Tornado, also called Upper Falls, is a

census-designated place A census-designated place (CDP) is a concentration of population defined by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes only. CDPs have been used in each decennial census since 1980 as the counterparts of incorporated places, such ...

(CDP) in

Kanawha County Kanawha County ( ) is a County (United States), county in the U.S. state of West Virginia. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the population was 180,745, making it West Virginia's most populous county. The county seat is Charlest ...

West Virginia West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian, Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States.The Census Bureau and the Association of American Geographers classify West Virginia as part of the Southern United States while the Bur ...

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...

. Four agencies of the

United States government The federal government of the United States (U.S. federal government or U.S. government) is the national government of the United States, a federal republic located primarily in North America, composed of 50 states, a city within a fede ...

determine the official name of the community. The

United States Postal Service The United States Postal Service (USPS), also known as the Post Office, U.S. Mail, or Postal Service, is an independent agency of the executive branch of the United States federal government responsible for providing postal service in the U ...

established the Upper Falls of Coal Post Office in 1851, then replaced it with the Tornado Post Office in 1881 and today delivers mail within ZIP Code 25202 addressed to either Tornado or Upper Falls. The

United States Board on Geographic Names The United States Board on Geographic Names (BGN) is a federal body operating under the United States Secretary of the Interior. The purpose of the board is to establish and maintain uniform usage of geographic names throughout the federal governm ...

authenticated the name of the community as Tornado in 1980, changed it to Upper Falls in 2010 and back to Tornado in 2013. After approving the replacement of the Tornado CDP with the much larger Upper Falls CDP in 2010, the Kanawha County Commission decided in 2013 that residents of the community supported the name Tornado over Upper Falls and requested that the name be changed back. The

United States Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The Census Bureau is part of the ...

originated the Tornado CDP in 1990, changed to the Upper Falls CDP in 2010 and then to the Tornado CDP for 2020. The

United States National Geodetic Survey The National Geodetic Survey (NGS) is a United States federal agency that defines and manages a national coordinate system, providing the foundation for transportation and communication; mapping and charting; and a large number of applications ...

maintains a bench mark in the community named Upper Falls, which has never changed. The 2000 Tornado CDP had a population of 1,111 and a total area of 3.60 square miles. The 2010 Upper Falls CDP, which was much larger, had a population of 3,701 and a total area of 17.18 square miles, making it the largest CDP in West Virginia by area. The 2020 Tornado CDP is again much smaller, with a population of 1,081 and a total area of 3.67 square miles. The adjacent Coal River gives the community its historical name from the cascading waters of its Upper Falls.

Geography

Tornado is located at (38.342778, −81.844167). According to the

, the CDP has a total area of , of which are land and , or 2.37%, is water. The

United States Geological Survey The United States Geological Survey (USGS), formerly simply known as the Geological Survey, is a scientific agency of the United States government. The scientists of the USGS study the landscape of the United States, its natural resources, ...

locates the community's namesake Upper Falls of Coal River at 38°20′33″N 81°50′29″W (38.342594, −81.841518). The United States National Geodetic Survey bench mark in the community is at 38°20′23″N 81°50′20″W (38.339722, −81.838889).

Demographics

The current Tornado CDP is much smaller than the Upper Falls CDP of 2010, with a total population of 1,081, a total area of 3.67 square miles, median household income of $67,564, 18.7% of residents attaining a bachelor's degree or higher, an employment rate of 55.9%, 446 total households, 441 total housing units and 4.2% without health care coverage.

2010 census

In 2010, the CDP was named Upper Falls and was much larger than the current CDP. As of the census of 2010,United States Census Burea

"Upper Falls CDP, West Virginia 2010 Demographic Profile Data" there were 3,701 people, 1,458 households, and 1,072 families residing in the community. The Upper Falls CDP, which spanned , constituted the largest CDP in West Virginia by area. The population density was 218.6 people per square mile (84.4/km²). There were 1,549

housing unit A housing unit, or dwelling unit, (at later mention often abbreviated to ''unit'') is a structure or the part of a structure or the space that is used as a home, residence, or sleeping place by one person or more people who maintain a common hous ...

s at an average density of 91.7/sq mi (35.3/km²). The

racial makeup A race is a categorization of humans based on shared physical or social qualities into groups generally viewed as distinct within a given society. The term came into common usage during the 1500s, when it was used to refer to groups of variou ...

of the community was 96.8%

White White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no hue). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully reflect and scatter all the visible wavelengths of light. White on ...

