Historic Earthquakes

Near Olney, Illinois
1987 June 10 23:48 UTC
Magnitude 5.1

Minor damage in the form of cracks in chimneys, hairline cracks in plaster and drywall, and cracks in house foundations was reported in several towns in Illinois and Indiana. The most serious damage was observed at Olney, Illinois, where chimneys toppled and bricks fell from chimneys; at West York, Illinois (about 60 km northeast of Olney), where chmineys were broken at their rooflines; at Evansville, Indiana (about 100 km southeast of Olney), where underground pipes were damaged and large cracks formed in sidewalks and streets; and at Louisville, Kentucky (about 200 km southeast of Olney), where one downed chimney and widespread minor damage were reported.

Felt over a large area of the United States, including all or parts of 17 States - from Illinois east to Pennsylvania and West Virginia, west to Kansas and Nebraska, south to Alabama and Georgia, and north to Minnesota, Wisconsin, and southern Ontario, Canada. This was the largest earthquake in the area in 19 years - since November 9, 1968.

Abridged from Seismicity of the United States, 1568-1989 (Revised), by Carl W. Stover and Jerry L. Coffman, U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1527, United States Government Printing Office, Washington: 1993.