Earthquake Risk in Kentucky
Kentucky faces moderate seismic risk from the New Madrid Seismic Zone in its western tip and the East Tennessee Seismic Zone in the southeast. The Jackson Purchase region near Paducah has the highest hazard, and the state requires seismic building codes in its most at-risk areas.
The largest earthquake recorded in Kentucky was a magnitude 5.2 7 km NNE of Bellmont, Illinois on April 18, 2008. Kentucky has 50 notable earthquakes on record since 2004, with the most recent being a M3.1 on December 28, 2025.
Notable Earthquakes
50
Recorded in or near Kentucky (since 2004)
Largest Earthquake
M5.2
7 km NNE of Bellmont, Illinois (Apr 2008)
Most Recent
M3.1
Dec 28, 2025
Notable Earthquakes
Significant earthquakes recorded in or near this state.
| Magnitude | Location | Depth | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| M5.2 | 7 km NNE of Bellmont, Illinois | 14.2 km | Apr 18, 2008 |
| M4.7 | 9 km NNE of Bellmont, Illinois | 15.5 km | Apr 18, 2008 |
| M4.3 | 13 km NW of Raven, Virginia | 0.0 km | Nov 23, 2006 |
| M4.3 | 13 km NNW of Raven, Virginia | 1.0 km | Nov 2, 2006 |
| M4.2 | 6 km W of Blackey, Kentucky | 17.0 km | Nov 10, 2012 |
| M4.0 | 7 km NNE of Bellmont, Illinois | 18.3 km | Apr 21, 2008 |
| M3.9 | 4 km SSE of Bertrand, Missouri | 7.8 km | Feb 21, 2012 |
| M3.8 | 4 km N of Bellmont, Illinois | 11.7 km | Sep 19, 2017 |
| M3.7 | 8 km ESE of Corbin, Kentucky | 1.3 km | Sep 17, 2004 |
| M3.7 | 8 km NNE of Bellmont, Illinois | 13.0 km | Apr 25, 2008 |
| M3.7 | 2 km ENE of East Prairie, Missouri | 8.2 km | Mar 2, 2010 |
| M3.6 | 7 km N of Bellmont, Illinois | 18.6 km | Nov 20, 2012 |
| M3.6 | 3 km NNE of Eldorado, Illinois | 7.3 km | Jan 2, 2006 |
| M3.6 | 4 km WSW of Blandville, Kentucky | 18.7 km | Jun 20, 2005 |
| M3.6 | 9 km ESE of Wyatt, Missouri | 8.4 km | Mar 15, 2017 |
| M3.5 | 5 km SE of New Grand Chain, Illinois | 16.3 km | May 1, 2016 |
| M3.5 | 6 km SE of Wyatt, Missouri | 4.4 km | Jul 16, 2004 |
| M3.4 | 7 km ENE of Rio Grande, Ohio | 8.4 km | Apr 24, 2009 |
| M3.4 | 4 km ENE of Geff, Illinois | 25.9 km | May 30, 2015 |
| M3.4 | 8 km WNW of Mount Carmel, Illinois | 16.2 km | Jun 5, 2008 |
| M3.3 | 8 km NNE of Bellmont, Illinois | 14.3 km | May 1, 2008 |
| M3.3 | 9 km ESE of Wyatt, Missouri | 9.1 km | May 16, 2017 |
| M3.2 | 4 km NE of Williamsburg, Kentucky | 26.1 km | Jan 27, 2009 |
| M3.2 | 9 km ESE of Wyatt, Missouri | 12.2 km | Mar 19, 2017 |
| M3.1 | 1 km NW of Chesapeake, Ohio | 13.3 km | Dec 16, 2024 |
| M3.1 | 9 km SSE of Mulberry Grove, Illinois | 16.8 km | Jul 1, 2017 |
| M3.1 | 2 km NNW of Oak Hill, Ohio | 25.9 km | Feb 3, 2025 |
| M3.1 | 3 km WSW of Wickliffe, Kentucky | 0.0 km | May 3, 2011 |
| M3.1 | 0 km NW of Emison, Indiana | 10.7 km | May 10, 2012 |
| M3.1 | 6 km NNE of Bellmont, Illinois | 18.3 km | Jul 18, 2008 |
| M3.1 | 11 km ENE of Lancaster, Kentucky | 6.8 km | Dec 28, 2025 |
| M3.1 | 5 km WNW of Waltonville, Illinois | 16.7 km | Dec 18, 2023 |
| M3.1 | 4 km N of Bellmont, Illinois | 11.8 km | Sep 9, 2017 |
| M3.0 | 2 km E of Manchester, Ohio | 14.5 km | Dec 12, 2021 |
| M3.0 | 6 km W of Calhoun, Kentucky | 0.5 km | May 30, 2023 |
| M3.0 | 6 km NE of Pinhook, Missouri | 16.8 km | Sep 27, 2019 |
| M3.0 | 0 km SSE of Howardville, Missouri | 13.6 km | May 14, 2017 |
| M3.0 | 2 km N of Buncombe, Illinois | 6.2 km | Mar 1, 2006 |
| M3.0 | 6 km E of Grand Tower, Illinois | 9.6 km | Jun 27, 2005 |
| M3.0 | 2 km NE of Marston, Missouri | 8.8 km | May 12, 2021 |
| M3.0 | 5 km S of Bertrand, Missouri | 9.0 km | Sep 30, 2015 |
| M2.9 | 2 km SE of South Shore, Kentucky | 26.9 km | Apr 25, 2020 |
| M2.9 | 3 km WNW of Saint Peter, Illinois | 33.1 km | Sep 5, 2004 |
| M2.9 | 7 km N of Barbourville, Kentucky | 10.0 km | Nov 30, 2004 |
| M2.9 | 8 km NNE of Bellmont, Illinois | 14.6 km | Jun 24, 2008 |
| M2.9 | 3 km N of Bardwell, Kentucky | 16.0 km | Jan 31, 2007 |
| M2.9 | 4 km ENE of Nickelsville, Virginia | 15.9 km | Aug 14, 2009 |
| M2.9 | 5 km NW of New Madrid, Missouri | 11.3 km | Nov 8, 2015 |
| M2.8 | 6 km SE of Lawrenceburg, Kentucky | 33.6 km | Aug 20, 2015 |
| M2.8 | 1 km NNE of Germantown, Illinois | 23.6 km | Mar 28, 2024 |
Cities in Kentucky
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