, 1.1%

African American African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American" generally denotes descendants of ens ...

, 0.4% American Indian and

Alaska Natives Alaska Natives (also known as Alaskan Natives, Native Alaskans, Indigenous Alaskans, Aboriginal Alaskans or First Alaskans) are the indigenous peoples of Alaska and include Iñupiat, Yupik, Aleut, Eyak, Tlingit, Haida, Tsimshian, and a numbe ...

, 0.3%

Asian Asian may refer to: * Items from or related to the continent of Asia: ** Asian people, people in or descending from Asia ** Asian culture, the culture of the people from Asia ** Asian cuisine, food based on the style of food of the people from Asi ...

, 0.1% from other races, and 1.3% from

two or more races 2 (two) is a number, numeral and digit. It is the natural number following 1 and preceding 3. It is the smallest and only even prime number. Because it forms the basis of a duality, it has religious and spiritual significance in many cultur ...

Hispanic or Latino ''Hispanic'' and '' Latino'' are ethnonyms used to refer collectively to the inhabitants of the United States who are of Spanish or Latin American ancestry (). While the terms are sometimes used interchangeably, for example, by the United States ...

of any race were 0.4% of the population. There were 1,458 households, out of which 33.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.3% were married couples living together, 9.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.6% had a male householder with no wife present, and 26.5% were non-families. 20.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54, and the average family size was 2.93. The community's age distribution was 19.4% under the age of 15, 10.2% from 15 to 24, 25.2% from 25 to 44, 31% from 45 to 64, and 14.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 97.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.4 males.

2000 census

In 2000, the CDP was named Tornado and covered a much smaller area than the Upper Falls CDP of 2010. For the census of 2000, there were 1,111 people, 419 households, and 330 families residing in the CDP, which had a total area of 3.60 square miles and a population density of 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 CDP was 97.21%

, 0.36%

, 0.27%

, 0.09%

Pacific Islander Pacific Islanders, Pasifika, Pasefika, or rarely Pacificers are the peoples of the list of islands in the Pacific Ocean, Pacific Islands. As an ethnic group, ethnic/race (human categorization), racial term, it is used to describe the original p ...

, 0.09% from

other races Other often refers to: * Other (philosophy), a concept in psychology and philosophy Other or The Other may also refer to: Film and television * ''The Other'' (1913 film), a German silent film directed by Max Mack * ''The Other'' (1930 film), a ...

, and 1.98% from two or more races.

Hispanic The term ''Hispanic'' ( es, hispano) refers to people, Spanish culture, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or Hispanidad. The term commonly applies to countries with a cultural and historical link to Spain and to Vic ...

Latino Latino or Latinos most often refers to: * Latino (demonym), a term used in the United States for people with cultural ties to Latin America * Hispanic and Latino Americans in the United States * The people or cultures of Latin America; ** Latin A ...

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. In Tornado the population was spread out, with 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 CDP 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 CDP 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

The Upper Falls of the Coal River was discovered in 1742 by

John Peter Salling John Peter Salling, (died 1755) born Johan Peter Saling and sometimes referred to as John Peter Salley, Sayling, Sallings, and Sallee, was a German explorer known for being among the first Europeans to visit parts of what is now Virginia, West Vir ...

during an expedition along the Coal River. Salling and four companions each received a governor's commission from the state of

Virginia Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States, between the Atlantic Coast and the Appalachian Mountains. The geography and climate of the Commonwealth ar ...

to explore the territory east of the

Mississippi River The Mississippi River is the second-longest river and chief river of the second-largest drainage system in North America, second only to the Hudson Bay drainage system. From its traditional source of Lake Itasca in northern Minnesota, it f ...

