Maps

The Largest Earthquakes in the New York Area (1970-2024)

Published

1 month ago

April 15, 2024

Bruno Venditti

Graphics/Design:

Miranda Smith

See this visualization first on the Voronoi app.

The Largest Earthquakes in the New York Area

This was originally posted on our Voronoi app. Download the app for free on Apple or Android and discover incredible data-driven charts from a variety of trusted sources.

The 4.8 magnitude earthquake that shook buildings across New York on Friday, April 5th, 2024 was the third-largest quake in the U.S. Northeast area over the past 50 years.

In this map, we illustrate earthquakes with a magnitude of 4.0 or greater recorded in the Northeastern U.S. since 1970, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS).

Shallow Quakes and Older Buildings

The earthquake that struck the U.S. Northeast in April 2024 was felt by millions of people from Washington, D.C., to north of Boston. It even caused a full ground stop at Newark Airport.

The quake, occurring just 5 km beneath the Earth’s surface, was considered shallow, which is what contributed to more intense shaking at the surface.

According to the USGS, rocks in the eastern U.S. are significantly older, denser, and harder than those on the western side, compressed by time. This makes them more efficient conduits for seismic energy. Additionally, buildings in the Northeast tend to be older and may not adhere to the latest earthquake codes.

Despite disrupting work and school life, the earthquake was considered minor, according to the Michigan Technological University magnitude scale:

Magnitude	Earthquake Effects	Estimated Number Each Year
2.5 or less	Usually not felt, but can be recorded by seismograph.	Millions
2.5 to 5.4	Often felt, but only causes minor damage.	500,000
5.5 to 6.0	Slight damage to buildings and other structures.	350
6.1 to 6.9	May cause a lot of damage in very populated areas.	100
7.0 to 7.9	Major earthquake. Serious damage.	10-15
8.0 or greater	Great earthquake. Can totally destroy communities near the epicenter.	One every year or two

The largest earthquake felt in the area over the past 50 years was a 5.3 magnitude quake that occurred in Au Sable Forks, New York, in 2002. It damaged houses and cracked roads in a remote corner of the Adirondack Mountains, but caused no injuries.

Date	Magnitude	Location	State
April 20, 2002	5.3	Au Sable Forks	New York
October 7, 1983	5.1	Newcomb	New York
April 5, 2024	4.8	Whitehouse Station	New Jersey
October 16, 2012	4.7	Hollis Center	Maine
January 16, 1994	4.6	Sinking Spring	Pennsylvania
January 19, 1982	4.5	Sanbornton	New Hampshire
September 25, 1998	4.5	Adamsville	Pennsylvania
June 9, 1975	4.2	Altona	New York
May 29, 1983	4.2	Peru	Maine
April 23, 1984	4.2	Conestoga	Pennsylvania
January 16, 1994	4.2	Sinking Spring	Pennsylvania
November 3, 1975	4	Long Lake	New York
June 17, 1991	4	Worcester	New York

The largest earthquake in U.S. history, however, was the 1964 Good Friday quake in Alaska, measuring 9.2 magnitude and killing 131 people.

Related Topics:new york new york earthquake quake us geology

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Mapped: The 10 U.S. States With the Lowest Real GDP Growth

In this graphic, we show where real GDP lagged the most across America in 2023 as high interest rates weighed on state economies.

Published

2 days ago

May 16, 2024

Niccolo Conte

The Top 10 U.S. States, by Lowest Real GDP Growth

This was originally posted on our Voronoi app. Download the app for free on iOS or Android and discover incredible data-driven charts from a variety of trusted sources.

While the U.S. economy defied expectations in 2023, posting 2.5% in real GDP growth, several states lagged behind.

Last year, oil-producing states led the pack in terms of real GDP growth across America, while the lowest growth was seen in states that were more sensitive to the impact of high interest rates, particularly due to slowdowns in the manufacturing and finance sectors.

This graphic shows the 10 states with the least robust real GDP growth in 2023, based on data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis.

Weakest State Economies in 2023

Below, we show the states with the slowest economic activity in inflation-adjusted terms, using chained 2017 dollars:

Rank	State	Real GDP Growth 2023 YoY	Real GDP 2023
1	Delaware	-1.2%	$74B
2	Wisconsin	+0.2%	$337B
3	New York	+0.7%	$1.8T
4	Missississippi	+0.7%	$115B
5	Georgia	+0.8%	$661B
6	Minnesota	+1.2%	$384B
7	New Hampshire	+1.2%	$91B
8	Ohio	+1.2%	$698B
9	Iowa	+1.3%	$200B
10	Illinois	+1.3%	$876B
	U.S.	+2.5%	$22.4T

Delaware witnessed the slowest growth in the country, with real GDP growth of -1.2% over the year as a sluggish finance and insurance sector dampened the state’s economy.

Like Delaware, the Midwestern state of Wisconsin also experienced declines across the finance and insurance sector, in addition to steep drops in the agriculture and manufacturing industries.

America’s third-biggest economy, New York, grew just 0.7% in 2023, falling far below the U.S. average. High interest rates took a toll on key sectors, with notable slowdowns in the construction and manufacturing sectors. In addition, falling home prices and a weaker job market contributed to slower economic growth.

Meanwhile, Georgia experienced the fifth-lowest real GDP growth rate. In March 2024, Rivian paused plans to build a $5 billion EV factory in Georgia, which was set to be one of the biggest economic development initiatives in the state in history.

These delays are likely to exacerbate setbacks for the state, however, both Kia and Hyundai have made significant investments in the EV industry, which could help boost Georgia’s manufacturing sector looking ahead.