This Is the Biggest Earthquake to Ever Shake North Carolina

When people think of natural disasters in North Carolina, they’re far more likely to worry about a hurricane than an earthquake. Although strong, large earthquakes are rare on the East Coast, they still happen. Fortunately, their lack of size and intensity means that such quakes rarely have a high cost in terms of lives. Today, we’re going to examine the biggest earthquake to ever shake North Carolina, showing you its size and strength, location, and more!

What Was the Biggest Earthquake to Ever Shake North Carolina?

The biggest earthquake to ever shake North Carolina was the 1916 Royal Pines earthquake, an event with a moment magnitude of 5.2 M_w. The quake struck on February 21, 1916, at 6:39 p.m.,  causing damage throughout parts of North Carolina and South Carolina. The event took place in western North Carolina. It occurred just north of the town from which it derives its name, Royal Pines.

The quake predates the development of the Richter Scale in 1935. However, scientists determined the strength of this earthquake using a few tools and methods. They utilized measurements taken from a Wiechert horizontal component seismograph at St. Louis University to discover the time the event occurred and the ground’s motion during the event.

Scientists also considered data about the area affected by the quake and the intensity of the shaking as measured by damage caused in the area. With all that information, scientists concluded that the earthquake had a power of 5.2 M_w.

What Caused the 1916 Royal Pines Earthquake?

Given the location of the earthquake, it’s likely that the event was an intraplate quake. Most of the time, earthquakes occur along convergent boundaries where tectonic plates border each other. The biggest earthquake to ever shake North Carolina occurred far from a plate boundary. We’ll probably never know for sure what particular rift caused the earthquake or the depth at which it occurred.  

Where Was the Epicenter of the Biggest Earthquake to Ever Shake North Carolina?

The epicenter of North Carolina’s strongest and largest earthquake occurred at 35.500°N 82.500°W. Since those numbers don’t mean anything to most readers, let’s see how far away it is from more notable areas.

Situated in the western part of North Carolina, the record-setting quake occurred less than a mile north of Royal Pines. That puts the epicenter about 95 miles northwest of Charlotte, North Carolina, and roughly 80 miles away from Knoxville, Tennessee.

The epicenter’s location near the border with several states ensured it was felt throughout places including Virginia, Alabama, Tennessee, and Georgia. The quake was felt as far away as Norfolk, Virginia, some 365 miles away from the epicenter.

The Damage Caused by the 1916 Royal Pines Earthquake

Unfortunately, due to the location and era in which the earthquake occurred, we don’t have much information about the damage it caused. At least, no financial figures exist for the damage caused by the event. According to the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality, the quake toppled chimneys and caused varying degrees of damage to over 50 towns and cities throughout the region.

The quake broke windows, damaged masonry, and did other minor damage. The quake’s intensity was probably on the lower end of the Modified Mercalli scale based on the damage reported. Still, this quake was a significant event in North Carolina’s history even though it did not cause millions of dollars in damage.

Casualties Caused By North Carolina’s Biggest Quake

No records exist of anyone injured or killed by the biggest earthquake to ever shake North Carolina. That makes this quake unusual in terms of the largest one to hit a state. States in the western part of the country, like Alaska, saw many people fall victim to collapsing structures, landslides, and tsunamis. Although this earthquake was felt over a large area, it seems that it did not kill or seriously injure anyone.

Where Does the 2020 Sparta Quake Fit?

The 2020 Sparta, North Carolina earthquake was a 5.1 M_w event, making it the second-strongest recorded earthquake in the state’s history. Given the fact that this quake was well-documented, it could have been stronger than the estimate given for the 1916 Royal Pines earthquake.

The 2020 Sparta earthquake had an intensity of VII (Very Strong), caused $24 million in damage to various states, and injured one person. This event occurred on August 9, 2020. The quake had at least 8 foreshocks and 11 aftershocks. Luckily, nobody perished in this event, either.

Overall, North Carolina does not get many powerful earthquakes. However, they can cause serious damage when they do strike. As long as people are aware of the potential for these events, they can take steps to limit the threat an earthquake poses to their lives.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © iStock.com/albertc111