The December 31, 1919 earthquake

M5.0near Julian, California

A magnitude 5.0 earthquake, centred in San Diego County. The 451st strongest in California’s record since 1900, and the strongest within 50 miles since a magnitude 5.0 on June 6, 1918.

The earthquake

Magnitude: 5.0; local magnitude (ml)
Depth: —; Not recorded
Local time: Wednesday, December 31, 1919; 18:35 PST; 02:35 UTC on Jan 1, 1920
Epicentre: 33.20°N, 116.70°W; In San Diego County
In California’s record: 451st; strongest of 97,065 since 1900
Within 50 miles: 3; counties; more on this date

USGS ANSS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog, event ushis656 (“16 km NW of Julian, 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 Diego CountyCA · inside
Riverside CountyCA · 35.1 mi
Imperial CountyCA · 35.6 mi

Cities, largest first

San DiegoCA · 35.3 mi
Chula VistaCA · 43.6 mi
OceansideCA · 35.1 mi
EscondidoCA · 22.1 mi
MenifeeCA · 43.9 mi
TemeculaCA · 32.1 mi
MurrietaCA · 38.3 mi
CarlsbadCA · 34.1 mi
El CajonCA · 31.4 mi
VistaCA · 31.1 mi
San MarcosCA · 27.6 mi
IndioCA · 45.4 mi

Earthquakes around the epicentre

906 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

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