What are the largest earthquakes in California’s history?

California’s numerous earthquakes emphasizes a danger of living in the state, being crisscrossed by numerous fault lines, including the infamous San Andreas Fault.

Fort Tejon Earthquake (1857)

The Fort Tejon earthquake is the largest recorded earthquake in California, with a magnitude of 7.9. It struck on January 9, 1857, and was centered along the San Andreas Fault.

Despite its magnitude, the earthquake resulted in relatively few casualties, with two reported deaths, primarily due to the sparse population in the affected area at the time.

San Francisco Earthquake (1906)

This earthquake occurred on April 18, 1906, with a magnitude of 7.8. This earthquake is infamous for the catastrophic fires it ignited, which, combined with the quake, destroyed over 80% of San Francisco.

The disaster resulted in more than 3,000 deaths and left 300,000 people homeless, marking it as one of the deadliest natural disasters in U.S. history.

Owens Valley Earthquake (1872)

With a magnitude of 7.4, the Owens Valley earthquake struck on March 26, 1872. This earthquake caused significant damage in the sparsely populated region of eastern California, resulting in 27 fatalities and numerous injuries.

Kern County Earthquake (1952)

This earthquake had a magnitude of 7.5. It caused extensive damage in the Bakersfield area, leading to 12 deaths.

Landers Earthquake (1992)

The Landers earthquake, with a magnitude of 7.3, occurred on June 28, 1992. It was one of the largest earthquakes in Southern California in the 20th century, causing extensive damage but relatively few casualties due to the remote location of its epicenter.

Loma Prieta Earthquake (1989)

Known as the World Series Earthquake, it struck on October 17, 1989, with a magnitude of 6.9.

It caused significant damage in the San Francisco Bay Area, including the collapse of the Cypress Street Viaduct, resulting in 63 deaths and thousands of injuries.