A rare 4.8 magnitude earthquake hit northern New Jersey on Friday, making it the third-strongest earthquake to strike the state. According to CNN analysis of US Geological Survey data, this earthquake was the strongest to occur in New Jersey since 1783, over 240 years ago.
Before New Jersey became a state in December 1787, two stronger earthquakes had occurred in the region that now comprises the state's boundaries. These were a 5.1 magnitude quake in 1755 and another 5.1 magnitude quake in 1783.
USGS data reveals that this recent earthquake is the third-strongest to hit the Northeast in the last 50 years and ranks as the 10th-strongest of all time in the region.
Earthquakes in New Jersey and the surrounding region are infrequent occurrences. Since 1700, there have only been 24 earthquakes of 2.5 magnitude or greater recorded in New Jersey.
