The March 21, 1904 earthquake

M5.7Passamaquoddy Bay area, Maine

A magnitude 5.7 earthquake, centred in Washington County. The 2nd strongest in Maine’s record since 1900, and the strongest within 50 miles in the catalogue, which runs from 1900.

The earthquake

Magnitude: 5.7; moment magnitude (mw)
Depth: —; Not recorded
Local time: Monday, March 21, 1904; 01:04 EST; 06:04 UTC
Epicentre: 45.00°N, 67.20°W; In Washington County
In Maine’s record: 2nd; strongest of 221 since 1900
Within 50 miles: 3; counties; more on this date

USGS ANSS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog, event ushis426 (“Passamaquoddy Bay area, Maine”). 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

Washington CountyME · inside
Hancock CountyME · 38.3 mi
Penobscot CountyME · 40.5 mi

Earthquakes around the epicentre

12 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.