Tornado, West Virginia

Tornado[9] is located at 38°20′34″N 81°50′39″W (38.342872, −81.844296).[1]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the Tornado CDP has a total area of 17.18 square miles (44.49 km²), of which 16.93 square miles (43.84 km²) are land and 0.25 square miles (0.64 km²), or 1.45%, are water.[5]

The United States Geological Survey locates the community's namesake Upper Falls of Coal River at 38°20′33″N 81°50′29″W.[7]

As of the census of 2010,[10] there were 3,701 people, 1,458 households, and 1,072 families residing in the community. The population density was 218.6 people per square mile (84.4/km²). There were 1,549 housing units at an average density of 91.7/sq mi (35.3/km²). The racial makeup of the community was 96.8% White, 1.1% African American, 0.4% American Indian and Alaska Natives, 0.3% Asian, 0.1% from other races, and 1.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino 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.

The Upper Falls of Coal River was discovered in 1742 by John Peter Salling during an expedition along the Coal River. Salling and four companions each received a governor's commission from the state of Virginia to explore the territory east of the Mississippi River, in return for 10,000-acre (4,000 ha) land grants. 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[12] who survived the attacks of the native peoples usually fled to safer destinations. But by around 1800, a gristmill[13] was established by Joseph Thomas at the Upper Falls which continued in operation until the 1930s.

Beginning about 1830, timber harvested from the region was floated on the Coal River to Saint Albans. At the same time, great quantities of marketable cannel coal 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 and dams designed to make Coal River navigable[14] was constructed in the 1850s to transport cannel coal, bituminous coal, coal oil and timber to market. This began the era of two-way commercial steamboat traffic on the river. The Upper Falls was the site of Upper Falls Lock and Dam,[15][16] and Edward Kenna, who also developed a sawmill[17] at the Upper Falls around 1850, was lockmaster;[18] his son, John Edward Kenna, later served as U.S. senator from West Virginia. Damage caused by ongoing flooding and the outbreak of the Civil War 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 up the Coal River. Finally, under the direction of General Cornelius Clarkson Watts, a Confederate veteran, construction of the Coal River and Western Railway began in 1902 and was completed in 1904. The lasting economic boom brought by the railroad to the region saw the bustling Upper Falls Station[19] offer daily service for both passengers and freight. Timber extraction ended in the 1920s, but the rail line[20] through Upper Falls, now owned by CSX Transportation, 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, and many came to live in Tornado. They found employment in the defense and chemical manufacturing industries in the Kanawha Valley and benefited from economic prosperity as a result. Today, Tornado is a residential suburb and recreation destination of the Charleston metropolitan area.[21]

The Upper Falls of Coal Post Office, the first to serve the area, was established in 1851.[22][23] During Reconstruction, it was replaced by a post office named Tornado in 1881.[24][25] Today, residents in the northern portion of the Upper Falls CDP receive mail service from the Saint Albans Post Office at ZIP Code 25177. Residents in the southern portion of the Upper Falls CDP receive mail through the Tornado Post Office at ZIP Code 25202. This is currently the only one of the two post offices to support mail delivery using the city name Upper Falls.[26]

Since the earliest European settlers moved into the area in the 1700s, Tornado 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 and Upper Falls on Coal River.[27]

Andrews Heights is an area of Upper Falls named for landowner R. Carl Andrews,[28] who served as mayor of Charleston from 1947 to 1950[29] and was a Democratic candidate for governor of West Virginia in 1940.[30] Andrews Heights Elementary School was named for Mayor Andrews.

Big Bend is an area of Upper Falls that is named for the Big Bend of Coal River.[31] The river's Big Bend circumscribes Big Bend Golf Course, which also takes its name.

The official name "Tornado" first appeared when a new post office opened in the community in 1881.[24][25]

During its history, transportation infrastructure serving Tornado has included roads, rail and water transport.

Educational opportunities available to Tornado students are provided by:

• Andrews Heights Elementary School, 7776 Coal River Road
• Humphreys After School Program, 7799 Coal River Road

Tornado offers numerous recreational possibilities:[35]

• Big Bend Golf Course, 151 Riverview Drive
• Coal River[36]
• Meadowood Park, 292 Pettigrew Lane[37][38]
• Mountaineer Radio Control Flying Club, 8004 Smith Creek Road
• Walhonde Trail[39]

Churches of the following Christian denominations serve the spiritual needs of Tornado residents:

• 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

• History of Upper Falls, West Virginia
• Upper Falls, West Virginia Geographic Features
• Upper Falls, West Virginia Recreation