What are the Locations of Meteorites Found in the United States?
What are the locations of meteorites found in the United States? The Meteoritical Society estimates that as of July 2009 there have been 1530 meteorites found in the United States. This number combines actual meteorites that have been found and those that have just been reported as fallen. These meteorites have been found, in various sizes and forms, throughout the entire US.
There are many answers to where meteorites are found in the United States. In fact, meteorites have fallen in almost every state in the United States with the exception of four. The four states that do not have any reported meteorite landings or fallings are Delaware, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island.
The following is a list of states that have had actual meteorites found or have reported seeing them fall.
- Alabama – 17
- Alaska – 4
- Arizona – 93
- Arkansas – 15
- California – 187
- Colorado – 85
- Connecticut – 4
- Florida – 5
- Georgia – 25
- Hawaii – 2
- Idaho – 6
- Illinois – 9
- Indiana – 12
- Iowa – 7
- Kansas – 137
- Kentucky – 25
- Louisiana – 3
- Maine – 5
- Maryland – 4
- Massachusetts – 1
- Michigan – 10
- Minnesota – 8
- Mississippi – 3
- Missouri – 22
- Montana – 6
- Nebraska – 49
- Nevada – 53
- New Jersey –1
- New Mexico – 218
- New York – 11
- North Carolina – 29
- North Dakota – 10
- Ohio – 12
- Oklahoma – 36
- Oregon –4
- Pennsylvania – 8
- South Carolina – 6
- South Dakota – 14
- Tennessee – 25
- Texas – 294
- Utah – 18
- Virginia – 12
- Washington – 6
- West Virginia – 3
- Wisconsin – 13
- Wyoming – 13
So, as you can see, there are many locations of meteorites throughout the US and you can find them almost anywhere.
All About the Meteorites
It is important to note that most of the meteorites that have been found in the United States have not been found whole.
- Multiple stones are usually found in a general area and then linked together as being part of the same meteorite. They are generally linked or grouped based on their content.
- The earliest meteorite to be found in the United States was uncovered in Havana, Illinois sometime during the 1940s. The meteorite was named Havana after the place where it was found. The Havana meteorite was discovered by Native Americans who used the iron to make beads for jewelry and other crafts.
- During a period of 202 years there have been a total of 1530 meteorite falls and actual finds. This equates to approximately 7.6 meteorites falling each year. During this same time period, the number of falls that have been reported is estimated to be 141.
- The first fall that was observed was in 1807 in Weston Connecticut.
- Most of the meteorites that have been found in the United States are made of iron.
- The largest meteorite that has been found intact in the United States is said to weigh approximately 15.5 metric tons, or approximately 34,000 pounds. Williamette was the name given to the stone upon its discovery. Meteorites can also be made of a stoney material rather than iron.
So, now you know what the locations are of meteorites found in the United States and you know now what many of those meteorites are made of and how and when some famous ones have been located.