Central United States Earthquakes

The Central United States is not usually the first place people think of when they hear the word earthquake, but this region has several important seismic zones. Earthquakes can happen around the New Madrid Seismic Zone, the Wabash Valley Seismic Zone, Oklahoma, Kansas, Texas, the Mississippi Valley, and parts of the Midwest and Great Plains.

This page tracks the latest available Central United States earthquake activity using USGS-based earthquake data. The map, recent earthquake list, statistics, and significant quake information update when the page loads or refreshes. For a wider view, you can also compare this page with the United States earthquakes page or the latest available worldwide earthquake list.

Central United States Earthquake Map

Each marker on the map represents an earthquake location. Click one to see its magnitude, location, time, and depth. Use the time filter buttons to view earthquakes from the last hour, 24 hours, 7 days, or 30 days.

Central United States earthquakes (map loads with JavaScript)

About Central United States Earthquakes

Earthquakes in the Central United States are different from earthquakes along the West Coast. California earthquakes are mostly linked to active plate-boundary faults, but many central U.S. earthquakes happen far from the edge of a tectonic plate. These are called intraplate earthquakes, meaning they occur within the interior of the North American Plate.

The best-known central U.S. earthquake area is the New Madrid Seismic Zone, which affects parts of Missouri, Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana, and Mississippi. The region is famous because of the large 1811–1812 New Madrid earthquake sequence, but smaller earthquakes still happen in and around the zone today. Source: USGS Summary of the 1811–1812 New Madrid Earthquakes Sequence

Central United States earthquake activity is not limited to New Madrid. The Wabash Valley area near Illinois, Indiana, and Kentucky also has a history of damaging earthquakes. Oklahoma, Kansas, and parts of Texas have also seen increased earthquake activity linked in some areas to wastewater disposal and other human-related changes underground. Sources: USGS Induced Earthquakes

Why the Central United States Has Earthquakes

The Central United States is far from the active plate boundaries of the Pacific Coast, but that does not mean the region is earthquake-free. Old faults and ancient rift zones are buried beneath the Mississippi Valley, Illinois Basin, Oklahoma, Texas, and the wider midcontinent. Some of these faults can still move when stress builds in the crust.

In the New Madrid area, modern earthquakes are thought to be connected with older buried fault systems and the Reelfoot Rift, an ancient zone of weakness beneath the Mississippi River valley. The exact causes of central U.S. earthquakes are still studied, but the basic point is clear, and that is, old faults inside a continent can still produce damaging earthquakes. Source: USGS Summary of the 1811–1812 New Madrid Earthquakes Sequence

In Oklahoma, Kansas, and parts of Texas, some recent earthquake activity has also been linked to induced seismicity. This happens when human activity changes underground pressure enough to trigger movement on existing faults. USGS explains that the number of earthquakes in the central U.S. increased dramatically over the past decade, and the Oklahoma Geological Survey has specific resources on induced seismicity and state earthquake monitoring.

That mix makes the Central United States unusual. Some earthquake risk comes from long-lived natural seismic zones such as New Madrid and Wabash Valley. Some comes from changing earthquake patterns in oil and gas regions such as Oklahoma and West Texas. The map on this page brings those different sources together into one central U.S. view.

Main Earthquake Areas in the Central United States

The Central United States covers a wide area, so earthquake activity is not evenly spread. Some areas have long-known natural seismic zones, while others have seen more recent earthquake clusters linked to energy-related activity.

