Rare Event
New York City: Residents of New York City were startled on Friday as a rare earthquake, with an estimated magnitude of 4.8, shook the city and surrounding areas. The quake’s epicenter was traced to Whitehouse Station, New Jersey, as reported by the United States Geological Survey (USGS).
Historical Seismic Activity
Centuries of Quakes: Despite its reputation as an unlikely earthquake hotspot, New York City has a long history of seismic activity. Records from the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory at Columbia University show that since 1737, there have been 18 earthquakes with a magnitude of 2.4 or higher in or around the city.
Memorable Quakes
Notable Events: Among the most significant seismic events in NYC’s history were two earthquakes both measuring 5.8 magnitude. The first occurred in 1944 in Massena, New York, near the Canadian border, and the second, in 2011 in Louisa County, Virginia, was strongly felt in New York City.