The December 25, 1951 earthquake

M5.8near San Clemente Is. (SE tip), CA

A magnitude 5.8 earthquake 3.7 miles deep, 7.2 miles off Los Angeles County. The 131st 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: 3.7 mi; 6.0 km below the surface
Local time: Tuesday, December 25, 1951; 16:46 PST; 00:46 UTC on Dec 26, 1951
Epicentre: 32.92°N, 118.31°W; 7.2 mi from Los Angeles County
In California’s record: 131st; strongest of 97,065 since 1900
Within 50 miles: 1; county; more on this date

USGS ANSS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog, event ci3322187 (“11km NNE of San Clemente Is. (SE tip), CA”). 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

Los Angeles CountyCA · 7.2 mi

Earthquakes around the epicentre

452 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

February 24, 1948M5.2

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