March 20, 1855 Earthquake: Northern, California, United States
An earthquake struck Northern, California, United States on March 20, 1855 at 00:30:00 UTC. It caused a tsunami.
Map
Where it struck, with the other significant earthquakes within 200 km. Circles are sized and colored by magnitude; select one for its page.
The earthquake
- Date
- March 20, 1855
- Time
- 00:30:00 UTC
- Place
- Northern, California, United States
- Intensity
- 5 on the Modified Mercalli scale
- Tsunami
- Yes: the tsunami it caused
- Epicenter
- 40.750° N, 124.200° W
- Country
- United States
The toll
The record gives no deaths, injuries or damage for this earthquake.
What the record says
NCEI’s account, from the sources it cites.
1855, March 19th, 16:30 [local time]. 41 N 125 W, magnitude 6, probable validity. An earthquake in the vicinity of Humboldt Bay was felt 55 km (30 miles) from Eureka. The water in Humboldt Bay was agitated for an hour. (reference #415)
Other significant earthquakes nearby
Within 200 km, the deadliest first.
- December 20, 2022, Humboldt County, California, United States
- June 6, 1932, Eureka, California, United States
- December 21, 1954, Humboldt County, California, United States
- December 26, 1994, Eureka, Samoa, Arcata, Blue Lake, California, United States
- October 1, 1865, Fort Humboldt, Eureka, California, United States
- March 2, 1871, Humboldt County, California, United States
- November 8, 1980, North Coast, California, United States
- January 10, 2010, Off Coast Northern, California, United States
- April 25, 1992, Ferndale, Petrolia, Humboldt County, California, United States
- August 17, 1991, Honeydew, Whitethorn, Petrolia, California, United States
- January 22, 1923, Northern, California, United States
- December 5, 2024, Offshore Cape Mendocino, California, United States
- February 9, 1941, Northern, California, United States
- January 31, 1922, Northern, California, United States
- September 1, 1994, Honeydew, North, California, United States
More
Significant earthquakes of 1855The 1800sRecent earthquakes near hereThis day in weather history
Sources
Significant earthquakes from NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information, Global Historical Hazard Database, cited as NCEI/WDS, doi:10.7289/V5PN93H7. Public domain. Read 2026-09-24. NCEI earthquake 6121.