2.9 Magnitude Earthquake Shakes Denver, Colorado Region

A rare 2.9 magnitude earthquake struck near Dacono, Colorado, just north of Denver on the morning of June 13, 2025, shaking homes and being felt by hundreds of residents in nearby towns such as Thornton and Erie. The quake's epicenter was located just beneath a farmer's alfalfa field near Dacono, causing minor shaking but no damage, and was notable for occurring near populated areas in a state not typically known for seismic activity. Residents described the event as two loud booms that shook their houses, though some, including a farmer's wife, slept through the tremor. The shallow depth of about five miles likely contributed to the quake being widely felt despite its modest magnitude. Colorado has experienced over 700 earthquakes of 2.5 magnitude or higher since 1867, though most go unnoticed, and the last quake above magnitude 3 near Denver was in 1981. While the state has never experienced a major earthquake of magnitude 7.0 or greater, such events are possible given its seismic history.