The August 2, 1903 earthquake

M6.2Near San Jose, California

A magnitude 6.2 earthquake, centred in Santa Clara County. The 48th strongest in California’s record since 1900, and the strongest within 50 miles in the catalogue, which runs from 1900.

The earthquake

Magnitude: 6.2; moment magnitude (mw)
Depth: —; Not recorded
Local time: Sunday, August 2, 1903; 22:49 PST; 06:49 UTC on Aug 3, 1903
Epicentre: 37.30°N, 121.80°W; In Santa Clara County
In California’s record: 48th; strongest of 97,065 since 1900
Within 50 miles: 12; counties; more on this date

USGS ANSS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog, event ushis421 (“Near San Jose, California”). The USGS event page carries the ShakeMap, felt reports and the official summary.

Counties and cities within 50 miles

Distance from the epicentre to each county boundary (zero when inside) and to each city centre.

Counties

Santa Clara CountyCA · inside
Alameda CountyCA · 12.7 mi
Santa Cruz CountyCA · 14.8 mi
Stanislaus CountyCA · 18.8 mi
San Mateo CountyCA · 19.4 mi
San Joaquin CountyCA · 21.4 mi
Monterey CountyCA · 26.8 mi
San Benito CountyCA · 27.8 mi
Contra Costa CountyCA · 30.2 mi
Merced CountyCA · 33.5 mi
San Francisco CountyCA · 42.3 mi
Sacramento CountyCA · 49.7 mi

Cities, largest first

San JoseCA · 0.8 mi
OaklandCA · 40.0 mi
FremontCA · 15.5 mi
ModestoCA · 49.5 mi
SalinasCA · 43.1 mi
HaywardCA · 28.1 mi
SunnyvaleCA · 13.8 mi
Santa ClaraCA · 10.3 mi
ConcordCA · 47.7 mi
BerkeleyCA · 47.7 mi
AntiochCA · 46.9 mi
San MateoCA · 33.3 mi

Earthquakes around the epicentre

2,192 earthquakes of magnitude 3 or more within 50 miles of this epicentre since 1973.

Earlier earthquakes of magnitude 5 or more within 50 miles, strongest first

June 11, 1903M6.1

USGS ANSS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog. Local time is the time zone of the county nearest the epicentre. Magnitudes are as the catalogue reports them.