A moderate-sized earthquake that occurs under an urbanized area can cause major damage. Magnitude 5.5 - 6.5 earthquakes occur somewhere in Utah on the average of once every 7 years. Since 1850, at least 15 independent earthquakes of magnitude 5.5 and larger have occurred in the Utah region. Since settlement in 1847, Utah's largest earthquakes were the 1934 Hansel Valley earthquake, north of the Great Salt Lake, magnitude 6.6, and the 1901 earthquake near the town of Richfield, estimated magnitude 6.5. An average of about 13 earthquakes of magnitude 3.0 or larger occur in the region every year.
Earthquakes can occur anywhere in the state of Utah.
About 500 earthquakes are located in the Wasatch Front region each year. In the last minute, somewhere in the world. Within the past 24 hours, somewhere in the state. In 1907, by James Talmage at the University of Utah. A skeletal statewide network began in 1962.