The July 21, 1959 earthquake

M5.6near Fredonia, Arizona

A magnitude 5.6 earthquake, centred in Coconino County. The 17th strongest in Arizona’s record since 1900, and the strongest within 50 miles in the catalogue, which runs from 1900.

The earthquake

Magnitude: 5.6; local magnitude (ml)
Depth: —; Not recorded
Local time: Tuesday, July 21, 1959; 10:39 MST; 17:39 UTC
Epicentre: 36.80°N, 112.37°W; In Coconino County
In Arizona’s record: 17th; strongest of 6,972 since 1900
Within 50 miles: 4; counties; more on this date

USGS ANSS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog, event ushis2387 (“21 km SE of Fredonia, Arizona”). 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

Coconino CountyAZ · inside
Mohave CountyAZ · 13.7 mi
Kane CountyUT · 32.3 mi
Washington CountyUT · 32.3 mi

Earthquakes around the epicentre

46 earthquakes of magnitude 3 or more within 50 miles of this epicentre since 1973.

No earlier earthquake of magnitude 5 or more within 50 miles in the catalogue since 1900.

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