Earthquake History of Alabama

by

Fred McCaleb

The known seismic history of Alabama spans about 100 years for local
earthquakes. For shocks outside the State borders that caused damaged to
cities in Alabama, the history can be traced to 1811 - 1812, when three
great (estimated magnitude 8 or greater on the Richter scale)
earthquake centered in Missouri may have reached intensity VII in the
northern and/or central sections. These gigantic earthquakes were
comparable to the San Francisco shock in 1906 and were felt over 2
million square miles, more than half of the total area of the United
States. Historical records indicate the first earthquake of consequence
in Alabama shook residents of Sumter and Marengo Counties, located in
the western part of the State, on February 4, 1886. A similar shock
occurred nine days later, on February 13. Both were reported felt at
communities along the Tombigee River, but caused no damage. Only six
months later, the destructive Charleston, South Carolina, shock that
was felt in cities all over the Eastern United States occurred. This
shock, located about 400 miles east of Alabama's border, caused minor
damage in the northeastern part of the State. In 1916 on October 18, a
strong earthquake occurred on an unnamed fault east of Birmingham. It
was apparently most strong at Easonville. Near the epicenter, chimneys
were knocked down, windows broken, and frame buildings "badly shaken."
It was noted by residents in seven States and covered 100,000 square
miles. Another tremor that damaged the Birmingham area occurred on
April 23, 1957. Centered near the Tennessee River below Guntersville
Dam, the earthquake shook residents in southern Tennessee, western
Georgia, and most of northern and central Alabama. Earthquake records
for that year state: "Felt by, awakened, and alarmed many. Minor damage
to several chimneys; one report of cement steps cracked in two; and
several small cracks in walls. Table-top items tumbled to the floor." A
shock centered in the Huntsville area on August 12, 1959. Though felt
over a small area of southern Tennessee and northern Alabama, it shook
bricks from chimneys at Hazel Green; damaged one chimney and a newly
constructed concrete block building at Meridianville; shook violently
the buildings at New Sharon, knocking canned goods from shelves and
sending frightened residents fleeing from their homes; and cracked
plaster and knocked groceries from shelves at Huntsville. Additional
earthquakes (intensity V category) listed for this State that were minor
and caused no damage centered near Rosemary, western Alabama, in June
1917; in the Scottsboro area northeast of Huntsville in June 1927; at
Cullman, northern Alabama, in May 1931; and in the Anniston area in May
1939. A few very slight shocks rated below intensity V have centered in
Alabama since 1939, but are not described here because they were
generally localized and felt by very few residents. However, a strong
earthquake in southern Illinois in November 1968 caused intensity V
effects in several localities in northern Alabama. The shock was the
strongest in Illinois since 1895, and was felt over a half-million
square miles in 23 States. Abridged from Earthquake Information
Bulletin, Volume 2, Number 1, January-February 1970. For a list of
earthquakes that have occurred since this article was written, use the
Earthquake Search. United States Geological Survey
National Earthquake Information Center