, in return for

land grant A land grant is a gift of real estate—land or its use privileges—made by a government or other authority as an incentive, means of enabling works, or as a reward for services to an individual, especially in return for military service. Grants ...

s. It was this group that also discovered coal along the banks of the Coal River. It was not until after the Revolutionary War that European settlers began moving into the area. Even then, the few who survived the attacks of the

native peoples Indigenous peoples are culturally distinct ethnic groups whose members are directly descended from the earliest known inhabitants of a particular geographic region and, to some extent, maintain the language and culture of those original people ...

usually fled to safer destinations. But by around 1800, a

gristmill A gristmill (also: grist mill, corn mill, flour mill, feed mill or feedmill) grinds cereal grain into flour and Wheat middlings, middlings. The term can refer to either the Mill (grinding), grinding mechanism or the building that holds it. Grist i ...

was established by Joseph Thomas at the Upper Falls which continued in operation until the 1930s. Beginning about 1830,

timber Lumber is wood that has been processed into dimensional lumber, including beams and planks or boards, a stage in the process of wood production. Lumber is mainly used for construction framing, as well as finishing (floors, wall panels, wi ...

harvested from the region was floated on the Coal River to Saint Albans. At the same time, great quantities of marketable

cannel coal Cannel coal or candle coal is a type of bituminous coal, also classified as terrestrial type oil shale. Hutton(1987) Dyni (2006), pp. 3–4 Speight (2012), pp. 6–7 Due to its physical morphology and low mineral content cannel coal is considered ...

were found on the upper Coal River. However, only at periods of high water could logs and shallow wooden boats loaded with coal be drifted over the Upper Falls and Lower Falls and on down the river. A system of wooden- crib

locks Lock(s) may refer to: Common meanings *Lock and key, a mechanical device used to secure items of importance *Lock (water navigation), a device for boats to transit between different levels of water, as in a canal Arts and entertainment * ''Lock ...

and dams designed to make Coal River navigableUnited States Geological Surve

"Upper Falls Channel" was constructed in the 1850s to transport cannel coal,

bituminous coal Bituminous coal, or black coal, is a type of coal containing a tar-like substance called bitumen or asphalt. Its coloration can be black or sometimes dark brown; often there are well-defined bands of bright and dull material within the seams. It ...

coal oil Coal oil is a shale oil obtained from the destructive distillation of cannel coal, mineral wax, or bituminous shale, once used widely for illumination. Chemically similar to the more refined, petroleum-derived kerosene, it consists mainly of se ...

and timber to market. This began the era of two-way commercial

steamboat A steamboat is a boat that is marine propulsion, propelled primarily by marine steam engine, steam power, typically driving propellers or Paddle steamer, paddlewheels. Steamboats sometimes use the ship prefix, prefix designation SS, S.S. or S/S ...

traffic on the river. The Upper Falls was the site of Upper Falls Lock and Dam,United States Geological Surve

"Upper Falls Lock"United States Geological Surve

"Upper Falls Dam" and Edward Kenna, who also developed a

sawmill A sawmill (saw mill, saw-mill) or lumber mill is a facility where logs are cut into lumber. Modern sawmills use a motorized saw to cut logs lengthwise to make long pieces, and crosswise to length depending on standard or custom sizes (dimensi ...

at the Upper Falls around 1850, was lockmaster; his son, John Edward Kenna, later served as

U.S. senator The United States Senate is the upper chamber of the United States Congress, with the House of Representatives being the lower chamber. Together they compose the national bicameral legislature of the United States. The composition and powe ...

from West Virginia. Damage caused by ongoing flooding and the outbreak of the

Civil War A civil war or intrastate war is a war between organized groups within the same state (or country). The aim of one side may be to take control of the country or a region, to achieve independence for a region, or to change government policies ...

suspended steam tug navigation of Coal River. Traffic resumed after the war, but ended permanently in 1881. From 1858, at least ten failed attempts were made to build a

rail line Rail terminology is a form of technical terminology. The difference between the American term ''railroad'' and the international term ''railway'' (used by the International Union of Railways and English-speaking countries outside the United Sta ...

up the Coal River. Finally, under the direction of General

Cornelius Clarkson Watts Cornelius Clarkson Watts (1848–1930), or C. C. Watts, was an American lawyer and politician. He served as United States Attorney for the District of West Virginia and Attorney General of West Virginia. In 1896, Watts was the Democratic party c ...

