During the evening of August 31, 1886, a 7.3 magnitude earthquake
centered near Charleston, SC rocked the Southeast and created damage up and
down the Eastern Seaboard. It’s believed a shift in the continental shelf
caused the shaking that was felt from New England to Key West.
Locally, chicken coops were knocked over, boats were damaged and church bells
rang in St. Augustine. At the time, many did not know what was caused the
ground to shake. The damaged reported in Jacksonville was not nearly as
significant as what was reported around the epicenter. In fact, Jacksonville pledged
aide to the Charleston earthquake victims.
It’s estimated the earthquake caused $5 – $6 million ($159 million
in 2021 values) in damage and at least 60 deaths. Shaking from aftershocks
continued the November of 1886. The earthquake remains one of the most powerful
ever to impact the East Coast of the U.S.
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