Origin Time: January 25, 2001, 10:03:20.63 p.m. EST / January 26, 2001, 3:03:20.63 UTC
Location: 41.87º N   80.76º W
Magnitude: mbLg = 4.5 (based on 10 OhioSeis stations)
Depth: 3.1 mi / 5.0 km (fixed)

Ashtabula, Ohio, and surrounding communities were shaken by a 4.5-magnitude earthquake at 10:03 p.m. eastern time on Thursday, January 25, 2001. This event followed a 2.6-magnitude earthquake on January 19, at 9:05 p.m. eastern time. The larger event was felt throughout an extensive area of northern Ohio, western Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Ontario, Canada. Preliminary damage reports from Ashtabula indicate cracked plaster and masonry, walls bowed or moved, items knocked off shelves, and a ruptured natural gas line that resulted in evacuation of some residents. Damage and felt reports are being gathered by the Division of Geological Survey, the U.S. Geological Survey, and the Ashtabula County Emergency Management Agency.
 
At least two aftershocks in the 3 magnitude range occurred in the hours after the main shock. The 4.5-magnitude mainshock is the largest earthquake in historic times in the Ashtabula area. Small earthquakes have previously been recorded in the area in 1987, 1989, 1992, and 1995. None of these events caused damage. The mainshock was widely recorded by the Ohio Seismic Network (OhioSeis) and at seismic stations operated outside of Ohio by the U.S. Geological Survey, the Geological Survey of Canada, the University of Western Ontario, and a variety of other networks and independent seismic stations. This wealth of data permitted the Ohio Seismic Network to locate the mainshock on the east side of Ashtabula.
 
Mainshock isoseismal map
 
Felt Report Posted on USGS Earthquake Hazards Program web site
 
OhioSeis Epicenter/Magnitude Data Table
 
Seismogram recorded at Ohioseis station ACEO (graphic)
 
Seismogram recorded at Ohioseis station CLEO (graphic)
 
Seismogram recorded at Ohioseis station LCCO (graphic)