Coalport, Pennsylvania | What Made This Happen Here?

Coalport, PA is a borough located in Clearfield County. It was once a thriving coal mine and railroad area but after the decline in the coal / industrial era it has suffered economic collapse. From a height of population in the 1930's of 1,222 it is now home to only 422 people. The decline has continued over decades and no signs of recovery have really been in sight. Rich in history with coal camp homes and businesses, its sad to see how many vacant places there are. With that said it has its nice features, and if you like an older nostalgic setting, its definitely got that. Let's take a drive and check it out!

[@onrycodger]

It's sad that this is happening all across the country. I do however appreciate that your videos catch it.

[@hoodsnhollers]

Thanks for watching!

[@rosiemcnaughton9933]

We've seen a lot of worse places than this, however, it's always sad to see nice homes that have been abandoned because people had to move elsewhere. There are quite a few nice, well maintained homes and some businesses left here. It still looks like there is some pride in the town.

[@hoodsnhollers]

Sometimes I like to do small unknown areas. Don’t worry I’ll get to the bigger stuff as always. Thanks for watching!

[@rbisme113]

I used to live in a small town like this one in PA and miss the quiet. Like many, I had to relocate to a more urban area to find steady employment and earn a livable wage. Great video!

[@1940limited]

I've heard of Oil City, but never Coalport. Just the name coal explains the problem. It's sadly been in decline for decades. Look at Appalachia. There still seems to be a lot of well kept properties here and some commercial buildings that appear as if they could be renovated and repurposed. Too bad about the house at 4:18. It appears to have all new windows that have been deliberately broken. There's an example of crime and vandalism. Hats off to those that have hung on and kept their homes and businesses in good condition.

[@jameslouder]

Both my great-grandfathers lived in Coalport. My father's grandfather and namesake, James Louder was a mine blacksmith, while my mother's grandfather, William Wagner, owned a general store. This was the time, c. 1900, when the town was at its most prosperous. They would recognize some of the houses and buildings we see in this video, but what a heartbreak it would be for them!

[@lol_05.76]

Please show your subscribers/viewers a map location at the start of each video. I am certain it will be much appreciated and also gain you more subscribers and likes. Thanks!

[@billiamc1969]

Great idea buddy

[@justlooking4771]

Yes!!!

[@jayjaynella4539]

Use Google Earth to find the locations. I like the videos with the current format.

[@Pstanich]

I like these videos. Living in a big city, it is easy to forget that places like this exist

[@hoodsnhollers]

Thanks for watching!

[@brycewiborg8095]

To mimic other comments Coalport doesn't seem as desolate as some neighborhoods you've shown. I trucked that area til 5 years ago. Thank you.

[@kitelyblue]

I appreciate the simplicity of your content. Gentle hum of the camera while you roll through small towns that look like where I grew up, except overgrown and abandoned. Absolutely fascinating.

[@hoodsnhollers]

Thanks so much for watching. I appreciate it!

[@jmcgravey01]

I grew up in a town 2 miles up the road. Irvona. Irvona has more blighted buildings than Coalport does. And roughly has the same population as Coalport does

[@blessedbethefight4635]

We enjoy your videos. Would love for them to be longer!

[@hoodsnhollers]

There will be more upcoming that are longer thanks for watching!

[@cherrylove3656]

I watch your video's when I can, and it makes me wonder exactly what's going on in this country and watching. these video's keeps me informed and it seems like this isn't going to end anytime soon. Also, these videos are really appreciated. after the coal mining died out, I guess there wasn't any reason to stay around. no other industries and a lack of jobs.

[@adnanalamoudi]

So even though the town is largely abandoned, no vandalism and still kept clean and tight. Some houses are neat and beautiful, streets are clean. Agriculture could make the next economy for the area. Fruits, coffee, etc. could be produced in here I guess.

[@Earl_Richter]

Interesting. I wonder if some of those abandoned properties can be purchased for a cheap price.

[@jimsutter149]

I went to college with a Tony Johnson. He was from Coalport. His father was the town barber.

