Significant Earthquake

Date Earthquake Location Earthquake Parameters
Focal
Depth		 Magnitude MMI Int
Year Mo Dy Hr Mn Sec Name Latitude Longitude Mw Ms Mb Ml Mfa Unk
1886 9 1 2 51 SOUTH CAROLINA: CHARLESTON 32.900 -80.000 7.7 9
Significant Earthquake
Earthquake Effects Total Effects (Earthquake and Tsunami, Volcano, etc.)
Deaths Missing Injuries Damage Houses
Destroyed		 Houses
Damaged		 Deaths Missing Injuries Damage Houses
Destroyed		 Houses
Damaged
Num De Num De Num De $Mill De Num De Num De Num De Num De Num De $Mill De Num De Num De
60 2 5.000 2 60 2 6.000 3


Comments for the Significant Earthquake

Comments for the Significant Earthquake

Display listing of nearby significant earthquakes

Generally referred to as August 31, 1886, as the earthquake occurred at 9:51 pm local time. Eight minutes later there was a severe aftershock. This was the most damaging earthquake to occur in the southeastern U.S. and one of the largest historic shocks in eastern North America. Structural damage was reported within several hundred kilometers from Charleston, and long-period effects were observed at distances exceeding 1,000 kilometers.


References for the Significant Earthquake

References for the Significant Earthquake

ID Author Year Citation
542 Stover, Carl W., and Jerry L. Coffman 1993 Seismicity of the United States, 1568-1989 (Revised), U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1527, United States Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C.
1128 Coffman, J.L. and C.A. von Hake 1973-1982 Earthquake History of the United States, Pub. 41-1, U.S. Department of Commerce, Boulder, CO, 1973, and 1982 Supplement.
1154 Dutton, D.E. 1890 The Charleston Earthquake of August 31, 1886, United States Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C.
3508 Bollinger, G.A. and Carl W. Stover 1976 List of Intensities for the 1886 Charleston, South Carolina, Earthquake. U.S. Geological Survey, Open File Report 76-66, 31 p.
8076 Bollinger, G.A., and Visvanathan, T.R. 1977 The seismicity of South Carolina prior to 1886, Studies Related to the Charleston, South Carolina, Earthquake of 1886-A Preliminary Report, United States Geological Survey Professional Paper 1028-C, p. 33-42.