Western North Carolina Earthquakes

EARTHQUAKES

The largest earthquake in North Carolina occurred near Waynesville and just west of Asheville on February 21, 1916. The magnitude 5.20 earthquake leveled chimneys, cracked windows, and sent residents scurrying into the streets. The earthquake was felt in near-by towns and as far away as border cities in Tennessee and Virginia. Reportedly it was also felt by residents in the states of Alabama, South Carolina, Kentucky and West Virginia. The 1916 quake in Waynesville was preceded by a quake in the Marshall and Asheville area on October 29, 1915. It was classed as a V on the current scale of intensity.

The earliest earthquake recorded as felt in the western part of North Carolina was the New Madrid fault earthquake of 1811-1812 which was centered in Mississippi. In McDowell county a swarm of earthquakes occurred between February 10 and April 17, 1874. There were reportedly some 75 small earthquakes in the region. The August 31, 1886 Charleston, South Carolina earthquake, recorded as the "most damaging earthquake to occur in the Southeast United States and one of the largest historic shocks in Eastern North America," was felt widely in the western part of the state.

On July 8, 1926 a sizeable earthquake rocked the southern regions of Mitchell County and following that a damaging earthquake shook Asheville on November 2, 1928. It ruptured water-lines and cracked foundations of buildings and fractured chimneys. There are recorded panics in theaters and homes disrupted by falling dishes, bookshelves, and other objects. The event is poorly documented with regard to exact location, but most likely occurred on the borders of North Carolina and Tennessee and covered an area of around 100,000 square kilometers.

On January 1, 1935 a smaller earthquake shook the border area between North Carolina and northern Georgia near the population centers of Almond and Gary, North Carolina and Dahlonega, Georgia. The 1940's were relatively quiet with regard to seismic activity but in 1957 two quakes occurred in two separate areas of western North Carolina and just six weeks apart. The first quake on May 13 was near Micaville and Nebo, a VI on the scale. The second quake on July 2, 1957 caused minor damage to homes in the Asheville, Marshall, Swannanoa, and Weaverville area and registered an equal intensity of VI. Many residents in Buncombe and in Madison County recorded this seismic activity, as these were the two most affected counties.

The 1960's recorded a minor quake near Glenville, on the South Carolina border, was a V (5) in intensity. The December 13, 1969 quake which was marked by a loud sonic boom, was followed by rumbling noises.

On September 9, 1970 Boone and the surrounding region were shaken by a V intensity quake that was recorded by residents in Blowing Rock, Newhope, Patterson, Deep Gap, and Sugar Grove.

On December 7, 2007, a magnitude 3.1 earthquake occurred near Columbus, NC. The exact location was 7 km N (5 degrees) of Columbus, NC and the hypocentral depth was 8 km or 5 miles below the surface.

We continue to shake, rattle and roll in the west, but have been spared the damage of major seismic activity.

Sources:

Carl W. Stover and Jerry L. Coffman. Seismicity of the United States, 1568-1989 (Revised). U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1527, United States Government Printing Office, Washington: 1993.

Carl A. von Hake. Earthquake Information Bulletin, Volume 7, Number 5, September - October 1975.

USGS Earthquake Information by State - North Carolina.

The Western North Carolina Heritage project is 100% supported with federal LSTA funds made possible through a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, administered by the State Library of North Carolina, a division of the Department of Cultural Resources.