[@paulgregory930]

I grew up here in the 70's and 80's. During the late 70's many of the nearby coal mines shut down and it was a financially depressing time and still is. Women started working in the sewing factories (sweatshops) to make ends meet, but they closed as well. Coalport suffered the same fate as other neighboring towns due to the collapse of the coal industry. You could drive all 83 miles of route 53 and see the same in every town. If I am not mistaken, in the 1920's the town boasted about 20k residents which had three hotels, an opera house, a theatre, and several supply stores and was a major stop for those traveling by railroad.

[@godspellflowerfr5991]

I love these videos, mostly because (like a lot of ppl) I find abandoned places to be mysterious and interesting to look at, but also because I’m an amateur comic artist. These vids are such good references for buildings/backgrounds! Pls keep up the good work and stay safe in your travels!!

[@MrScottie68]

The town may have a resurgence in the future. The US is moving towards using more and more electricity and coal will be a relatively cheap and a plentiful resource to power the electrical generating plants. No one wants nuclear, oil is mostly imported, natural gas isn’t available in all areas and wind power isn’t practical in some areas. They just have to figure out how to filter the emissions of coal burning.

[@Freotheric]

This was my grandfather's birthplace. How sad to see its decline.

[@LauraKnotek]

I like that gas station with the old-fashioned pumps.

[@gabe5946]

This town sure didn’t benefit from global economy

[@justmenotyou3151]

Most small places didn't. A lot of urban areas didn't either.

[@floridaprepper751]

I always feel bad seeing those old houses abandoned. I think those places still hold energy in them. They want people to live in them.

[@litaheffley6990]

Always ❤️ a great video thanks what a shame America 🇺🇸 is coming too

[@lindapietrasz8070]

I swear sometimes it looks like you are gonna drive right into oncoming traffic!

[@hoodsnhollers]

Lol! It has everything to do with the secret camera angle!

[@lindapietrasz8070]

Some of these houses look almost nice enough to still live in. 🏚️🏠

[@luiszuluaga6575]

While the town has largely been abandoned it’s still appears to be in good shape. Anyways, that’s a big wow.

[@glhx2112]

Drive through there in the winter time.... it completely changes the character of the place. It's even more depressing, but, with a layer of snow, it looks better. Drugs are a big problem there.

[@ProfessorEchoMedia]

Your camerawork, editing and commentary are all excellent. Another channel on YT which deals with similar content has gotten to be very stale, with hyperbolic titles and thumbnails bordering on clickbait. So I’m glad to have found your channel and see that you are a very caring person and not exploiting these reprehensibly forsaken parts of the world.

[@hoodsnhollers]

Thank you so much for watching!

[@johnmartin7182]

always awesome stuff damn used to be thriving big fan

[@markrichards6863]

Well, that was rather depressing. Its really a shame, empty homes in some areas while housing prices are through the roof in other parts of the country.

[@brucekilby9957]

Without Hoodhollers so many folks would not even know about the towns that just fade away. Usually no work,not enough homes and other Stuff. It's the modern sad world we live in. These films bring home the sadness to folks who are interested. Thanks for the footage.⚒🇺🇲🧰

[@tombennett8977]

It looks like a nice little town. There must be some area from which they draw folks to the businesses that might be open. 422 people couldn't product enough tax revenue, or shopping power to keep the place running. Sad!

[@irishrover4658]

I love this type of KZbin!! And I was raised in Pa so this was particularly interesting!!

[@sheilacardinal9484]

This is sad😢

[@BellaxStrega]

This was my grandmother's hometown. My great grandfather died of black lung. They said he was so small when he started working the mines, his lunch box dragged on the ground. My great grandmother lived here until she passed in 1998. When we came for the funeral, the motel owner reopened for our family to stay. I remember having family parties at the Purple Moose when I was little in the 80s. Visiting the Five and Dime and the soda shop. Mixed emotions. Nostalgia and sadness for the suffering and exploitation of the coal miners like my great grandfather. Everything was bought from the company store, including their home.

