Knowledge (XXG)

1936 State Line earthquake

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370: 27: 400:$ 8,500 ($ 151,000 in 2018) in damage to school buildings. A new home 4 miles (6.4 km) west of town was nearly destroyed, and extensive damage was dealt with two cement homes that had been built around 1916 about 7 miles (11 km) west of town. In Umapine a handful of homes were badly damaged. The grade school and high school, which were joined, were found to be separated by 3 inches (7.6 cm). 48: 34: 399:
The shaking was reported as being strongest near State Line. Very strong shaking occurred in Milton-Freewater, breaking windows and collapsing chimneys that had been built longer than ten years previous to the earthquake. Up to $ 3,000 ($ 53,000 in 2018) in damage was done to canned goods as well as
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Wells in Milton-Freewater saw an increase in water level and a creek near a town, which had previously run dry, began flowing immediately after the earthquake. Observers in Walla Walla noted rumbling noises immediately preceding the first shocks. At one point the ground dropped by 2.4 meters
427:. These earthquakes occurred in both Washington and Oregon, owing to the close proximity of the mainshock to the state line. Aftershocks measuring IV on the Mercalli scale were recorded in August, with the ones that struck in November being measured as III. 392:, people were forced to evacuate their homes due to large cracks found within their walls. Rocks were reported to have wandered into some intersections and two freight cars were shaken off the tracks at Blue Mountain Station in 353:
The ground near Milton-Freewater exhibited cracks over an area that was 1,500 feet (460 m) long by up to 100 feet (30 m), one of which being 300 feet (91 m) long and 6 feet (1.8 m) wide in places. Near
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in northeast Oregon. Another earthquake estimated near a magnitude 6 struck the Walla Walla valley in 1882. The earthquake occurred in the Touchet Ridge, a spur leading west off the
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Over 50 aftershocks were recorded intermittently until mid-November 1936. Several dozen were felt the night of the event in the immediate area, with only three of them reaching to
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Brocher, T. M.; Sherrod, B. L. (2018), "Intensities, Aftershock Sequences, and the Location of the 1936 Milton-Freewater Earthquake near the Oregon–Washington Border, U.S.A",
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There have been 66 earthquakes felt in the area since 1936. Most of these have had a magnitude below 4, though one event in November 1991 was 4.3.
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To the north of the earthquake is the Hite Fault, which lies approximately parallel to the west slopes of the Blue Mountains in
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there were cracks in the ground up to 6 inches (15 cm) wide that had water flowing out of them, demonstrating
60: 1577: 1557: 1440: 1415: 1320: 1064: 1044: 1009: 944: 369: 366:(7 ft 10 in). About 70% of headstones at a nearby cemetery were found to have been rotated clockwise. 1480: 1425: 1405: 1395: 1390: 1385: 1350: 1289: 1264: 1194: 1139: 979: 818: 813: 319:. There is both the old fault along the ridge as well as a newer fault leading from the ridge into the valley. 300: 250: 234: 1572: 1475: 1380: 1330: 1259: 1074: 994: 868: 853: 838: 308: 254: 1506: 1470: 1435: 1370: 1325: 1239: 1204: 1184: 1169: 1164: 1119: 1099: 1034: 1014: 1004: 903: 863: 362:. Some cracks were 8 feet (2.4 m) deep. Residents in Umapine reported being woken during the night. 1511: 1485: 1365: 1360: 964: 404: 266: 574: 1521: 705: 342:
and several Washington state agencies have run scenarios regarding a future earthquake on the fault.
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Larger earthquakes like the 1936 State Line earthquake are not uncommon along the
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on July 15, 1936. The earthquake had an estimated magnitude of 5.8 and a maximum
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Severe damage was widespread throughout Milton-Freewater and Walla Walla. In
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Two small foreshocks were recorded in the three hours before the mainshock.
