The U.S. town that records more earthquakes than anywhere else

Parkfield, California, may look like any other quiet rural town. But it’s right on top of one of the most closely watched stretches of the San Andreas Fault, which is why scientists are so interested in it. Let’s find out a little more about this town that records more earthquakes than anywhere else. What’s the very first thing you’d check out in this town?

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A small bridge marks the plate boundary

There’s an old steel bridge right in the center of Parkfield that crosses Little Cholame Creek, although what’s really interesting is what’s underneath. The San Andreas Fault runs straight through the middle. One end of the bridge sits on the Pacific Plate, the other on the North American Plate, with a sign pointing it out.

Parkfield sits at a fault-segment transition

Parkfield sits right where the San Andreas Fault has an odd kind of switch. Up north, the fault moves slowly, but down south, it locks up until it suddenly slips again. Parkfield is right at that handoff point. As such, it catches both kinds of movement from essentially sitting on the fault’s hinge.

Sensors record many tiny quakes

While most towns only feel the bigger shakes, Parkfield feels a lot of them. And that’s why there are so many sensors everywhere. Yes, scientists have put sensors in the hills and mounted them on poles, even burying them underground. Having all this equipment means that the tiniest of movements are also recorded, creating a huge quake log over time.

Magnitude-6 earthquakes on schedule

Interestingly, Parkfield gets a large earthquake almost on schedule every couple of decades. Big ones around magnitude six have popped up in 1857, 1881, 1901, 1922, 1934, 1966 & again in 2004. Of course, the gaps aren’t exact, as sometimes they’re 12 years, sometimes they’re 30. But the pattern’s been surprisingly steady for over a century.

Comparisons to California

California does get a lot of earthquakes. But what makes Parkfield stand out is how often its ground moves, as the town records tens of thousands of earthquakes each year, with most too small for anyone to feel. Most earthquakes in California come from activity in the Geysers geothermal field, while Parkfield’s activity happens naturally along the fault.

The 2004 mainshock

Parkfield’s last big earthquake was a magnitude 6.0 in late September 2004, just before lunch. The epicenter was a few miles southeast near Gold Hill. The tremor was strong enough to shake the whole area, but what’s interesting is that the scientists could precisely pin down the earthquake’s location to within meters. That sort of accuracy just doesn’t happen in most towns.

The next prediction

Scientists watch Parkfield quite closely, even though they no longer make specific predictions. The next magnitude-6 quake is definitely going to happen at some point, but the timing isn’t clear, with recent studies tracking stress changes & small shifts in the fault. The goal for scientists is to focus on continuous monitoring & readiness rather than naming a year.

How people live there safely day to day

People in Parkfield deal with earthquakes the way other California communities do. They prepare early. Apps like MyShake, for example, send warnings and give people a little pre-warning, while San Luis Obispo County pushes regular earthquake safety information. Plus, most buildings here follow California’s seismic codes.

What locals expect when it shakes

As small quakes happen so often here, many residents aren’t surprised when they feel a quick jolt. They might not even stop unless it’s strong enough to rattle shelves. The local media usually reports little to no damage for these routine quakes, but nobody takes their safety for granted. Larger events can happen with little warning.

Ranching in Parkfield

Yes, the town might be tiny, but ranching keeps it active in its own way. Families have been running cattle on the V6 Ranch for generations. They’ve managed to keep the ranch open for events & continue to have seasonal activities without turning it into a tourist trap. It’s one of those places where you still see working trucks pulling up to the local café after a long day.

Getting there

Anyone interested in visiting Parkfield should know that it isn’t exactly on the way to anywhere. You’ll need to drive through many county roads that wind through ranchland & low hills. But once you get there, it’s completely worth it. Where else can you find a town that has ground literally shaking underneath you?

The following sources were consulted in the preparation of this article: