United States

Earthquakes in Kentucky

USGS recorded 3 earthquakes in and around Kentucky in the last 30 days and 52 in the last year, counting everything of magnitude 1.0 and above. The strongest in that year measured M 3.5.

M 1.4 · 5 km E of Marston, Missouri · 2026-09-15 09:57 UTC M 1.7 · 2 km NNE of Howardville, Missouri · 2026-08-31 22:54 UTC M 2.4 · 4 km NNE of Valier, Illinois · 2026-09-14 11:47 UTC

Recent earthquakes in and around Kentucky

Last 30 days, newest first as of 2026-09-23 05:14 UTC

Magnitude Location Depth When (UTC)
M 1.4 5 km E of Marston, Missouri 8.1 km deep 2026-09-15 09:57 UTC
M 2.4 4 km NNE of Valier, Illinois 17.9 km deep 2026-09-14 11:47 UTC
M 1.7 2 km NNE of Howardville, Missouri 7.9 km deep 2026-08-31 22:54 UTC

The largest on record in and around Kentucky

Since 1900, when the instrumental record becomes usable. The largest is M 5.3 at 5 km SSW of Norris City, Illinois on 1968-11-09: moderate: can damage poorly built structures.

Largest since 1900 USGS

Magnitude Location Date Depth
M 5.3 5 km SSW of Norris City, Illinois 1968-11-09 15.7 km deep
M 5.2 7 km NNE of Bellmont, Illinois 2008-04-18 14.3 km deep
M 5.2 2 km ESE of Claremont, Illinois 1987-06-10 4.6 km deep
M 5.0 2 km SW of Sharpsburg, Kentucky 1980-07-27 10.0 km deep
M 4.8 4 km SE of Raleigh, Illinois 1922-11-27 Not recorded
M 4.8 3 km NNW of Poseyville, Indiana 1925-04-27 Not recorded
M 4.8 9 km NNE of McClure, Illinois 1922-03-22 Not recorded
M 4.7 3 km NE of Wilson City, Missouri 1934-08-20 Not recorded
M 4.7 New Madrid, Missouri region 1903-11-04 Not recorded
M 4.7 9 km NNE of Bellmont, Illinois 2008-04-18 15.5 km deep

How these numbers were counted

Counts include every earthquake of magnitude 1.0 and above that USGS located in and around Kentucky. The search is a latitude and longitude rectangle covering Kentucky. No region is a rectangle, so events just outside the border can appear; each row shows the location text USGS published, which names the nearest town. Full method, including why counts from different places are not comparable.

Source: USGS Earthquake Hazards Program (FDSN event service). Retrieved 2026-09-23. Public domain.