327: 229:(also referred to as the 1936 Milton-Freewater earthquake) struck at 23:08 600: 717: 476: 326:. The Hite Fault is thought to be the boundary between the more stable 242: 403:
Chimneys on roofs collapsed in numerous locations, as far away as
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near the Canadian border and by seismographs as far away as
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state line approximately 6 miles (9.7 km) northwest of
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material to the west. While there is no evidence of a
552:. U.S. Government Printing Office. pp. 338–341. 666:: Washington State Department of Natural Resources. 549:
Seismicity of the United States, 1568–1989 (revised)
541: 539: 1499: 1313: 937: 791: 202: 194: 184: 147: 139: 127: 119: 111: 96: 83: 70: 59: 47: 698:Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America 411:and plaster was found to have been cracked in 769: 8: 16: 1553:1936 natural disasters in the United States 338:earthquake event along the Hite Fault, the 776: 762: 754: 15: 473:"WA/OR - United States earthquakes, 1936" 442:List of earthquakes in the United States 368: 33: 453: 673:from the original on February 27, 2018 581:from the original on February 27, 2018 524:from the original on February 27, 2018 520:: Eastern Oregonian. 4 November 2015. 487:from the original on February 19, 2016 467: 465: 463: 461: 459: 457: 607:from the original on October 28, 2013 483:: Pacific Northwest Seismic Network. 7: 508: 506: 504: 502: 740:International Seismological Centre 637:from the original on July 11, 2021 627:"Walla Walla Valley Hit by Quakes" 546:Stover C.W.; Coffman J.L. (1993). 376:for the 1936 State Line earthquake 14: 1563:Earthquakes in the United States 785:Earthquakes in the United States 283:Geology of the Pacific Northwest 46: 32: 25: 556:from the original on 2022-01-18 203: 241:). The epicenter was near the 1: 407:. Pendulum clocks stopped in 575:"1936 State Line earthquake" 257:and was felt throughout the 1568:Natural disasters in Oregon 633:: Spokane Daily Chronicle. 437:List of earthquakes in 1936 261:, including as far away as 1594: 280: 227:1936 State Line earthquake 17:1936 State Line earthquake 1446:2018 Southern Appalachian 293:Olympic–Wallowa Lineament 287:Olympic–Wallowa Lineament 21: 834:1812 San Juan Capistrano 301:Port Angeles, Washington 251:Milton-Freewater, Oregon 1466:2020 Monte Cristo Range 1215:1986 North Palm Springs 1070:1948 Desert Hot Springs 255:Walla Walla, Washington 100:July 15, 1936 1517:2010–11 Guy-Greenbrier 1090:1957 Andreanof Islands 914:1892 Vacaville–Winters 859:1867 Manhattan, Kansas 601:"Inflation Calculator" 377: 1527:2009–present Oklahoma 1416:2014 Southeast Alaska 1411:2014 Aleutian Islands 1225:1987 Whittier Narrows 1135:1968 Borrego Mountain 1085:1954 Churchill County 1060:1946 Aleutian Islands 1055:1944 Cornwall–Massena 955:1906 Aleutian Islands 799:1585 Aleutian Islands 372: 328:North American craton 311:that is known as the 1376:2010 Baja California 1230:1987 Imperial Valley 1220:1986 Chalfant Valley 1180:1979 Imperial Valley 975:1915 Pleasant Valley 970:1915 Imperial Valley 263:Bonners Ferry, Idaho 1456:2020 Salt Lake City 1401:2013 Port Alexander 1341:2006 Gulf of Mexico 1255:1992 Cape Mendocino 1020:1932 Cedar Mountain 889:1872 North Cascades 710:2018BuSSA.108.2594B 664:Olympia, Washington 631:Spokane, Washington 165: /  18: 1461:2020 Central Idaho 