(503) 588-5108emergency@co.marion.or.us
On March 25, 1993, at 5:34 AM, a 5.6 magnitude earthquake occurred near Scotts Mills, Marion County, Oregon which is approximately 32 miles south of Portland and 21 miles northeast of Salem. Although considered moderate, in both terms of magnitude/intensity and damage, it was Marion County's largest earthquake in recent recorded history and cause $25-30 million in damages. No serious injuries were reported.
Oregon overall does have a history of earthquake activity, primarily in the moderate 5-6 magnitude range. During the last 120 years, Oregon has experienced 15 shocks of 5.0 or higher on the Richter scale which means that Oregon, on average, experiences a "moderate" earthquake ever 8 years. This is considerable activity for a state that has not traditionally been considered to be at risk for earthquakes. Most had little or no effect on Marion County until the Scotts Mills earthquake.
Earthquake Links