The August 6, 1916 earthquake
M5.8Near Paicines, California
A magnitude 5.8 earthquake, centred in San Benito County. The 108th strongest in California’s record since 1900, and the strongest within 50 miles since a magnitude 6.5 on July 1, 1911.
The earthquake
- Magnitude
- 5.8
- as reported (mfa)
- Depth
- —
- Not recorded
- Local time
- Sunday, August 6, 1916
- 11:38 PST; 19:38 UTC
- In California’s record
- 108th
- strongest of 97,065 since 1900
USGS ANSS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog, event ushis596 (“Near Paicines, 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
- San Benito CountyCA · inside
- Monterey CountyCA · 5.5 mi
- Merced CountyCA · 13.0 mi
- Fresno CountyCA · 19.0 mi
- Santa Clara CountyCA · 20.2 mi
- Santa Cruz CountyCA · 24.2 mi
- Stanislaus CountyCA · 32.1 mi
- Madera CountyCA · 45.9 mi
Cities, largest first
- SalinasCA · 21.3 mi
- Santa CruzCA · 48.3 mi
- GilroyCA · 29.7 mi
- WatsonvilleCA · 33.8 mi
- Los BanosCA · 35.4 mi
- HollisterCA · 15.3 mi
- Morgan HillCA · 38.6 mi
- SeasideCA · 31.6 mi
- MontereyCA · 35.4 mi
- SoledadCA · 16.7 mi
- MarinaCA · 29.9 mi
- GreenfieldCA · 23.9 mi
Earthquakes around the epicentre
2,742 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
- July 1, 1911M6.5
- June 11, 1903M6.1
- May 25, 1905M6.1
- March 10, 1910M5.8
- December 31, 1910M5.7
USGS ANSS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog. Local time is the time zone of the county nearest the epicentre. Magnitudes are as the catalogue reports them.