1280:1993 Klamath Falls 1095:1957 San Francisco 1050:1940 New Hampshire 1030:1934 Hansel Valley 1000:1925 Santa Barbara 990:1921 Sevier Valley 950:1906 San Francisco 909:1892 Laguna Salada 839:1812 Santa Barbara 829:1811–12 New Madrid 804:1638 New Hampshire 748:authoritative data 718:10.1785/0120180111 378: 324:Walla Walla County 313:Horse Heaven Hills 235:Mercalli intensity 169:45.992°N 118.496°W 1540: 1539: 1275:1993 Scotts Mills 1245:1991 Sierra Madre 1160:1975 Near Islands 1150:1971 San Fernando 1115:1962 Cache Valley 960:1909 Wabash River 894:1882 Fort Collins 884:1872 Owens Valley 704:(5A): 2594–2613, 518:Pendleton, Oregon 360:soil liquefaction 305:Wallowa Mountains 259:Pacific Northwest 253:and southwest of 223: 222: 189:Pacific Northwest 1585: 1578:July 1936 events 1558:1936 earthquakes 1356:2008 Chino Hills 1300:1999 Hector Mine 1250:1992 Joshua Tree 1235:1989 Loma Prieta 1210:1984 Morgan Hill 1190:1981 Westmorland 1175:1979 Coyote Lake 1130:1965 Puget Sound 1125:1965 Rat Islands 1110:1959 Hebgen Lake 1080:1952 Kern County 985:1918 San Jacinto 929:1899 San Jacinto 924:1898 Mare Island 844:1838 San Andreas 778: 771: 764: 755: 728: 683: 682: 680: 678: 672: 661: 653: 647: 646: 644: 642: 623: 617: 616: 614: 612: 597: 591: 590: 588: 586: 571: 565: 564: 562: 561: 543: 534: 533: 531: 529: 510: 497: 496: 494: 492: 469: 330:to the east and 299:stretching from 219: 217: 205: 180: 179: 177: 176: 175: 174:45.992; -118.496 170: 166: 163: 162: 161: 158: 107: 105: 66:1936-07-16 07:08 50: 49: 40:Milton-Freewater 36: 35: 29: 19: 1593: 1592: 1588: 1587: 1586: 1584: 1583: 1582: 1543: 1542: 1541: 1536: 1532:2019 Ridgecrest 1495: 1491:2024 New Jersey 1451:2019 Ridgecrest 1421:2014 South Napa 1346:2006 Kiholo Bay 1336:2003 San Simeon 1309: 1305:2000 Yountville 1295:1998 Pymatuning 1285:1994 Northridge 1270:1992 St. George 1200:1983 Borah Peak 1155:1973 Point Mugu 1145:1969 Santa Rosa 1105:1958 Lituya Bay 1040:1936 State Line 1025:1933 Long Beach 933: 919:1895 Charleston 899:1886 Charleston 874:1870 Charlevoix 849:1857 Fort Tejon 824:1783 New Jersey 809:1663 Charlevoix 787: 782: 750:for this event. 735: 695: 692: 690:Further reading 687: 686: 676: 674: 670: 659: 655: 654: 650: 640: 638: 625: 624: 620: 610: 608: 599: 598: 594: 584: 582: 573: 572: 568: 559: 557: 545: 544: 537: 527: 525: 512: 511: 500: 490: 488: 471: 470: 455: 450: 433: 421: 386: 351: 289: 279: 211: 209: 173: 171: 167: 164: 159: 156: 154: 152: 151: 134: 112:Local time 103: 101: 97:Local date 55: 54: 53: 52: 51: 43: 42: 41: 37: 12: 11: 5: 1591: 1589: 1581: 1580: 1575: 1573:1936 in Oregon 1570: 1565: 1560: 1555: 1545: 1544: 1538: 1537: 1535: 1534: 1529: 1524: 1519: 1514: 1509: 1503: 1501: 1497: 1496: 1494: 1493: 1488: 1483: 1478: 1473: 1468: 1463: 1458: 1453: 1448: 1443: 1441:2018 Anchorage 1438: 1433: 1428: 1423: 1418: 1413: 1408: 1403: 1398: 1393: 1388: 1383: 1378: 1373: 1368: 1363: 1358: 1353: 1348: 1343: 1338: 1333: 1328: 1323: 1321:2001 Nisqually 1317: 1315: 1311: 1310: 1308: 1307: 1302: 1297: 1292: 1287: 1282: 1277: 1272: 1267: 1262: 1257: 1252: 1247: 1242: 1237: 1232: 1227: 1222: 1217: 1212: 1207: 1202: 1197: 1192: 1187: 1182: 1177: 1172: 1167: 1162: 1157: 1152: 1147: 1142: 1137: 1132: 1127: 1122: 1117: 1112: 1107: 1102: 1097: 1092: 1087: 1082: 1077: 1072: 1067: 1065:1947 Wisconsin 1062: 1057: 1052: 1047: 1045:1940 El Centro 1042: 1037: 1032: 1027: 1022: 1017: 1012: 1010:1931 Valentine 1007: 1002: 997: 992: 987: 982: 977: 972: 