Tornado, West Virginia
Location of Tornado, West Virginia
Coordinates: 38°20′30″N 81°50′58″W / 38.34167, -81.84944
Country	United States
State	West Virginia
County	Kanawha
Area
- Total	3.7 sq mi (9.5 km²)
- Land	3.6 sq mi (9.3 km²)
- Water	0.1 sq mi (0.2 km²)
Elevation	610 ft (186 m)
Population (2000)
- Total	1,111
- Density	309.0/sq mi (119.3/km²)
Time zone	Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
- Summer (DST)	EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP code	25202
Area code(s)	304
FIPS code	54-80764[1]
GNIS feature ID	1721390[2]

The Coal River at Tornado

Tornado is an unincorporated census-designated place (CDP) comprising the populated places of Tornado and Upper Falls. Located in Kanawha County, it had a population of 1,111 in the 2000 Census. The ZIP Code is 25202.

The Tornado CDP is scheduled to be replaced by a new and much larger Upper Falls CDP for the 2010 decennial Census.

Geography

Tornado is located at 38°20′30″N, 81°50′58″W (38.341801, -81.849474)^[3].

According to the United States Census Bureau, the Tornado CDP has a total area of 3.7 square miles (9.5 km²), of which, 3.6 square miles (9.3 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.2 km²) of it (2.17%) is water.

Demographics

As of the Census^[1] of 2000, there were 1,111 people, 419 households, and 330 families residing in the community. The population density was 309.0 people per square mile (119.2/km²). There were 437 housing units at an average density of 121.6/sq mi (46.9/km²). The racial makeup of the community was 97.21% White, 0.36% African American, 0.27% Asian, 0.09% Pacific Islander, 0.09% from other races, and 1.98% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.54% of the population.

There were 419 households out of which 37.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 68.7% were married couples living together, 8.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.2% were non-families. 17.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.01.

The community's age distribution is 26.8% under the age of 18, 6.2% from 18 to 24, 32.2% from 25 to 44, 23.7% from 45 to 64, and 11.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 98.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.7 males.

The median income for a household in the community was $50,000, and the median income for a family was $50,350. Males had a median income of $31,932 versus $25,670 for females. The per capita income for the community was $18,999. About 2.3% of families and 3.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.3% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.

History of the name

Upper Falls, Virginia was discovered in 1742 by John Peter Salley during an expedition along the Coal River. Today, the community is in West Virginia, which gained independent statehood in 1863.

Since the earliest European settlers moved into the area in the 1700s, the community, named for the cascading waters of the adjacent river, was known as Upper Falls, Upper Falls of Coal, Upper Falls of Coals, Upper Falls Coal River, Upper Falls of Coal River, Upper Falls of the Coal River, Upper Falls on Coal River and Upper Falls Coal River Bridge.

The Upper Falls of Coal Post Office, the first to serve the area, was established in 1851. During Reconstruction, federal officials closed it in 1880. When residents forced its reopening through political pressure in 1881, federal authorities retaliated against this "whirlwind of protest" by renaming the post office "Tornado." They closed it again in 1882 and were forced to open it again in 1886.

A community initiative is planned to restore the name of the Upper Falls Post Office.

References

1. ^ ^{a b} American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
2. ^ US Board on Geographic Names. United States Geological Survey (2007-10-25). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
3. ^ US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990. United States Census Bureau (2005-05-03). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.

External links

• Upper Falls Community Association

• Tornado, West Virginia is at coordinates 38°20′31″N 81°50′58″W / 38.341801, -81.849474 (Tornado, West Virginia)Coordinates: 38°20′31″N 81°50′58″W / 38.341801, -81.849474 (Tornado, West Virginia)

v â€¢ d â€¢ e Municipalities and communities of Kanawha County, West Virginia County seat: Charleston Cities Charleston | Dunbar | Marmet | Montgomery‡ | Nitro‡ | St. Albans | Smithers‡ | South Charleston Towns Belle | Cedar Grove | Chesapeake | Clendenin | East Bank | Glasgow | Handley | Jefferson | Pratt CDPs Alum Creek‡ | Coal Fork | Cross Lanes | Elkview | Pinch | Sissonville | Tornado Other localities Aarons | Acme | Acup | Airport Village | Amandaville | Amelia | Annfred | Barren Creek | Big Chimney | Blackhawk | Blakeley | Blount | Blue Creek | Blundon | Bream | Brounland | Burnwell | Cabin Creek | Carbon | Chelyan | Cinco | Coalburg | Coalridge | Coco | Corton | Crede | Crown Hill | Davis Creek | Dawes | Decota | Dial | Diamond | Dickinson | Donwood | Dry Branch | Dungriff | Dupont City | East Nitro | East Side | Edgewood | Elk | Elk Forest | Elk Hills | Emmons‡ | Eskdale | Etowah | Falling Rock | Ferrell | Fivemile | Forest Hills | Forks of Coal | Fort Hill | Frame | Gallagher | Giles | Green Valley | Greencastle | Grippe | Guthrie | Hansford | Hernshaw | Hicumbottom | Highlawn | Hillsdale | Hitop | Holly | Hollygrove | Hollyhurst | Hugheston | Institute | Island Branch | Ivydale | Jarrett | Jarretts Ford | Joplin | Kanawha Estates | Kayford | Kelly Hill | Kendalia | Laing | Leewood | Mink Shoals | Quick | Rand Footnotes ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties