United States

Earthquakes in North Carolina

USGS recorded 8 earthquakes in and around North Carolina in the last 30 days and 142 in the last year, counting everything of magnitude 1.0 and above. The strongest in that year measured M 3.0.

M 1.4 · 9 km ENE of Pacolet Mills, South Carolina · 2026-07-21 06:25 UTC M 1.5 · 8 km W of Vonore, Tennessee · 2026-07-27 02:21 UTC M 1.8 · 8 km W of Rosman, North Carolina · 2026-08-08 03:13 UTC M 2.0 · 2 km SW of Vonore, Tennessee · 2026-07-18 00:07 UTC M 2.3 · 17 km SSW of Tellico Plains, Tennessee · 2026-07-30 10:34 UTC M 2.3 · 3 km N of Lilburn, Georgia · 2026-07-29 15:01 UTC M 2.4 · 18 km N of Ducktown, Tennessee · 2026-07-30 10:30 UTC M 2.4 · 2 km SW of Vonore, Tennessee · 2026-07-17 21:43 UTC

Recent earthquakes in and around North Carolina

Last 30 days, newest first as of 2026-08-10 17:03 UTC

Magnitude Location Depth When (UTC)
M 1.8 8 km W of Rosman, North Carolina 2.2 km deep 2026-08-08 03:13 UTC
M 2.3 17 km SSW of Tellico Plains, Tennessee 12.9 km deep 2026-07-30 10:34 UTC
M 2.4 18 km N of Ducktown, Tennessee 13.9 km deep 2026-07-30 10:30 UTC
M 2.3 3 km N of Lilburn, Georgia 2.5 km deep 2026-07-29 15:01 UTC
M 1.5 8 km W of Vonore, Tennessee 13.3 km deep 2026-07-27 02:21 UTC
M 1.4 9 km ENE of Pacolet Mills, South Carolina 1.3 km deep 2026-07-21 06:25 UTC
M 2.0 2 km SW of Vonore, Tennessee 16.7 km deep 2026-07-18 00:07 UTC
M 2.4 2 km SW of Vonore, Tennessee 17.3 km deep 2026-07-17 21:43 UTC

The largest on record in and around North Carolina

Since 1900, when the instrumental record becomes usable. The largest is M 5.2 at Near Asheville, North Carolina on 1916-02-21: moderate: can damage poorly built structures.

Largest since 1900 USGS

Magnitude Location Date Depth
M 5.2 Near Asheville, North Carolina 1916-02-21 Not recorded
M 5.1 4 km SE of Sparta, North Carolina 2020-08-09 4.1 km deep
M 4.7 1 km NE of Alcoa, Tennessee 1973-11-30 3.0 km deep
M 4.5 5 km S of Greeneville, Tennessee 1928-11-03 5.0 km deep
M 4.3 8 km N of Lincolnton, Georgia 1974-08-02 1.0 km deep
M 4.3 1 km ESE of Middlesboro, Kentucky 1954-01-02 Not recorded
M 4.3 Union County, South Carolina 1913-01-01 Not recorded
M 4.2 2 km SSE of Vonore, Tennessee 1987-03-27 18.5 km deep
M 4.2 3 km SE of Vonore, Tennessee 1987-03-27 19.5 km deep
M 4.1 21 km SE of Greenback, Tennessee 2025-05-10 25.4 km deep

How these numbers were counted

Counts include every earthquake of magnitude 1.0 and above that USGS located in and around North Carolina. The search is a latitude and longitude rectangle covering North Carolina. 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 2026-08-10. Public domain.