Rural scenery and a history of coal mining in Conyngham Township
Northeastern Pennsylvania's Conyngham Township is perhaps best known for being home to Centralia, a town in its southern portion that was abandoned in the 1960s because of a mine fire that continues to burn. Today, most of Conyngham Township's nearly 700 residents live in primarily two small communities north and west of Centralia. It's a quiet, rural area, home to the Weiser State Forest's Roaring Creek Preserve, which has a scenic paved walking and biking trail connecting two lakes. "It's a really pretty area in the southern part of Columbia County," says Realtor Angela Young with Century 21 Covered Bridges Realty Inc.
Single-family homes and land for sale
Conyngham Township has a mix of ranch-style and bi-level homes, farmhouses and land for sale. Lots are typically less than half an acre, and about 90% of residents own their homes. Though there's often not much on the market, Conyngham Township’s listings move quickly when they're available, with homes selling after an average of 10 days, much faster than the national average of 50. Recent sales prices range from $70,000 to $285,000 for single-family homes, while listings for land typically range from $5,000 to $35,000.
Spending time outside at Weiser State Forest
“Conyngham Township is home to the Weiser State Forest and Roaring Creek Preserve,” Young says. “There are two big lakes there connected by 8 miles of walking and biking paths. It’s really very pretty.” Weiser State Forest is a 30,000-acre nature preserve offering hiking, biking, hunting, fishing, kayaking, canoeing and other outdoor activities. In addition to the 8-mile Roaring Creek Trail, there are hiking routes that once provided a way for miners to travel to and from work in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Just south of Conyngham Township, the borough of Ashland has several municipal parks and a Little League baseball field.
Career academies in Southern Columbia Area School District
Students in Conyngham Township can attend schools in the Southern Columbia Area School District, which gets an overall B-minus grade from Niche. They can start at the B-plus-rated G.C. Hartman Elementary before continuing to B-rated Southern Columbia Area Middle. The B-minus-rated Southern Columbia Area High School has three career academies devoted to agriculture, education and child care.
Dining and groceries in Ashland
To the south, Ashland has a few eateries and a grocery store. Old-school diner Mays Drive-In Restaurant offers three meals a day along with ice cream sundaes. Ashland Pizza is a casual, family-owned spot that sells by the slice or the pie. A cozy tavern, Ashland Grille serves American fare and drinks. There’s also a Subway in town for a quick bite to eat.
Located between Bloomsburg and Harrisburg
Conyngham Township is located 18 miles south of Bloomsburg and 63 miles northeast of Harrisburg. The nearest medical center is Geisinger Shamokin Area Community Hospital, 14 miles west in Coal Township. When traveling out of town, residents can fly out of Harrisburg International Airport.
Addressing residents’ environmental concerns
In addition to the Centralia mine fire, Conyngham Township has an active coal bank fire in Wilburton Number Two that has been burning since 2022. According to a statement by state Sen. Lynda Schlegel Culver, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection responded to Conyngham Township residents' environmental concerns by having the Environmental Protection Agency install air quality monitors in Wilburton Number Two in July 2024. The EPA later removed the monitors in 2025 due to substantial improvements in air quality.
