1867 Manhattan, Kansas earthquake
Encyclopedia
On April 24, 1867, the 1867 Manhattan earthquake struck Riley County, Kansas. Measuring 5.1 on the Richter scale, the earthquake's epicenter
was by the town of Manhattan
. To this day, it remains the strongest earthquake to originate in Kansas.
The earthquake had an intensity of VII on the Mercalli intensity scale
, and was felt over an area of roughly 193051 square miles (500,000 km²). It caused largely minor damage, reports of which were confined to Kansas, Iowa, and Missouri, according to the United States Geological Survey
.
Manhattan is near the Nemaha Ridge
, a long structure that is bounded by several faults. The nearby Humboldt Fault Zone in particular poses a threat to the city even today. Kansas is not known for earthquake activity, but an earthquake could occur at any time.
, Kansas, a town just off the connection of the Kansas River
and the Big Blue River
. Nearby is the anticline
Nemaha Ridge
, which has been associated with at least a few earthquakes of Kansas. A 300 million year old Precambrian
granite range bounded by faults, it hosts the Humboldt Fault Zone, which, in addition to serving as the range's easternmost boundary, has hosted a large portion of the state's earthquakes. Each year, it produces at least several small tremors < magnitude 2.7. It cuts through Permian
rock, and according to the Geological Society of America, may actually be a complex fault
. Previously, it was believed to be a simple, Precambrian
structure.
The Nemaha Range is roughly 50 miles (80 km) east of the Midcontinent rift
, which forms a layer of basaltic rock around 1.1 billion years old. This rift extends northward to Lake Superior and the surrounding area and southward to Kansas, then stops abruptly. Also present in the state is the Central Kansas Uplift, the faults of which produced several small earthquakes during the late 1980s. According to United States Geological Survey
geophysicist Don Steeples in 1987, earthquakes at the Humboldt Zone have decreased and activity at the Uplift has increased.
Felt over an area of 193051 square miles (500,000 km²), the earthquake followed the Midcontinent seismic trend. Unlike earthquakes on the Western Coast of the US, events in the central and east-central sectors of the country are spread out over extensive areas: for example, the 1968 Illinois earthquake
also followed this trend.
The 1867 Manhattan earthquake remains the only notable earthquake to originate in the state, though 25 in total have taken place since. According to the Bulletin of Seismological Society of America, the frequency between earthquakes is between 40 and 45 years.
and Leavenworth
, chimneys fell; in Paola
, the earthquake destroyed one wall of a large post office building. Waves were observed on the Kansas River
, 2 foot (0.6096 m) in height. Isolated reports from Iowa and Missouri, describing fallen and cracked plaster in Dubuque
and Chillicothe
, compliment additional reports of fallen plaster and roof shingle
s, damaged wells, and cracked walls.
A series of articles were published by the Chicago Tribune
describing the extent of the damage throughout the state of Kansas. "At Kansas City" details that the earthquake jolted homes with a sudden burst, giving off a resonating roar like thunder. The earthquake also extended into Indiana and Illinois, according to the United States Geological Survey
.
observed in its article "At Leavenworth, Kansas" that the earthquake was completely unexpected, describing the event as "[...] sudden in its coming and departure." It confirms that earthquakes were not common in earlier time and states that "all were more or less startled, and, indeed, frightened."
The earthquake renewed geological interest of the state, and scientists began to analyze faults and earthquakes. One study found that between December 1977 and June 1989, more than 200 earthquakes were recognized by a strong seismograph network. All were between 4 and .8 on the Richter magnitude scale.
Zone, a fault just off the Ridge, lies just 12 miles (19 km) eastward of the Tuttle Creek Reservoir near Manhattan. If an earthquake were to occur here, it would likely destroy the dam, releasing 300000 feet (91,440 m) of water per second and flooding the nearby area, also threatening roughly 13,000 people and 5,900 homes. A moderate earthquake "between 5.7 to 6.6 would cause sand underneath the dam to liquefy into quicksand, causing the dam to spread out and the top to drop up to three feet." A large earthquake would spawn gaps, forcing water to leak and eventually cause the dam to collapse. Any earthquake that could pose a threat occurs on a cycle of roughly 1,800 years, according to the United States Army Corps of Engineers
, who studied the area first in 1980.
