3 of South Dakota’s Biggest Earthquakes
South Dakota is not known for it's geological activity. Our natural disasters tend to come from the sky rather than from the ground. But, earthquakes are not unknown in the Rushmore State.
The first recorded earthquake in South Dakota area was on October 9, 1872. It seemed to be centered near Sioux City, IA with reports of shaking in Yankton, SD. There have been sever small quakes reported over the years in South Dakota, in fact on October 11, 1938 a tremor rattled dishes in Sioux Falls.
But, there have been a handful of moderate quakes in South Dakota, here's three.
- 1
4.1 - June 26, 1966
On June 26, 1966, a magnitude 4.1 quake near Rapid City cracked a patio and concrete steps in Rapid City. In Keystone well water was muddied and could not be used for several hours. Tremor was felt through out the Black Hills and south to Pine Ridge.
- 2
4.4 - November 23, 1967
Southern South Dakota and northern Nebraska was hit with a magnitude 4.4 quake on November 23, 1967. In the Winner, Rosebud and White River areas there were reports of houses shaking and dishes falling from shelves.
People in Gregory said furniture shifted and some windows were cracked. There were reports of livestock stampeding through fences.
The tremor was reported from Chamberlain to Ainsworth, Nebraska.
- 3
5.1 - March 28, 1964
One of, if not the, biggest earthquakes recorded in South Dakota was a 5.1 magnitude on March 28, 1964
The epicenter was near Merriman, Nebraska, where dishes were broken, stucco cracked and cracks were seen in a nearby highway.
Quake damage in southwestern South Dakota included a damaged retaining wall in Deadwood, cracked plaster in Interior and Pine Ridge, and a glass container broke in a market at Martin. Several farms near Martin, SD reported broken glass.
This quake was felt as far away as Alzada, Montana.
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