• New Madrid Seismic Zone: This is the most famous earthquake zone in the central U.S. It affects parts of Missouri, Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana, and Mississippi. Cities and communities that may be affected by New Madrid earthquakes include Memphis, St. Louis, Cape Girardeau, New Madrid, Blytheville, Paducah, Dyersburg, and Cairo. Source: USGS Summary of the 1811–1812 New Madrid Earthquakes Sequence
• Wabash Valley Seismic Zone: The Wabash Valley area affects parts of southern Illinois, southwestern Indiana, and western Kentucky. It is important for places such as Evansville, Mount Vernon, Vincennes, Mount Carmel, West Salem, and surrounding communities. The 2008 Illinois earthquake showed that moderate earthquakes in this area can be felt across several states.
• Oklahoma and southern Kansas: Oklahoma has had major changes in earthquake activity since the late 2000s. Central and north-central Oklahoma, including areas near Oklahoma City, Edmond, Prague, Pawnee, Cushing, Enid, Stillwater, and Tulsa, have been important for induced-earthquake research and monitoring. Sources: Oklahoma Geological Survey Earthquakes
• West Texas and the Permian Basin: West Texas has become one of the most important earthquake areas in the central U.S. region, especially around the Permian Basin, Midland, Odessa, Pecos, Mentone, Reeves County, Loving County, Culberson County, and nearby areas. TexNet, operated by the Bureau of Economic Geology at the University of Texas at Austin, monitors Texas seismicity. Source: TexNet Seismic Monitoring Program
• Texas Panhandle and north Texas: Smaller earthquakes can occur in the Texas Panhandle and north Texas, including areas near Amarillo, Dallas-Fort Worth, and older buried fault zones. Some Texas earthquake activity is natural, while some has been studied in connection with oil and gas wastewater disposal.
• Midwest and Great Lakes states: Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota, and nearby states can occasionally feel small to moderate earthquakes. Some are local, while others are felt from New Madrid, Wabash Valley, Oklahoma, or distant earthquakes because seismic waves can travel far across the central and eastern U.S.
• Lower Mississippi Valley: Arkansas, western Tennessee, western Kentucky, southeastern Missouri, northern Mississippi, and nearby areas are important because they sit close to the New Madrid system. Memphis, Little Rock, Jonesboro, Dyersburg, and surrounding communities should treat earthquake preparedness as a practical regional issue, not just a historical topic.

The Main Types of Central United States Earthquakes

Central United States earthquakes are easier to understand when grouped into three broad types: natural intraplate earthquakes, earthquakes near older buried fault zones, and induced earthquakes.

Natural Intraplate Earthquakes

Natural intraplate earthquakes happen inside a tectonic plate rather than along a plate boundary. The New Madrid and Wabash Valley areas are examples of central U.S. regions where older faults can still produce earthquakes within the North American Plate.

These earthquakes can be surprising because the landscape does not look like California or Alaska. There may be no obvious mountain front or visible fault scarp. In many places, the faults are buried beneath thick sediment, farmland, rivers, towns, and cities.

Buried Fault and Rift-Zone Earthquakes

Some central U.S. earthquakes are linked to ancient zones of weakness in the crust. The New Madrid region is associated with the Reelfoot Rift, while the Wabash Valley area includes deeply buried faults near the lower Wabash River valley. These older structures can still respond to stress in the crust even though they formed long before today’s landscape.

This is why central U.S. earthquake risk can be hard to see at the surface. A town may not sit beside an obvious fault line, but it can still be close to buried structures capable of producing shaking.

Induced Earthquakes

Induced earthquakes are earthquakes triggered by human activity. In Oklahoma, Kansas, and parts of Texas, many studies have focused on wastewater disposal from oil and gas operations. Injected fluids can change underground pressure and make it easier for existing faults to slip. Sources: USGS Induced Earthquakes

Not every earthquake in Oklahoma, Kansas, or Texas is automatically human-caused. The cause can vary by area and event. But induced seismicity is an important part of the modern central U.S. earthquake story, especially in Oklahoma and the Permian Basin.

Why Central U.S. Earthquakes Can Be Felt So Far Away

One reason central U.S. earthquakes get attention is that they can be felt over very large areas. A moderate earthquake in Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Oklahoma, or Texas can sometimes be reported hundreds of miles away.

This happens because the crust in much of the central and eastern United States is older, colder, and more continuous than the broken-up crust in parts of the western U.S. Seismic waves can travel farther with less energy loss. That means a central U.S. earthquake may be felt across several states even if the damage near the epicentre is limited.

