Western North Carolina Earthquakes

EARTHQUAKES

One of the earliest accounts of an earthquake or "volcanic activity" is recorded in BRAXTON CRRVEN, D. D., LL. D. by Jerome Dowd, Professor of Political Economy and Sociology, Trinity College, NC [Duke], Raleigh, NC: Edwards & Broughton, Printers and Binders,
1896, chapter I, page 2-3.

"In the year 1688 two wagons might have been seen wending their way through Virginia. Amid difficulties of every description, they at length arrive at two log huts (now Salisbury) where they repose for a few days. Again they move forward, and by a route never known they at last arrive at what is called Pilot Mountain, in this (Randolph) county. At a little fountain on the north side they pitched their camp, that they might rest a short time, procure provisions and explore the country. Soon, however, soft slumbers were broken by a terror unseen, unknown, and therefore doubly alarming. A strong odor of sulphur made every one gasp for breath. A low, but awful, rumbling un-nerved every soul in the group, except Cox and Moffitt, the proprietors. The mountain was volcanic. At early dawn the two gentlemen set out for the summit of the mountain, and ere they had proceeded far, discovered the cause of their alarm. When they gained the summit their alarm had ceased, and past terror was forgotten in contemplating the scene before them. While contemplating, they were suddenly alarmed by an awful war-whoop of the Indian, in the direction of the camp. They hurried down, and as the fierce yell died away the very blood froze in their veins when they heard loud lamentations from their friends. Two or three Indian warriors had stealthily approached, and as little Amy Cox strolled a few steps, they seized and bore her off, beyond the possibility of rescue. The alarm, the pain of the families; may be imagined but not described. With almost broken hearts, they left that melancholy place and finally settled on Deep River. Finally the long-lost daughter escaped her captors, reached her friends, and now her descendants worship at Holly Spring."

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.