The December 23, 1905 earthquake

M5.8Near Bakersfield, California

A magnitude 5.8 earthquake, centred in Kern County. The 108th strongest in California’s record since 1900, and the strongest within 50 miles in the catalogue, which runs from 1900.

The earthquake

Magnitude: 5.8; local magnitude (ml)
Depth: —; Not recorded
Local time: Saturday, December 23, 1905; 14:23 PST; 22:23 UTC
Epicentre: 35.30°N, 118.80°W; In Kern County
In California’s record: 108th; strongest of 97,065 since 1900
Within 50 miles: 5; counties; more on this date

USGS ANSS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog, event ushis445 (“Near Bakersfield, 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

Kern CountyCA · inside
Los Angeles CountyCA · 33.5 mi
Ventura CountyCA · 35.2 mi
San Luis Obispo CountyCA · 41.0 mi
Santa Barbara CountyCA · 45.6 mi

Cities, largest first

BakersfieldCA · 13.9 mi
DelanoCA · 41.5 mi
WascoCA · 37.8 mi
ShafterCA · 25.8 mi
ArvinCA · 7.5 mi
McFarlandCA · 35.1 mi
TehachapiCA · 22.7 mi

Earthquakes around the epicentre

484 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

January 6, 1905M5.0

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