USGS notes that the 1811–1812 New Madrid earthquakes were felt across an enormous area, with shaking reported far from the Mississippi Valley. That does not mean every central U.S. earthquake will be severe, but it explains why even moderate events can receive reports from a wide region. Source: USGS Summary of the 1811–1812 New Madrid Earthquakes Sequence

Earthquake Hazards in the Central United States

The main earthquake hazard is ground shaking, but central U.S. earthquake risk also depends on soil conditions, building age, infrastructure, river valleys, and how prepared communities are for earthquakes.

• Ground shaking: Strong shaking can damage buildings, bridges, roads, schools, hospitals, utilities, pipelines, levees, and older masonry structures.
• Soft soils and river sediments: Areas near the Mississippi, Ohio, Missouri, Arkansas, Red, and Wabash river valleys may shake differently from firmer ground. Thick sediments can amplify shaking in some places.
• Liquefaction: Loose, water-saturated sand or sediment can lose strength during strong shaking. This was one of the major effects reported during the 1811–1812 New Madrid sequence, when sand, water, and ground deformation were widely described. Source: USGS Summary of the 1811–1812 New Madrid Earthquakes Sequence
• Riverbank failure and landslides: Strong shaking can cause riverbanks, bluffs, and slopes to fail. This matters in the Mississippi Valley, Ohio Valley, Wabash Valley, and other river corridors.
• Older buildings: Many central U.S. towns and cities have older brick or unreinforced masonry buildings. These can be more vulnerable to shaking than modern earthquake-resistant construction.
• Infrastructure disruption: Roads, bridges, pipelines, power lines, water systems, railways, ports, and river transport routes could be affected by a damaging earthquake, especially in the New Madrid region or major urban corridors.
• Aftershocks: Larger earthquakes can be followed by aftershocks. The 1811–1812 New Madrid sequence included many aftershocks, and modern central U.S. earthquakes can also be followed by smaller events. Source: USGS Summary of the 1811–1812 New Madrid Earthquakes Sequence

Historical and Recent Central United States Earthquakes

The Central United States has a mix of famous historical earthquakes and more recent moderate events. Some are natural intraplate earthquakes, while others are part of the modern induced-seismicity story in Oklahoma, Kansas, and Texas.

• 1811–1812 New Madrid earthquake sequence: This was the most famous earthquake sequence in the Central United States. USGS lists three principal earthquakes with preferred magnitudes of about M7.5, M7.3, and M7.5 between December 1811 and February 1812, along with a large aftershock sequence. The shaking caused ground deformation, landslides, sand blows, riverbank failures, and major changes around the Mississippi River valley. Source: USGS Summary of the 1811–1812 New Madrid Earthquakes Sequence
• 1895 Charleston, Missouri earthquake: A strong earthquake struck near Charleston, Missouri, in the New Madrid region. It was felt widely across the central and eastern United States and remains one of the most important post-1812 earthquakes in the New Madrid area.
• 1968 southern Illinois earthquake: The 1968 Illinois earthquake was one of the strongest recorded earthquakes in the region and was felt across many states. It remains important for understanding earthquake risk in southern Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, and nearby areas.
• 2008 Illinois/Wabash Valley earthquake: A moderate earthquake in the Wabash Valley region was felt across parts of Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, Tennessee, and beyond. It showed that the Wabash Valley area is a separate concern from New Madrid, not just a side note.
• 2011 Prague, Oklahoma earthquake: Oklahoma’s 2011 Prague earthquake sequence was one of the key events in the state’s modern earthquake surge. It helped bring more public attention to induced seismicity and wastewater-disposal research in Oklahoma.
• 2016 Pawnee, Oklahoma earthquake: The Pawnee earthquake was one of Oklahoma’s strongest modern earthquakes and became a major reference point for induced-earthquake monitoring and regulation in the state.
• 2016 Cushing, Oklahoma earthquake: The Cushing earthquake was important because it occurred near a major oil-storage hub. It showed why moderate earthquakes can matter even when they do not cause widespread building collapse.
• 2024 Prague, Oklahoma earthquake: A M5.1 earthquake near Prague, Oklahoma, was felt across parts of the state and showed that Oklahoma earthquake risk has not disappeared, even though the rate of earthquakes has changed since the peak years of induced seismicity. Source: Oklahoma Geological Survey Seismic Monitoring Program
• Recent West Texas earthquakes: West Texas and the Permian Basin have had several notable recent earthquakes, including events in Culberson, Reeves, Loving, Martin, and nearby counties. These events are important because they show that the Central United States earthquake picture now includes Texas energy-region seismicity as well as the older New Madrid and Wabash Valley zones. Source: TexNet Seismic Monitoring Program

Not Every Central United States Earthquake Is the Same

It is easy to group all central U.S. earthquakes together, but they do not all have the same cause or risk.

