On the basis of the earthquake ( M_L ≥3. 0 ) catalog in North China from 1970 to 2009,the pattern of temporal and spatial distribution of medium-small earthquakes in Datong and its surrounding areas is studied by correlation analysis with a focus on its anomaly before moderate and strong earthquakes. With different spatial scales,temporal scales and time steps, the spatial distribution of earthquakes is converted to a sequence, then the correlation coefficients between the spatial distribution of medium-small earthquakes in a long-term and a longer time are calculated for the analysis of anomalies before moderate and strong earthquakes. In the study region center on the epicenter of the 1989 Datong-Yanggao earthquake ( M_S 5. 9 ) within a radius of less than 0. 8°,with the time length of 3600 days,the longer time length of 3700 days,and the time step of 100 days, the correlation coefficient from 1980 to 2009 is steady between 0. 94 and 1. 00,but there were anomalies with values less than 0. 94 in the 2 years before the 1989 Datong-Yanggao earthquake ( M_S 5. 9 ) , the 1991 Datong earthquake ( M_S 5. 8 ) and 1999 Hunyuan earthquake ( M_S 5. 6 ) , which indicates the spatial distribution of a medium-small earthquake is very different from steady background seismicity. The implication for earthquake prediction from the anomaly of the correlation coefficient is also discussed with the three conclusions: ( 1 ) Before moderate and strong earthquakes in Datong and its surrounding areas,the obvious change of spatial distribution patterns of medium-small earthquake can be a kind of seismic precursor of the 2-year time scale for the prediction of an earthquake’s time. ( 2 ) As the study region is restricted within a radius of less than 0. 8°,the result of correlation analysis is also good for the prediction of an earthquake’s location. ( 3 ) The method of correlation analysis in this paper helps recognize the anomaly of spatial distribution of medium-small earthquake. On the basis of the earthquake (M_L ≥ 3.0) catalog in North China from 1970 to 2009, the pattern of temporal and spatial distribution of medium-small earthquakes in Datong and its surrounding areas is studied by correlation analysis with a focus on its With different spatial scales, temporal scales and time steps, the spatial distribution of earthquakes is converted to a sequence, then the correlation coefficients between the spatial distribution of medium-small earthquakes in a long-term and a longer time are calculated for the analysis of anomalies before moderate and strong earthquakes. In the study region center on the epicenter of the 1989 Datong-Yanggao earthquake (M_S 5. 9) within a radius of less than 0.8 °, with the time length of 3600 days, the longer time length of 3700 days, and the time step of 100 days, the correlation coefficient from 1980 to 2009 is steady between 0. 94 and 1. 00, but there were anomalies with values ​​less over 0.94 in the 2 years before the 1989 Datong-Yanggao earthquake (M_S 5. 9), the 1991 Datong earthquake (M_S 5. 8) and 1999 Hunyuan earthquake (M_S 5. 6), which indicates the spatial distribution of a medium-small earthquake is very different from steady anomaly coefficient of the correlation coefficient is also discussed with the three conclusions: (1) Before moderate and strong earthquakes in Datong and its surrounding areas, the obvious change of spatial distribution patterns of medium-small earthquake can be a kind of seismic precursor of the 2-year time scale for the prediction of an earthquake’s time. (2) As the study region is restricted within a radius of less than 0.8 ° , the result of correlation analysis is also good for the prediction of an earthquake’s location. (3) The method of correlation analysis in this paper helps recognize the anomaly of spatial distribution of medium-small earthquake.