The March 16, 1904 earthquake

M5.3Eastern Olympic Peninsula, Washington

A magnitude 5.3 earthquake, centred in Jefferson County. The 13th strongest in Washington’s record since 1900, and the strongest within 50 miles in the catalogue, which runs from 1900.

The earthquake

Magnitude: 5.3; as reported (mfa)
Depth: —; Not recorded
Local time: Wednesday, March 16, 1904; 20:18 PST; 04:18 UTC on Mar 17, 1904
Epicentre: 47.80°N, 123.00°W; In Jefferson County
In Washington’s record: 13th; strongest of 5,002 since 1900
Within 50 miles: 12; counties; more on this date

USGS ANSS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog, event uw19040317041800000 (“Eastern Olympic Peninsula, Washington”). 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

Jefferson CountyWA · inside
Clallam CountyWA · 5.2 mi
Kitsap CountyWA · 13.0 mi
Mason CountyWA · 13.4 mi
Island CountyWA · 24.0 mi
King CountyWA · 27.9 mi
Snohomish CountyWA · 28.1 mi
Pierce CountyWA · 28.9 mi
Grays Harbor CountyWA · 30.6 mi
Thurston CountyWA · 42.2 mi
San Juan CountyWA · 43.2 mi
Skagit CountyWA · 44.4 mi

Cities, largest first

SeattleWA · 32.6 mi
TacomaWA · 45.5 mi
BellevueWA · 41.6 mi
KentWA · 46.3 mi
EverettWA · 39.2 mi
RentonWA · 43.6 mi
Federal WayWA · 45.7 mi
KirklandWA · 37.7 mi
RedmondWA · 42.0 mi
MarysvilleWA · 43.7 mi
ShorelineWA · 30.5 mi
SammamishWA · 46.9 mi

Earthquakes around the epicentre

191 earthquakes of magnitude 3 or more within 50 miles of this epicentre since 1973.

No earlier earthquake of magnitude 5 or more within 50 miles in the catalogue since 1900.

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