The greatest earthquake recorded in North America centered in this area from Dec. 16, 1811 to Feb. 7, 1812. A total of 1,874 quakes were felt at Louisville, 250 miles away, and tremors were also felt at Boston, Detroit, and New Orleans. Reelfoot Lake, covering 25,000 acres, formed when some streams changed courses. New Madrid, Mo., was destroyed, but very few persons died because the population of the area was sparse.