FAIRFIELD COUNTY, S.C. — A very minor earthquake was recorded in Fairfield County early Wednesday morning, but it's unlikely anyone actually felt it.
The U.S. Geological Survey's website states the 1.4 magnitude quake was centered about 5.5 miles southwest of the town of Winnsboro Mills in Fairfield County. That's about 25 miles north of downtown Columbia. It was recorded at 2:06 a.m. Eastern time.
At that magnitude, it's extremely unlikely the earthquake could have been felt by anyone. The quake happened about six-tenths of a mile beneath the ground.
Fairfield County has a 2.5 earthquake in January of 2019 and a 2.4 earthquake in December of 2017.
Earthquakes happen throughout the state but most occur near the coast.. Approximately 70 percent of earthquakes are in the coastal plain, with most happening in the Lowcountry, around Summerville and Bowman.
Back in 1886, Charleston was hit by a catastrophic earthquake. It had an estimated magnitude of 7.3, and was felt as far away and Cuba and New York. At least 60 people were killed, and thousands of building were damaged.
Structural damage extended hundreds of miles to cities in Alabama, Ohio, and Kentucky.
Geologists say that Charleston lies in one of the most seismically active areas in the eastern United States.