To counter this threat, the group has galvanized an effort to strengthen the dam. Replacing the sand, which could shift during an earthquake, with more than 350 walls, the group has equipped the dam with sensors. Alarms are connected to these sensors, which would alert nearby citizens to the earthquake.
Epicenter
The epicenter or epicentre is the point on the Earth's surface that is directly above the hypocenter or focus, the point where an earthquake or underground explosion originates...
was by the town of Manhattan
Manhattan, Kansas
Manhattan is a city located in the northeastern part of the state of Kansas in the United States, at the junction of the Kansas River and Big Blue River. It is the county seat of Riley County and the city extends into Pottawatomie County. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 52,281...
. To this day, it remains the strongest earthquake to originate in Kansas.
The earthquake had an intensity of VII on the Mercalli intensity scale
Mercalli intensity scale
The Mercalli intensity scale is a seismic scale used for measuring the intensity of an earthquake. It measures the effects of an earthquake, and is distinct from the moment magnitude M_w usually reported for an earthquake , which is a measure of the energy released...
, and was felt over an area of roughly 193051 square miles (500,000 km²). It caused largely minor damage, reports of which were confined to Kansas, Iowa, and Missouri, according to the United States Geological Survey
United States Geological Survey
The United States Geological Survey is a scientific agency of the United States government. The scientists of the USGS study the landscape of the United States, its natural resources, and the natural hazards that threaten it. The organization has four major science disciplines, concerning biology,...
.
Manhattan is near the Nemaha Ridge
Nemaha Ridge
The Nemaha Ridge is located in the Central United States. It is a buried structural zone associated with a granite high in the Pre-Cambrian basement that extends from approximately Omaha, Nebraska to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The ridge is associated with the seismically active Humboldt Fault zone...
, a long structure that is bounded by several faults. The nearby Humboldt Fault Zone in particular poses a threat to the city even today. Kansas is not known for earthquake activity, but an earthquake could occur at any time.
Background and geography
The earthquake was pinpointed to ManhattanManhattan, Kansas
Manhattan is a city located in the northeastern part of the state of Kansas in the United States, at the junction of the Kansas River and Big Blue River. It is the county seat of Riley County and the city extends into Pottawatomie County. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 52,281...
, Kansas, a town just off the connection of the Kansas River
Kansas River
The Kansas River is a river in northeastern Kansas in the United States. It is the southwestern-most part of the Missouri River drainage, which is in turn the northwestern-most portion of the extensive Mississippi River drainage. Its name come from the Kanza people who once inhabited the area...
and the Big Blue River
Big Blue River (Kansas)
The Big Blue River is the largest tributary of the Kansas River. The river flows for approximately from central Nebraska into Kansas, where it intersects with the Kansas River east of Manhattan. It was given its name by the Kansa tribe of Native Americans, who lived at its mouth from 1780 to...
. Nearby is the anticline
Anticline
In structural geology, an anticline is a fold that is convex up and has its oldest beds at its core. The term is not to be confused with antiform, which is a purely descriptive term for any fold that is convex up. Therefore if age relationships In structural geology, an anticline is a fold that is...
Nemaha Ridge
Nemaha Ridge
The Nemaha Ridge is located in the Central United States. It is a buried structural zone associated with a granite high in the Pre-Cambrian basement that extends from approximately Omaha, Nebraska to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The ridge is associated with the seismically active Humboldt Fault zone...