, a

Confederate Confederacy or confederate may refer to: States or communities * Confederate state or confederation, a union of sovereign groups or communities * Confederate States of America, a confederation of secessionist American states that existed between 1 ...

veteran, construction of the Coal River and Western Railway began in 1902 and was completed in 1904. The lasting

economic boom An economic expansion is an increase in the level of economic activity, and of the goods and services available. It is a period of economic growth as measured by a rise in real GDP. The explanation of fluctuations in aggregate economic activity ...

brought by the railroad to the region saw the bustling Upper Falls StationUnited States Geological Surve

"Upper Falls Station (historical)" offer daily service for both passengers and freight. Timber extraction largely ended in the 1920s, but the rail line, now owned by

CSX Transportation CSX Transportation , known colloquially as simply CSX, is a Class I freight railroad operating in the Eastern United States and the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Quebec. The railroad operates approximately 21,000 route miles () of track. ...

, still transports massive amounts of bituminous coal to global markets. There was a rapid influx of people to the area during and soon after

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

, and many came to live in Tornado. They found employment in the defense and chemical manufacturing industries in the

Kanawha Valley The Kanawha River ( ) is a tributary of the Ohio River, approximately 97 mi (156 km) long, in the U.S. state of West Virginia. The largest inland waterway in West Virginia, its valley has been a significant industrial region of the stat ...

and benefited from economic prosperity as a result. Today, the community is a residential suburb and recreation destination of the Charleston

metropolitan area A metropolitan area or metro is a region that consists of a densely populated urban agglomeration and its surrounding territories sharing industries, commercial areas, transport network, infrastructures and housing. A metro area usually com ...

.Courtesy of Dr. William H. Dean, PhD, from ''Coal, Steamboats, Timber and Trains: The Early Industrial History of St. Albans, West Virginia & The Coal River, 1850–1925'' UpperFallsWV.blog.com

Post offices

The Upper Falls of Coal Post Office, the first to serve the area, was established in 1851. During

Reconstruction Reconstruction may refer to: Politics, history, and sociology *Reconstruction (law), the transfer of a company's (or several companies') business to a new company *'' Perestroika'' (Russian for "reconstruction"), a late 20th century Soviet Unio ...

, it was replaced by a post office named Tornado in 1881.National Archives Microfilm Publication M841, ''Record of Appointment of Postmasters, 1832 – September 30, 1971''. John H. Sutherland appointed postmaster, Tornado, WV, 6 July 1881United States Postal Service, "Postmaster Finder"

Tornado Post Office, 6 July 1881 to present. Retrieved 2014-12-18. Today, residents who receive mail at ZIP Code 25177 use the city name St. Albans, West Virginia, St. Albans, while those at ZIP Code 25202 use either Tornado or Upper Falls, with both names in general use.

Other names

Since the earliest

European settlers European, or Europeans, or Europeneans, may refer to: In general * ''European'', an adjective referring to something of, from, or related to Europe ** Ethnic groups in Europe ** Demographics of Europe ** European cuisine, the cuisines of Europe ...

moved into the region in the 1700s, the community was also known as Upper Falls of Coal River. Andrews Heights is an area named for landowner R. Carl Andrews, who served as mayor of Charleston from 1947 to 1950 and was a Democratic candidate for governor of West Virginia in 1940. Andrews Heights Elementary School is named for Mayor Andrews. Big Bend is an area of the community that is circumscribed by the Big Bend of Coal River and gives Big Bend Golf Course its name.