967: 962: 957: 952: 947: 945:1901 Richfield 941: 939: 935: 934: 932: 931: 926: 921: 916: 911: 906: 901: 896: 891: 886: 881: 876: 871: 866: 861: 856: 851: 846: 841: 836: 831: 826: 821: 816: 811: 806: 801: 795: 793: 789: 788: 783: 781: 780: 773: 766: 758: 752: 751: 734: 733:External links 731: 730: 729: 691: 688: 685: 684: 648: 618: 592: 566: 535: 498: 452: 451: 449: 446: 445: 444: 439: 432: 429: 420: 417: 385: 382: 374:Isoseismal map 350: 347: 309:Blue Mountains 295:, a series of 278: 275: 221: 220: 207: 200: 199: 196: 192: 191: 186: 185:Areas affected 182: 181: 149: 145: 144: 141: 137: 136: 132: 129: 125: 124: 121: 117: 116: 113: 109: 108: 98: 94: 93: 88: 81: 80: 75: 68: 67: 64: 57: 56: 45: 44: 39: 38: 31: 30: 24: 23: 22: 13: 10: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 1590: 1579: 1576: 1574: 1571: 1569: 1566: 1564: 1561: 1559: 1556: 1554: 1551: 1550: 1548: 1533: 1530: 1528: 1525: 1523: 1520: 1518: 1515: 1513: 1510: 1508: 1505: 1504: 1502: 1498: 1492: 1489: 1487: 1484: 1482: 1481:2022 Ferndale 1479: 1477: 1474: 1472: 1469: 1467: 1464: 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Retrieved 422: 402: 398: 387: 379: 364: 352: 344: 321: 315:west of the 290: 238: 231:Pacific time 226: 224: 213: 195:Total damage 1471:2020 Sparta 1436:2018 Hawaii 1431:2018 Alaska 1371:2010 Eureka 1326:2002 Denali 1240:1990 Upland 1205:1983 Kaoiki 1185:1980 Eureka 1170:1975 Hawaii 1165:1975 Morris 1120:1964 Alaska 1100:1958 Huslia 1035:1935 Helena 1015:1932 Eureka 1005:1927 Lompoc 904:1887 Sonora 879:1871 LānaĘťi 864:1868 Hawaii 419:Aftershocks 317:Wallula Gap 239:Very strong 214:Very strong 172: / 160:118°29′46″W 135: 5.8 123:15 seconds 74: event 1547:Categories 1507:2001 Enola 1486:2023 Texas 1366:2008 Wells 792:Historical 560:2020-09-21 481:Washington 448:References 349:Earthquake 336:Quaternary 281:See also: 271:California 247:Washington 157:45°59′31″N 104:1936-07-15 63: time 1512:2008 Reno 1361:2008 Reno 965:1914 Reno 726:135129133 425:Hermiston 405:Waitsburg 267:San Diego 212:MMI VII ( 206:intensity 148:Epicenter 128:Magnitude 668:Archived 635:Archived 605:Archived 579:Archived 554:Archived 522:Archived 485:Archived 431:See also 409:Umatilla 332:accreted 237:of VII ( 120:Duration 746:and/or 706:Bibcode 477:Seattle 413:Prosser 356:Umapine 303:to the 277:Geology 102: ( 1500:Swarms 742:has a 724:  394:Dayton 390:Athena 384:Damage 297:faults 243:Oregon 115:23:08 91:ComCat 78:903747 722:S2CID 671:(PDF) 660:(PDF) 143:5 km 140:Depth 84:USGS- 738:The 679:2018 643:2018 613:2018 587:2018 530:2018 493:2018 340:USGS 285:and 225:The 204:Max. 86:ANSS 714:doi 702:108 72:ISC 61:UTC 1549:: 720:, 712:, 700:, 662:. 629:. 603:. 577:. 538:^ 516:. 501:^ 479:, 475:. 456:^ 415:. 396:. 273:. 269:, 777:e 770:t 763:v 716:: 708:: 681:. 645:. 615:. 589:. 563:. 532:. 495:. 245:/ 216:) 133:L 131:M 106:)

Index

1936 State Line earthquake is located in Oregon
UTC
ISC
903747
ANSS
ComCat
45°59′31″N 118°29′46″W / 45.992°N 118.496°W / 45.992; -118.496
Pacific Northwest
MMI VII (Very strong)
Pacific time
Mercalli intensity
Oregon
Washington
Milton-Freewater, Oregon
Walla Walla, Washington
Pacific Northwest
Bonners Ferry, Idaho
San Diego
California
Geology of the Pacific Northwest
Olympic–Wallowa Lineament
Olympic–Wallowa Lineament
faults
Port Angeles, Washington
Wallowa Mountains
Blue Mountains
Horse Heaven Hills
Wallula Gap
Walla Walla County
North American craton

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