illinois)
Looking for a unique getaway? Check out Centralia, Illinois – a city with a lot to offer visitors of all ages!
For history buffs, Centralia is a mustsee. The city was founded in 1853 and has a rich history. In the early 1900s, Centralia was a booming coal mining town with over 15,000 residents. However, a devastating fire at the local mine in 1947 caused many of the mines to close, and the population of Centralia decreased rapidly. Today, only about 1,000 people live in the city, but it is still a lively place with a lot to offer tourists.
There are several interesting museums in Centralia that tell the story of the city’s past, including the Centralia Coal Mine Museum and the Ted Shawn Theatre Museum. Visitors can also take a tour of the abandoned underground mine shafts that are still burning today! Centralia is also home to a variety of shops, restaurants, and parks.
If you’re looking for a truly unique vacation spot, add Centralia, Illinois to your list!
Sights in Centralia (Illinois)
Centralia is one of the most historic and culturally significant cities in the state of Illinois. Founded in 1814, Centralia was the first city in Randolph County and has a population of nearly 28,000 people. The city is home to a number of landmarks and points of interest, many of which are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Centralia’s most notable landmark is the Old Courthouse, which was built in 1847 and is the oldest courthouse in Illinois. The courthouse is now a museum and is open to the public for tours. Other significant landmarks in the city include the Centralia City Hall, the Centralia Carnegie Library, and the Centralia Cemetery.
The Centralia City Hall is a beautiful Romanesque Revival style building that was built in 1902. The Centralia Carnegie Library is a notable example of Classical Revival architecture and was built in 1917. The Centralia Cemetery is one of the oldest cemeteries in Illinois and is the final resting place for many of the city’s founding fathers.
Centralia is also home to a number of cultural and historical museums, including the Centralia Historic Museum, the Crawford County Historical Museum, and the Centralia Railroad Museum. The Centralia Historic Museum chronicles the city’s history through a number of exhibits, while the Crawford County Historical Museum focuses on the county’s history. The Centralia Railroad Museum is housed in an old train depot and features a number of artifacts and exhibits related to the city’s railroad history.
Centralia is a city with a rich history and a number of notable landmarks and points of interest. Whether you’re interested in the city’s architecture, its museums, or its cemetery, there is something in Centralia for everyone to enjoy.
History of Centralia (Illinois)
Centralia is a city in southern Illinois, United States. The city lies along Interstate 57 and Illinois Route 51 south of Mount Vernon and just north of Salem. Centralia is part of the Mount Vernon Micropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 13,032 at the 2010 census, making Centralia the largest city in Marion County. Centralia is named for the Illinois Central Railroad, which built a station in the city in 1853.
The city was founded in 1853 as Centerville, but changed its name to Centralia when the Illinois Central Railroad chose it as the site for a new depot. The name “Centralia” was chosen due to its location equidistant from Springfield to the north and Decatur to the south. When the railroad reached Centralia, an overwhelming majority of the settlers had already moved there from nearby Palestine, Illinois, as the new railroad made moving much easier than before.
The first few years of Centralia’s history were uneventful, but things started to pick up in the late 1850s and early 1860s. The city became an important stop on the Underground Railroad, as slaves escaping from the South used the city as a jumpingoff point to reach free states further north. Centralia also became a hotbed of antislavery and prounion sentiment, which came to a head during the American Civil War. When Illinois sent troops to fight in the war, many Centralians served in the Union army.
In 1864, a group of rebels known as the Copperheads attempted to overthrow the government in Springfield and take control of Illinois. The plot was foiled, but not before two Centralia men were killed in the fighting.
In the early 1880s, coal was discovered in the hills around Centralia, and mining quickly became the city’s leading industry. The coal mines brought wealth and jobs to the city, but they also brought danger. In 1900, a gas explosion in one of the mines killed 54 miners. In 1947, another explosion killed 119 miners. Despite these accidents, mining remained the city’s main industry until the 1960s.
By the 1970s, the coal mines had all closed, and Centralia’s economy was in trouble. Then, in 1981, a fire that began in a trash pit beneath a local strip mall spread to the nearby coal mines. The fire has been burning ever since, and has caused the demolition of hundreds of buildings in the city. Centralia’s population has dwindled from a peak of over 15,000 in the 1960s to just a few hundred today.
Despite its troubles, Centralia remains a city with a rich history and a proud community.
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