Transportation

During its history, transportation infrastructure serving the community has included highway, rail and river transport.

Highway

The primary means of transportation throughout the CDP today is by secondary highways.

2020 census

The 2020 Tornado CDP is much smaller than the 2010 Upper Falls CDP. In a clockwise direction on the map, Coal River Road (Kanawha County Highway 3) intersects the northern boundary of Tornado at Browns Creek and (CH 9/1) crosses the southern border at the Lincoln County line. Falls Creek Road (CH 3) also intersects the southern boundary at the Lincoln County line.

2010 census

The 2010 Upper Falls CDP was much larger than the 2020 Tornado CDP. In a clockwise direction on the map, Coal River Road (Kanawha County Highway 3) intersected the northern boundary of Upper Falls at Tear Drop Lane (private). Dogwood Road (CH 6/6) crossed the northern border at the Armstrong Tunnel. Smith Creek Road (CH 9) demarcated the CDP to the east at Dry Ridge Road (CH 8). Coal River Road (CH 9/1) crossed the southern border at the Lincoln County line. Falls Creek Road (CH 3) intersected the southern boundary at the Lincoln County line, as well. Woods Drive (CH 1/3) crossed to the west at the Putnam County line. Finally, Browns Creek Road (CH 1) delimited the CDP at the intersection of Bryants Branch Road (CH 3/3) to the north.

Rail

The Coal River subdivision, a CSX Transportation

main line Mainline, ''Main line'', or ''Main Line'' may refer to: Transportation Railway * Main line (railway), the principal artery of a railway system * Main line railway preservation, the practice of operating preserved trains on an operational railw ...

, runs essentially parallel to the river on its east side and is used primarily to transport coal from the

Southern West Virginia Southern West Virginia is a culturally and geographically distinct region in the U.S. state of West Virginia. Southern West Virginia is known for its coal mining heritage and Southern affinity. The region is also closely identified with southwe ...

coalfields to global markets. There was once a railroad station in the community named "Upper Falls Station."

River

The Coal River is still designated by the federal government as a

navigable waterway A waterway is any navigable body of water. Broad distinctions are useful to avoid ambiguity, and disambiguation will be of varying importance depending on the nuance of the equivalent word in other languages. A first distinction is necessary b ...

, though the 19th century system of

and dams that made commercial transportation possible no longer exists.

Education

Educational opportunities: * Andrews Heights Elementary School, 7776 Coal River Road * Humphreys After School Program, 7799 Coal River Road

Recreation

Recreational possibilities: * Big Bend Golf Course, 151 Riverview Drive * Coal River * Meadowood Park, 292 Pettigrew Lane * Mountaineer Radio Control Flying Club, 8004 Smith Creek Road * Walhonde TrailUnited States Geological Surve

"Walhonde Upper Falls Walking Trail"

Religion

Community churches: * Browns Creek Church of God, 2550 Browns Creek Road * Humphreys Memorial United Methodist Church, 7799 Coal River Road * New Hope Baptist Church, 9414 Coal River Road * Pleasant Hill Baptist Church, 7398 Smith Creek Road * Riverview Freewill Baptist Church, 10603 Coal River Road * Tornado Apostolic Church, 1100 Gore Addition Road

References

External links

History of Upper Falls, West Virginia

Curlie Directory for Tornado

Curlie Directory for Upper Falls

2020 Tornado CDP at the U.S. Census Bureau

2010 Upper Falls CDP Demographic Data

2010 Upper Falls CDP Geographic Data

2010 Upper Falls CDP Map

25177 ZIP Code Map

25202 ZIP Code Map

Upper Falls Geographic Features

Upper Falls Recreation

Tornado Populated Place at the U.S. Geological Survey

Tornado CDP at the U.S. Geological Survey

Upper Falls CDP at the U.S. Geological Survey
{{authority control Census-designated places in Kanawha County, West Virginia Census-designated places in West Virginia Charleston, West Virginia metropolitan area