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The August 18, 1908 earthquake

M5.8Near Eureka, California

A magnitude 5.8 earthquake, centred in Humboldt County. The 108th strongest in California’s record since 1900, and the strongest within 50 miles since a magnitude 6.4 on April 23, 1906.

The earthquake

Magnitude
5.8
as reported (mfa)
Depth
—
Not recorded
Local time
Tuesday, August 18, 1908
02:59 PST; 10:59 UTC
Epicentre
40.80°N, 124.00°W
In Humboldt County
In California’s record
108th
strongest of 97,065 since 1900
Within 50 miles
4
counties; more on this date

USGS ANSS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog, event ushis476 (“Near Eureka, 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

Cities, largest first

Earthquakes around the epicentre

1,971 earthquakes of magnitude 3 or more within 50 miles of this epicentre since 1973.

Earthquakes of magnitude 3 or more within 50 miles of the epicentre, by year 1973: 4 1974: 28 1975: 38 1976: 39 1977: 45 1978: 53 1979: 40 1980: 79 1981: 94 1982: 41 1983: 57 1984: 45 1985: 36 1986: 64 1987: 77 1988: 40 1989: 42 1990: 39 1991: 65 1992: 282 282 1993: 49 1994: 44 1995: 32 1996: 20 1997: 26 1998: 18 1999: 19 2000: 22 2001: 20 2002: 34 2003: 23 2004: 18 2005: 21 2006: 24 2007: 20 2008: 14 2009: 11 2010: 24 2011: 8 2012: 21 2013: 21 2014: 15 2015: 11 2016: 11 2017: 15 2018: 8 2019: 28 2020: 19 2021: 36 2022: 37 2023: 26 2024: 51 2025: 17 19731978198319881993199820032008201320182023

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

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