, which has been associated with at least a few earthquakes of Kansas. A 300 million year old Precambrian
Precambrian
The Precambrian is the name which describes the large span of time in Earth's history before the current Phanerozoic Eon, and is a Supereon divided into several eons of the geologic time scale...
granite range bounded by faults, it hosts the Humboldt Fault Zone, which, in addition to serving as the range's easternmost boundary, has hosted a large portion of the state's earthquakes. Each year, it produces at least several small tremors < magnitude 2.7. It cuts through Permian
Permian
The PermianThe term "Permian" was introduced into geology in 1841 by Sir Sir R. I. Murchison, president of the Geological Society of London, who identified typical strata in extensive Russian explorations undertaken with Edouard de Verneuil; Murchison asserted in 1841 that he named his "Permian...
rock, and according to the Geological Society of America, may actually be a complex fault
Geologic fault
In geology, a fault is a planar fracture or discontinuity in a volume of rock, across which there has been significant displacement along the fractures as a result of earth movement. Large faults within the Earth's crust result from the action of tectonic forces...
. Previously, it was believed to be a simple, Precambrian
Precambrian
The Precambrian is the name which describes the large span of time in Earth's history before the current Phanerozoic Eon, and is a Supereon divided into several eons of the geologic time scale...
structure.
The Nemaha Range is roughly 50 miles (80 km) east of the Midcontinent rift
Midcontinent Rift System
The Midcontinent Rift System or Keweenawan Rift is a long geological rift in the center of the North American continent and south-central part of the North American plate. It formed when the continent's core, the North American craton, began to split apart during the Mesoproterozoic era of the...
, which forms a layer of basaltic rock around 1.1 billion years old. This rift extends northward to Lake Superior and the surrounding area and southward to Kansas, then stops abruptly. Also present in the state is the Central Kansas Uplift, the faults of which produced several small earthquakes during the late 1980s. According to United States Geological Survey
United States Geological Survey
The United States Geological Survey is a scientific agency of the United States government. The scientists of the USGS study the landscape of the United States, its natural resources, and the natural hazards that threaten it. The organization has four major science disciplines, concerning biology,...
geophysicist Don Steeples in 1987, earthquakes at the Humboldt Zone have decreased and activity at the Uplift has increased.
Felt over an area of 193051 square miles (500,000 km²), the earthquake followed the Midcontinent seismic trend. Unlike earthquakes on the Western Coast of the US, events in the central and east-central sectors of the country are spread out over extensive areas: for example, the 1968 Illinois earthquake
1968 Illinois earthquake
The 1968 Illinois earthquake was the largest recorded earthquake in the U.S. Midwestern state of Illinois. Striking at 11:02 a.m. on November 9, it measured 5.4 on the Richter scale...
also followed this trend.
The 1867 Manhattan earthquake remains the only notable earthquake to originate in the state, though 25 in total have taken place since. According to the Bulletin of Seismological Society of America, the frequency between earthquakes is between 40 and 45 years.
Damage and casualties
Originating at 20:22 UTC, or around 2:30 local time, the earthquake was assigned a maximum intensity of VII. Minor damage occurred throughout the geographical region. Injuries were reported as well. The earthquake fractured walls, downed chimneys, and interfered with the stability of structures, even loosening stones. In LouisvilleLouisville, Kansas
Louisville is a city in Pottawatomie County, Kansas, United States. The population was 209 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Manhattan, Kansas Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
and Leavenworth
Leavenworth, Kansas
Leavenworth is the largest city and county seat of Leavenworth County, in the U.S. state of Kansas and within the Kansas City, Missouri Metropolitan Area. Located in the northeast portion of the state, it is on the west bank of the Missouri River. As of the 2010 census, the city population was...
, chimneys fell; in Paola
Paola, Kansas
Paola is a city in and the county seat of Miami County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 5,602.-History:...
, the earthquake destroyed one wall of a large post office building. Waves were observed on the Kansas River
Kansas River
The Kansas River is a river in northeastern Kansas in the United States. It is the southwestern-most part of the Missouri River drainage, which is in turn the northwestern-most portion of the extensive Mississippi River drainage. Its name come from the Kanza people who once inhabited the area...
