Does Pennsylvania experience earthquakes?
Pennsylvania does experience earthquakes. However, they are not as large or as frequent as in seismically active areas such as California. They are also not as strong—almost all have magnitudes less than 5, considered a minor tremor in places like California. Earthquakes in Pennsylvania are most common in the southeastern and northwestern parts of the state. In the southeast, they are most frequent in the Lancaster and Reading areas, and to a lesser extent around Philadelphia. The active area affecting northwestern Pennsylvania is actually centered in northeastern most Ohio. However, the largest earthquake in Pennsylvania ever recorded, having a magnitude of 5.2, occurred in southern Crawford County in September 1998. The earthquakes in Pennsylvania generally cause only minor damage, such as small cracks in foundations and streets. The 1998 Crawford County earthquake caused a bit more damage. Some chimneys collapsed, objects fell off of shelves, and about 120 homes had their wells go d
