What does this largest recorded earthquake ranking show?

It orders states by Largest recorded earthquake magnitude since 2000. It is a comparison of this one published measure, not an overall ranking of where to live.

Where do these figures come from?

U.S. Geological Survey Earthquake Catalog supplies this measure. States without a comparable published value are shown as not ranked rather than estimated.

How should I use this ranking?

Use it to narrow a search, then open a state or county profile for the underlying figures, source dates and caveats. A statewide number may not describe every neighbourhood.

Lowest largest recorded earthquake by state

Largest recorded earthquake magnitude since 2000.

This measure has no better end. The order describes the states, it does not rank them — see the other direction.

The largest magnitude among the recorded M4.0+ earthquakes whose estimated epicenter falls inside the county, from 2000 through 2025. Magnitude is logarithmic; this is a historical companion to the count, not a prediction of the next event.

How to read this ranking

Missouri has the lowest published largest recorded earthquake in this comparison, at 4.0. The next states shown are Ohio (4.0) and South Dakota (4.0).

The table orders 34 states by largest recorded earthquake magnitude since 2000. It describes one published measure, not an overall judgment about where to live.

Use the result as a starting point, then compare the underlying source, dates, and local county figures before making a decision. The largest magnitude among the recorded M4.0+ earthquakes whose estimated epicenter falls inside the county, from 2000 through 2025. Magnitude is logarithmic; this is a historical companion to the count, not a prediction of the next event.

1Missouri4.0
2Ohio4.0
3South Dakota4.0
4Delaware4.1
5South Carolina4.1
6Kentucky4.2
7Michigan4.2
8Nebraska4.3
9Tennessee4.4
10Oregon4.5
11Alabama4.6
12Indiana4.6
13Arkansas4.7
14Maine4.7
15New Jersey4.8
16Kansas4.9
17New Mexico5.0
18Wyoming5.0
19North Carolina5.1
20Illinois5.2
21Arizona5.3
22Colorado5.3
23New York5.3
24Texas5.4
25Utah5.7
26Montana5.8
27Oklahoma5.8
28Virginia5.8
29Idaho6.5
30Nevada6.5
31Washington6.8
32Hawaii6.9
33California7.1
34Alaska7.9

Not ranked, because this measure is not published for them: Connecticut, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Minnesota, Mississippi, North Dakota, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Wisconsin, West Virginia. No M4.0+ earthquake epicenter was recorded here in 2000–2025.

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Frequently asked questions

What does this ranking show?: It orders states by Largest recorded earthquake magnitude since 2000. It is one measure, not an overall verdict on where to live.
Where do the figures come from?: U.S. Geological Survey Earthquake Catalog. States without a comparable published figure are listed as not ranked rather than estimated.
How should I use it?: Use it to narrow your search, then open a state or county profile for the source date, caveats and local context.

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<iframe src="https://movermath.com/embed/largest-recorded-earthquake" width="100%" height="420" style="border:0" loading="lazy" title="Largest recorded earthquake magnitude since 2000 by state"></iframe>

Source: U.S. Geological Survey Earthquake Catalog. · How this is built

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