Discover the Michigan Town Most Likely to Experience an Earthquake

The state of Michigan is known for its beautiful Great Lakes and for being the birthplace of the automobile industry. It’s also famous for the creation of Motown in Detroit by Berry Gordy Jr.

One great thing about Michigan is that it experiences very few earthquakes. Compared to other states in the U.S. and the District of Columbia, Michigan is the 43rd most likely state to experience one of these weather phenomena. Those are pretty good odds out of 51 states and territories.

While it’s unlikely that any town will experience an earthquake in Michigan, there are areas where the event is more probable. The Michigan town that is most likely to experience an earthquake is a tie between four areas with very few citizens.

The areas highest on the earthquake index are Kearsarge, Copper City, Ahmeek, and Mohawk. Each of these places earned a score of 2.02 on the index.

What Does This Score Mean?

Compared to the earthquake capital California, a score of 2.02 is very low. There are 1,624 California towns and cities with a higher score than 2.02. Given the fact that almost the entire state of California has a higher chance of having an earthquake than the towns of Kearsarge, Copper City, Ahmeek, and Mohawk, it means they aren’t at too much risk.

However, compared to the rest of the state of Michigan they have the highest chance of being affected by an earthquake, and that can be crucial information if you live there.

Most Likely to Experience an Earthquake: Kearsarge

Kearsarge is an unincorporated community in Houghton County. Kearsarge was settled in 1867 as a mining town. It was named after the USS Kearsarge, a ship known for defeating Confederate ships during the Civil War. It was named by a former naval officer who worked for one of the area’s mining companies. 

Though there isn’t much to do in the area today, you can take a drive and see the beautiful views at the end of the peninsula. You can also visit the nearby Keweenaw National Historical Park which is a mining museum. It showcases the tools and trade items that native people made out of mined copper.

Most Likely to Experience an Earthquake: Copper City

Like the previous community of Kearsarge, the village of Copper City is also part of Houghton County. It has 253 residents in just 0.08 square miles of land. As you would expect, there isn’t much to do in the small area. However, there are a few trails to explore and some great views. There is also a bar and grill located off Trail #3 called The Drift Inn. It serves up classic American dishes like pizza, burgers, and chicken wings.  

Most Likely to Experience an Earthquake: Ahmeek

Ahmeek is a village in Keweenaw County. It isn’t very far from Copper City or Kearsarge. It has a population of 128 and 0.07 square miles of land area. Ahmeek has a long and interesting history that starts in the late 1800s.

The name is Ahmeek comes from the Ojibwe language, meaning “beaver”, because there were many beavers that lived in the area. Mining began in the area by the Ahmeek Mining Company in 1903. The Village of Ahmeek was founded shortly after in 1904 by Joseph Bosch. The town had a post office, many homes, a fire hall, and a cemetery. 

It was an important area because it was a depot on the Mineral Range Railroad and the Copper Range Railroad. For many years, the Ahmeek Mining Company was the largest commercial presence in town. They ceased mining for a short time during the Great Depression in 1931 but reopened in 1936. The company continued mining until 1966, and then the mine closed permanently.

Today, there are a few attractions in the village. You can visit the ruins of the Ahmeek Mine, the Houghton County Traction Company streetcar station, and the Ahmeek Ice Rink.

Most Likely to Experience an Earthquake: Mohawk

Mohawk is also a part of Keweenaw County, but it is an unincorporated community. However, it does have its own post office. The community is just north of the village of Ahmeek. It’s the site of the Mohawk Mining Company.

The company found something called Mohawkite, which is a rare mineral that is thought to only exist within the Mohawk Mine. Mohawkite is a rock that’s made of arsenic, silver, nickel, skutterudite, and copper. It’s most commonly used in jewelry, particularly when it contains quartz. 

Where is Ahmeek Located on a Map?

Ahmeek is a very small village nestled in Keweenaw County. It is positioned within Allouez Township. According to the 2020 census, the village is home to a population of 127 residents.

Surprisingly, it covers a mere 0.07 square miles of land, making it the smallest municipality in the entire state.

Here is Ahmeek on a map: