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Earthquake of July 21, 1952, Kern County, California, USA. Location: south of Bakersfield. Affected area: 414,000 km2; Damage: $50 million. This was the main shock of the series of
earthquakes that struck this area. It was the largest earthquake in the
United States since 1906. Several hundred people were injured. Nine of
the deaths resulted from the collapse of a brick wall in Tehachapi.
About 20 schools were damaged or destroyed by this earthquake. Many of
the schools that collapsed were built prior to 1933. Schools built after
1933 were constructed to resist lateral forces and incurred only minor
damage. These included Caliente, Tehachapi, El Tejon, Lakeside Union,
and Santa Barbara city schools. Older schools that were destroyed or had
to be abandoned included Shaffer, Cummings Valley, Buttonwillow, Di
Giorgio, Fairfax, and Elk Hills schools. Porterville Union High School
auditorium and several other older schools incurred moderate damage. The
Cummings Valley School completely collapsed. The school building was
reportedly constructed in 1910 of concrete walls and a wood roof. The
building was a total loss. Photo Credit: NOAA/NGDC |