EARTHQUAKES IN NEW YORK?

Yes, earthquakes do occur on a regular basis in New York. Most people think of places such as California when they hear the word “earthquake” but earthquake activity is common in the eastern United States, including New York State. However, unlike California, the cause of earthquakes in New York is largely unknown. It is likely that earthquakes are occurring in previously existing, probably very old, weak zones in the earth’s crust. Attempts to identify these specific zones, or assign earthquakes to known faults, have not been successful.

Some notable earthquakes in New York State include:

1884 New York City, M 5.5
1929 Attica, M 5.6
1944 Massena, M 5.8
1983 Blue Mountain Lake, M 5.1
(M=Magnitude)

Next >> Earthquake in New York and the New England Region