[@michaellehmbeck8671]

Poor Coalport. What happened to it? I hope the town comes back soon. Thank you for uploading

[@hoodsnhollers]

Thanks for watching!

[@lindapietrasz8070]

Thanks! $1 for every minute of the video! 🤣

[@hoodsnhollers]

Lol thanks so much Linda! I’m on the road right now so uploading some smaller ones, much longer videos coming in the next few weeks ;)

[@georgeswanik5927]

I live in a small old "coal town" similar in nature to this but not as hard hit. Coalport isn't very far from me so I've been through it. It is absolutely very sad to see history like this. Good little video.

[@hoodsnhollers]

Thanks for watching!

[@williamstewart1378]

My Dad is from Flinton, my Aunt lived right on main street in coalport 1315 main street it very sad to see her house empty i wish i had the money to come and remodel it and live there.

[@lindapietrasz8070]

04:00 the next Christmas tree for Rockefeller Center. 🎄

[@raymondhoagland4976]

I've been coming to Coalport for 50 years , had a house built and settled here, nice quiet town, Not much has changed over the years !

[@yrefrank]

Without industries, there are no job opportunities. The fate of old resource-based cities is that, apart from outdated “polluting resources,” they have nothing else, forcing people to leave.

[@rosemariealaba3384]

The house is very old but if nice views and very clean way.

[@MorganBrown]

Looks like many of the abandoned places are fairly new or at least had newish windows and vinyl siding. I suppose many of the mine closures were fairly recent, e.g., the last 20 years, which haven’t been kind to the coal mining industry

[@kylejack9509]

I grew up in that big brick house on top of tt hill were that garage was the guy that owned that garage was named burny honest joe p. Was my step dad

[@itiswhatitis7639]

This is very great channel

[@psu7276]

Homes looked a lot better than most we see in your videos.

[@Niles-Guy]

It’s like Fallout 4 video game .

[@waynegray5568]

This has happened to NYC, many times, and Manhattan has always come back! Lesson: don't live in a one industry town!

[@JavonandBrad]

hey, i know that place. about 30 min away

[@kylejack9509]

Most people tt live there work in Altoona I moved only 1 hour away I miss that town

[@rbsmith3365]

Donate those houses to Habitat for Humanity if houses are strong enough to renovate for qualified buyer. It happens anywhere in Pennsylvania.

[@psyche027]

This place is in the middle of nowhere...much like the rest of the area between Pittsburgh and Philly. Which is most of the state of Pennsylvania.

[@name5344]

Might be a place I'd like to move to. I can't even afford a 1br apartment anymore.

[@r.pres.4121]

This is a small Pennsylvania mountain town that never diversified its local economy and this is the end result. Sadly most small towns and rural areas are in the same boat.

[@georgesmith6356]

I've been here, very empty but still good people

[@billyalonzo406]

One thing for sure There alot of Churches in that town

[@williamhetrick1550]

It is just like Morrisdale , not far away.

[@pinkiepie1656]

00:25 i used to get my car worked on there at Bernie's (Slovikosky). You could get a brake job for $25 and a case of beer. And it wasn't that long ago, LoL.

[@janeentumbao8690]

That looks like a place you only zoom through during the daytime. 😀

[@millanjean-michel3817]

Pennsylvania....❤❤❤

[@Barter709]

Will you do Indianapolis?

[@hoodsnhollers]

It’ll be uploaded in the future yes

[@kylejack9509]

I grew up there

[@Sudo_kali]

This is roughly an hour from me

[@saritamullins8294]

Coal is no longer needed as it once was. That's what happened.

[@lisahinkofer2085]

Where’s the graveyards. Cemeteries. The dates must go way back.

[@ednaroberts6500]

This is really sad , but sometimes it can't be helped .

[@Pintoman69]

I watched that one house burn

[@stryker290]

Somehow the towns in these video's can support 17 churches.

[@justbarry587]

Not that bad yet

[@shara1929]

So maybe the govt can somehow fix these places, and let the homeless people live in it.

[@edgarandrews3691]

Once again. America sold out.

[@OkPp-fh2lk]

I want to see more rot places on the west cost.