Tornado, West Virginia

Tornado, West Virginia
Census-designated place
Location in Kanawha County and state of West Virginia.
Location in Kanawha County and state of West Virginia.
Coordinates: 38°20′34″N 81°50′39″W / 38.34278°N 81.84417°W / 38.34278; -81.84417
CountryUnited States
StateWest Virginia
CountyKanawha
Area
[1]
 • Total3.67 sq mi (9.51 km2)
 • Land3.59 sq mi (9.29 km2)
 • Water0.09 sq mi (0.23 km2)
Elevation
614 ft (187 m)
Population
 (2020)[2]
 • Total1,081
 • Density290/sq mi (110/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP Codes
25177, 25202
Area code(s)304/681
GNIS feature ID1555859
FIPS code54-82180
Upper Falls of Coal River, with Upper Falls Dam above and the historic lock in the foreground, viewed from Upper Falls Landing

Tornado, also called Upper Falls, is a census-designated place (CDP) in Kanawha County, West Virginia, United States.

Four agencies of the United States government determine the official name of the community.[3][4][5] The United States Postal Service 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.[6][7] The United States Board on Geographic Names authenticated the name of the community as Tornado in 1980, changed it to Upper Falls in 2010 and back to Tornado in 2013.[8] 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.[9][10][11][12][13][14] The United States Census Bureau originated the Tornado CDP in 1990, changed to the Upper Falls CDP in 2010 and then to the Tornado CDP for 2020.[15][16][17][18][19] The United States National Geodetic Survey maintains a bench mark in the community named Upper Falls, which has never changed.[20][21]

The 2000 Tornado CDP had a population of 1,111 and a total area of 3.60 square miles (9.3 km2).[22] The 2010 Upper Falls CDP, which was much larger, had a population of 3,701 and a total area of 17.18 square miles (44.5 km2), making it the largest CDP in West Virginia by area.[23][24][25] The 2020 Tornado CDP is again much smaller, with a population of 1,081 and a total area of 3.67 square miles (9.5 km2).[26]

The adjacent Coal River gives the community its historical name from the cascading waters of its Upper Falls.[27]

  1. ^ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files – West Virginia". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 26, 2021.
  2. ^ "Tornado CDP, West Virginia: 2020 DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171)". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved October 26, 2021.
  3. ^ USPS City Versus Census Geography, U.S. Census Bureau
  4. ^ Why It’s Worthless to Use a Postal Zip Code to Determine Its Municipality, USgeocoder
  5. ^ Many people use ZIP codes to determine place names. Here’s why that doesn’t work well., Greater Greater Washington
  6. ^ WEST VIRGINIA Post Offices, U.S. Postal Service Postmaster Finder
  7. ^ Look Up a ZIP Code, U.S. Postal Service
  8. ^ Tornado Populated Place, U.S. Board on Geographic Names, U.S. Geological Survey
  9. ^ Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) FY 2021 Update, Region 3 Intergovernmental Council
  10. ^ 2000 Tornado CDP, Profile of General Demographic Characteristics, U.S. Census Bureau
  11. ^ 2010 Upper Falls CDP, Demographic Profile Data, U.S. Census Bureau
  12. ^ 2010 Upper Falls CDP, Census Summary File, U.S. Census Bureau
  13. ^ Map of 2010 Upper Falls CDP, Upper Falls, West Virginia
  14. ^ Tornado gets its name back, Charleston Gazette-Mail
  15. ^ 1980 Census of Population, General Population Characteristics, WEST VIRGINIA, U.S. Bureau of the Census
  16. ^ 1990 Census of Population, General Population Characteristics, West Virginia, U.S. Bureau of the Census
  17. ^ Tornado Census Designated Place, U.S. Geological Survey
  18. ^ Upper Falls Census Designated Place, U.S. Geological Survey
  19. ^ 2020 Tornado CDP, U.S. Census Bureau
  20. ^ Upper Falls, West Virginia Bench Mark, U.S. National Geodetic Survey
  21. ^ Bench Mark, 2.8 Miles North from Upper Falls, West Virginia, U.S. National Geodetic Survey
  22. ^ 2000 Tornado CDP, Profile of General Demographic Characteristics, U.S. Census Bureau
  23. ^ 2010 Upper Falls CDP, Demographic Profile Data, U.S. Census Bureau
  24. ^ 2010 Upper Falls CDP, Census Summary File, U.S. Census Bureau
  25. ^ 2010 West Virginia Census Geography, U.S. Census Bureau
  26. ^ 2020 Tornado CDP, U.S. Census Bureau
  27. ^ Upper Falls, U.S. Geological Survey