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This is actually a two part answer:1. The largest earthquake in continental US history.

A: March 27 1964, Prince William Sound Alaska. 9.2

2. The largest earthquake in the Contiguous US history.

A: New Madrid. 1811 - 1812, 7.9

Facts:

A series of earthquakes hit the New Madrid seismic zone of southeastern Missouri, northeastern Arkansas, and adjacent parts of Tennessee and Kentucky, in December 1811 to February 1812. Three earthquakes had a magnitude of 7.0 or greater. The first earthquake 7.7 occurred December 16, 1811, at 2:15 a.m.; the second 7.7 at 9 a.m. on January 23, 1812; and the third 7.9 -8.0 on February 7, 1812, at 3:45 a.m. These three earthquakes were among the largest to strike North America since European settlement.

The main shocks were followed by many hundreds of aftershocks that lasted for decades. Many of the aftershocks were major earthquakes themselves. The area that was strongly shaken by the three main shocks was 2--3 times as large as the strongly shaken area of the 1964 M9.2 Alaskan earthquake, and 10 times as large as that of the 1906 M7.8 San Francisco earthquake.

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M9.2 in Alaska (1964), M7.9 in California (1857).


According to the USGS, largest recorded earthquake in US was magnitude 9.2 on March 28, 1964 in Prince William Sound, Alaska.

The largest earthquake in the continental US was magnitude 7.9 on Jan 9th, 1857 in Fort Tejon, California.

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Q: What was the location and magnitude of the largest US earthquake?
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What was the magnitude of the largest earthquake in the US and where did it occur and how many were there?

I know the largest and strongest earthquake in the US as in Anchorage Alaska, not positive, I think it was just one. It was early 1900's or late 1800's and destroyed the city.


When and where was the most powerful earthquake recorded?

In Chile on the 22 May 1960. The city of Valdivia was the worst effected. Please see the related link for more information


What is the magnitude of the largest earthquake in the US?

Magnitude 9.2 including Alaska and 9.0 in the lower 48 states.According to USGS National Earthquake Information Center it was magnitude 9.2 on March 28, 1964 in Prince William Sound, Alaska.On January 26, 1700.was the largest known earthquake (magnitude 9.0) to have occurred in the "lower 48" United States that rocked Cascadia, a region 600 miles long that includes northern California, Oregon, Washington, and southern British Columbia


How many aftershocks were there following the major Haitian earthquake of January 2010 and what was their magnitude?

The US Geological survey report that (as of the 5th of February, 2010) there have been 59 aftershocks of magnitude 4.5 or greater. Sixteen of which had magnitudes of 5.0 or above. The two largest aftershocks had a magnitude of 6.0 and 5.9. The magnitude 6.0 aftershock occurred 7 minutes after the main earthquake on the 12th of January and the magnitude 5.9 aftershock occurred at 11:03 GMT on the 20th of January. Please see the related question.


Where do most earthquakes happen in the US?

The most earthquake prone part of the US is Alaska. California is the second most earthquake prone state and Hawaii third. According to the USGS National Earthquake Center, there is an earthquake of magnitude 7.0 or greater in the US once every few years.

Related questions

What is the location date and magnitude of the largest earthquake in the US?

On 3-28-1964 there was an earthquake in Price William Sound, Alaska that reached 9.2 on the richter scale


What has been the biggest earthquake to hit the US?

The 1964 Alaska earthquake (March 27, 1964) had its epicentre in Prince William Sound near Anchorage. The earthquake had a magnitude of 9.2 making it the largest ever to occur in the US, and the 3rd largest ever recorded by seismometer.


What was the magnitude of the largest earthquake in the US and where did it occur and how many were there?

I know the largest and strongest earthquake in the US as in Anchorage Alaska, not positive, I think it was just one. It was early 1900's or late 1800's and destroyed the city.


When and where was the most powerful earthquake recorded?

In Chile on the 22 May 1960. The city of Valdivia was the worst effected. Please see the related link for more information


What is the worst earthquake in US history?

The worst in term of casualties was the 1906 San Francisco earthquake where it is estimated that more than 3,000 people were killed. The worst in terms of magnitude was the 1964 Alaskan earthquake which had a magnitude of 9.2 making it the 3rd largest earthquake ever recorded by man.


What is the highest ranked magnitude of an earthquake in the US?

There was a 9.2 magnitude earthquake in Prince William Sound, Alaska in 1964.


What is the magnitude of the largest earthquake in the US?

Magnitude 9.2 including Alaska and 9.0 in the lower 48 states.According to USGS National Earthquake Information Center it was magnitude 9.2 on March 28, 1964 in Prince William Sound, Alaska.On January 26, 1700.was the largest known earthquake (magnitude 9.0) to have occurred in the "lower 48" United States that rocked Cascadia, a region 600 miles long that includes northern California, Oregon, Washington, and southern British Columbia


How powerful was the Earthquake in Chile?

The most recent Chilean earthquake mainshock occurred on the 27th of February 2010 and according to the US Geological Survey, rated at 8.8 on the moment magnitude scale. Chile has also suffered earthquakes in the past, including the largest earthquake ever recorded by seismometer which occurred on the 22nd of May, 1960 and had a magnitude of 9.5.


How many tsunamis have made the US worst earth quake list?

A tsunami is caused by an earthquake, which means that the earthquake would make the Earthquake list. Whether the list would include information on the created tsunami is unknown. Magnitude doesn't always correlate directly to the magnitude of the earthquake nor does it have a direct relationship with the number of deaths or the amount of destruction caused.The highest magnitude Earthquake was recorded in Chile in 1960 with a Magnitude of 9.5. ThisEarthquake created a tsunami that was initially 82 feet high, diminished to 35 feet when it hit the island of Hilo and only 15 feet when it reached Japan.The 2nd worst recorded Earthquake occurred December 26th, 2004 Earthquake Magnitude 9.1-9.3.This quake created 5 tsunamis.The largest/tallest recorded tsunami was created by a magnitude 7.9 earthquake that generated a wave 1720 feet high.


What was the magnitude of the Haitian earthquake that occurred on the 12th of January 2010?

According to the US Geological Survey the Haitian earthquake that occurred on the 12th of January 2010 had a magnitude of 7.0 on the moment magnitude scale. Please see the related links below.


How many aftershocks were there following the major Haitian earthquake of January 2010 and what was their magnitude?

The US Geological survey report that (as of the 5th of February, 2010) there have been 59 aftershocks of magnitude 4.5 or greater. Sixteen of which had magnitudes of 5.0 or above. The two largest aftershocks had a magnitude of 6.0 and 5.9. The magnitude 6.0 aftershock occurred 7 minutes after the main earthquake on the 12th of January and the magnitude 5.9 aftershock occurred at 11:03 GMT on the 20th of January. Please see the related question.


What was the worst earthquake that has happened to the US?

The worst US earthquake in terms of impact on people was probably the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake which is estimated to have led to the deaths of over 3,000 people and to have left between 227,000 and 300,000 people homeless out of a population of 410,000. In terms of magnitude, the worst earthquake in recorded US history was the 1964 Alaska earthquake which had a moment magnitude of 9.2. This makes it the most powerful earthquake recorded in the US and Canada and the second most powerful earthquake recorded on Earth by seismometer.