A small earthquake near New Madrid may be part of long-running natural activity in the Mississippi Valley. A Wabash Valley earthquake may come from a different buried fault system near Illinois, Indiana, or Kentucky. An Oklahoma or Kansas earthquake may be linked to induced seismicity. A West Texas earthquake may be connected with a different mix of natural faults and oilfield-related pressure changes.

Magnitude, depth, location, local soil, and building type all matter. A smaller shallow earthquake close to a town may be felt more sharply than a larger, deeper event farther away. A moderate earthquake under soft river sediments can also feel different from the same magnitude event under firmer ground.

Central United States earthquake risk is regional, but the causes are local. New Madrid, Wabash Valley, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Texas should not all be treated as the exact same earthquake setting.

Earthquake Preparedness in the Central United States

Earthquake preparedness in the Central United States should be practical. Most people in this region will never experience a large earthquake, but the history of New Madrid, the Wabash Valley events, Oklahoma seismicity, and recent Texas earthquakes all show that preparation is worth taking seriously.

Central United States Earthquake Safety Checklist

• Know “Drop, Cover, and Hold On” for earthquake shaking. Source: Great ShakeOut earthquake safety guidance
• Secure tall furniture, shelves, mirrors, TVs, appliances, water heaters, and anything heavy that could fall.
• Keep emergency water, food, medication, flashlights, batteries, a first-aid kit, and copies of important documents.
• Know safe places inside your home, school, or workplace, away from windows, glass, and heavy items.
• If you are indoors during shaking, stay indoors, drop, cover, and hold on. Do not run outside while objects may be falling.
• If you are outside, move away from buildings, brick walls, glass, power lines, bridges, and anything that could fall.
• After shaking stops, check for injuries, gas smells, damaged utilities, fires, unstable buildings, and aftershocks.
• Have an out-of-area contact and a family communication plan in case phones, roads, schools, or workplaces are disrupted.
• In the New Madrid and Wabash Valley regions, think about older brick buildings, river crossings, bridges, and utility lines as part of your planning.
• Follow official local emergency instructions after a noticeable earthquake, especially if there are reports of damage, leaks, bridge closures, or aftershocks.

How Central United States Earthquakes Are Monitored

Earthquakes in the Central United States are monitored by national, university, and state-level networks. These networks help locate earthquakes, estimate magnitudes, collect felt reports, and improve understanding of regional hazards.

• USGS Earthquake Hazards Program: Provides national earthquake event data, historical earthquake summaries, induced-earthquake research, hazard maps, and reviewed event information. Sources: USGS Earthquake Hazards Program
• University of Memphis CERI: The Center for Earthquake Research and Information provides central and eastern U.S. seismic resources, recent earthquake maps, catalog links, station information, and monitoring partner links. Source: University of Memphis CERI Seismic Information
• Oklahoma Geological Survey: OGS monitors, documents, and investigates Oklahoma seismicity and provides earthquake, induced-seismicity, catalog, monitoring, and preparedness resources. Source: Oklahoma Geological Survey Earthquakes
• TexNet: TexNet is the Texas seismic monitoring program run through the Bureau of Economic Geology at the University of Texas at Austin. It is important for tracking Texas earthquake activity, including events in West Texas and the Permian Basin. Source: TexNet Seismic Monitoring Program
• Great ShakeOut: Provides public earthquake safety guidance, including the Drop, Cover, and Hold On message used in earthquake preparedness education. Source: Great ShakeOut earthquake safety guidance

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