, 2 foot (0.6096 m) in height. Isolated reports from Iowa and Missouri, describing fallen and cracked plaster in Dubuque
Dubuque, Iowa
Dubuque is a city in and the county seat of Dubuque County, Iowa, United States, located along the Mississippi River. In 2010 its population was 57,637, making it the ninth-largest city in the state and the county's population was 93,653....
and Chillicothe
Chillicothe, Missouri
Chillicothe is a city in and the county seat of Livingston County, Missouri, United States. The population was 9,515 at the 2010 census. The name "Chillicothe" is Shawnee for "big town", and was named after their Chillicothe, located since 1774 about a mile from the present-day city.Chillicothe is...
, compliment additional reports of fallen plaster and roof shingle
Roof shingle
Roof shingles are a roof covering consisting of individual overlapping elements. These elements are typically flat rectangular shapes laid in rows from the bottom edge of the roof up, with each successive higher row overlapping the joints in the row below...
s, damaged wells, and cracked walls.
A series of articles were published by the Chicago Tribune
Chicago Tribune
The Chicago Tribune is a major daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, and the flagship publication of the Tribune Company. Formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper" , it remains the most read daily newspaper of the Chicago metropolitan area and the Great Lakes region and is...
describing the extent of the damage throughout the state of Kansas. "At Kansas City" details that the earthquake jolted homes with a sudden burst, giving off a resonating roar like thunder. The earthquake also extended into Indiana and Illinois, according to the United States Geological Survey
United States Geological Survey
The United States Geological Survey is a scientific agency of the United States government. The scientists of the USGS study the landscape of the United States, its natural resources, and the natural hazards that threaten it. The organization has four major science disciplines, concerning biology,...
.
Reaction
The Chicago TribuneChicago Tribune
The Chicago Tribune is a major daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, and the flagship publication of the Tribune Company. Formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper" , it remains the most read daily newspaper of the Chicago metropolitan area and the Great Lakes region and is...
observed in its article "At Leavenworth, Kansas" that the earthquake was completely unexpected, describing the event as "[...] sudden in its coming and departure." It confirms that earthquakes were not common in earlier time and states that "all were more or less startled, and, indeed, frightened."
The earthquake renewed geological interest of the state, and scientists began to analyze faults and earthquakes. One study found that between December 1977 and June 1989, more than 200 earthquakes were recognized by a strong seismograph network. All were between 4 and .8 on the Richter magnitude scale.
Future threat
Despite the fact that Kansas is not seismically active, a strong earthquake could pose significant threats to the state. If an earthquake were to occur, it would likely be along the Nemaha Ridge, which is still active. The Humboldt FaultHumboldt Fault
The Humboldt Fault or Humboldt Fault Zone, is a normal fault or series of faults, that extends from Nebraska southwestwardly through most of Kansas....
Zone, a fault just off the Ridge, lies just 12 miles (19 km) eastward of the Tuttle Creek Reservoir near Manhattan. If an earthquake were to occur here, it would likely destroy the dam, releasing 300000 feet (91,440 m) of water per second and flooding the nearby area, also threatening roughly 13,000 people and 5,900 homes. A moderate earthquake "between 5.7 to 6.6 would cause sand underneath the dam to liquefy into quicksand, causing the dam to spread out and the top to drop up to three feet." A large earthquake would spawn gaps, forcing water to leak and eventually cause the dam to collapse. Any earthquake that could pose a threat occurs on a cycle of roughly 1,800 years, according to the United States Army Corps of Engineers
United States Army Corps of Engineers
The United States Army Corps of Engineers is a federal agency and a major Army command made up of some 38,000 civilian and military personnel, making it the world's largest public engineering, design and construction management agency...
, who studied the area first in 1980.
To counter this threat, the group has galvanized an effort to strengthen the dam. Replacing the sand, which could shift during an earthquake, with more than 350 walls, the group has equipped the dam with sensors. Alarms are connected to these sensors, which would alert nearby citizens to the earthquake.