Hurricane, West Virginia
Encyclopedia
Hurricane is a city in Putnam County
, West Virginia
, in the United States
. The population was 6,284 at the 2010 census.
noted the site appeared to have been struck by a hurricane, giving rise to the name. Less than 17 miles (27.4 km) southeast of Hurricane is a post office named Tornado
.
A town named Hurricane Bridge was located where West Virginia Route 34 now crosses the creek, near current-day Hurricane. The town can be traced back to an 1811 Virginia
map. The town primarily consisted of a small inn. On March 28, 1863, Union
and Confederate
forces fought a Civil War
battle at Hurricane Bridge, now known as the Skirmish at Hurricane Bridge.
Hurricane itself can be traced back to 1873, when a railroad track was laid through the town and a small depot was constructed. It was during this period that Main Street developed, and other businesses in the area. Hurricane was a trading and residential town for tobacco
growers and other farmers in the early 1900s. The fire department was established March 2, 1936. It was incorporated as a town in 1888, and as a city in the 1970s.
The three oldest continuously operating businesses are:
In the early 1990s, the old depot, which once served as the catalyst for the town's development, was torn down and replaced with a small gazebo
. It was also during the 1990s that the city began to see a surge in urban growth as several subdivisions were established in the city limits. The population increase resulted in the widening of Route 34, a connecting road to Teays Valley
, and an expansion of Hurricane High School
.
In 2002, a winning multi-state Powerball
ticket was sold at a convenience store in Teays Valley near the city of Hurricane. The winning ticketholder was Jack Whittaker
. At the time it was the largest jackpot ever won by a single winning ticket in the history of American lottery.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 3 square miles (7.8 km²), of which 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²), or 0.67%, is water.
of 2000, there were 5,222 people, 2,098 households, and 1,518 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,765.0 people per square mile (681.2/km²). There were 2,258 housing units at an average density of 763.2 per square mile (294.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.12% White, 0.67% African American, 0.08% Native American, 0.38% Asian, 0.10% from other races
, and 0.65% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.54% of the population.
There were 2,098 households out of which 34.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.2% were married couples
living together, 10.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.6% were non-families. 24.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 2.98.
In the city the population was spread out with 25.2% under the age of 18, 8.4% from 18 to 24, 30.8% from 25 to 44, 23.1% from 45 to 64, and 12.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 92.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $39,591, and the median income for a family was $43,155. Males had a median income of $34,808 versus $22,972 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $20,119. About 8.2% of families and 10.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.6% of those under age 18 and 8.3% of those age 65 or over.
Putnam County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 51,589 people, 20,028 households, and 15,281 families residing in the county. The population density was 149 people per square mile . There were 21,621 housing units at an average density of 62 per square mile...
, West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
, in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 6,284 at the 2010 census.
History
Hurricane was named after Hurricane Creek, which was, in turn, named after a group of trees at the mouth of the river bent in one direction. A party of surveyors commissioned by George WashingtonGeorge Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
noted the site appeared to have been struck by a hurricane, giving rise to the name. Less than 17 miles (27.4 km) southeast of Hurricane is a post office named Tornado
Tornado, West Virginia
Tornado is an unincorporated community in Kanawha County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 1,111 at the 2000 census, at which time it was a census-designated place . It is now part of the Upper Falls CDP...
.
A town named Hurricane Bridge was located where West Virginia Route 34 now crosses the creek, near current-day Hurricane. The town can be traced back to an 1811 Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
map. The town primarily consisted of a small inn. On March 28, 1863, Union
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
and Confederate
Confederate States Army
The Confederate States Army was the army of the Confederate States of America while the Confederacy existed during the American Civil War. On February 8, 1861, delegates from the seven Deep South states which had already declared their secession from the United States of America adopted the...
forces fought a Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
battle at Hurricane Bridge, now known as the Skirmish at Hurricane Bridge.
Hurricane itself can be traced back to 1873, when a railroad track was laid through the town and a small depot was constructed. It was during this period that Main Street developed, and other businesses in the area. Hurricane was a trading and residential town for tobacco
Tobacco
Tobacco is an agricultural product processed from the leaves of plants in the genus Nicotiana. It can be consumed, used as a pesticide and, in the form of nicotine tartrate, used in some medicines...
growers and other farmers in the early 1900s. The fire department was established March 2, 1936. It was incorporated as a town in 1888, and as a city in the 1970s.
The three oldest continuously operating businesses are:
- The Hurricane Breeze, a weekly newspaper established October 1900
- Putnam County Bank, established October 25, 1901
- Rappold's Barber Shop, established June 1906
In the early 1990s, the old depot, which once served as the catalyst for the town's development, was torn down and replaced with a small gazebo
Gazebo
A gazebo is a pavilion structure, sometimes octagonal, that may be built, in parks, gardens, and spacious public areas. Gazebos are freestanding or attached to a garden wall, roofed, and open on all sides; they provide shade, shelter, ornamental features in a landscape, and a place to rest...
. It was also during the 1990s that the city began to see a surge in urban growth as several subdivisions were established in the city limits. The population increase resulted in the widening of Route 34, a connecting road to Teays Valley
Teays Valley, West Virginia
Teays Valley is a census-designated place in Putnam County, West Virginia, United States. The place is divided into the two districts of Teays Valley and Scott Depot...
, and an expansion of Hurricane High School
Hurricane High School (West Virginia)
Hurricane High School, located in Hurricane, West Virginia, one of the fastest growing counties in the state, is a school of 1,077 students in grades 9-12....
.
In 2002, a winning multi-state Powerball
Powerball
Powerball is an American lottery game sold in 44 jurisdictions as a shared jackpot game. It is coordinated by the Multi-State Lottery Association , a non-profit organization formed by an agreement with lotteries. Powerball is a game whose advertised jackpot starts at $20 million and can roll into...
ticket was sold at a convenience store in Teays Valley near the city of Hurricane. The winning ticketholder was Jack Whittaker
Jack Whittaker (lottery winner)
Andrew Jackson “Jack” Whittaker, Jr. is a West Virginia businessman who became famous when he won US$314.9 million in the Powerball multi-state lottery. At the time it was the largest jackpot ever won by a single winning ticket in the history of American lottery...
. At the time it was the largest jackpot ever won by a single winning ticket in the history of American lottery.
Geography
Hurricane is located at 38°25′57"N 82°1′11"W (38.432483, -82.019718).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 3 square miles (7.8 km²), of which 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²), or 0.67%, is water.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 5,222 people, 2,098 households, and 1,518 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 1,765.0 people per square mile (681.2/km²). There were 2,258 housing units at an average density of 763.2 per square mile (294.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.12% White, 0.67% African American, 0.08% Native American, 0.38% Asian, 0.10% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.65% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.54% of the population.
There were 2,098 households out of which 34.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.2% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 10.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.6% were non-families. 24.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 2.98.
In the city the population was spread out with 25.2% under the age of 18, 8.4% from 18 to 24, 30.8% from 25 to 44, 23.1% from 45 to 64, and 12.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 92.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $39,591, and the median income for a family was $43,155. Males had a median income of $34,808 versus $22,972 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $20,119. About 8.2% of families and 10.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.6% of those under age 18 and 8.3% of those age 65 or over.
Notable residents
- Jack FellureJack FellureLowell Jackson "Jack" Fellure is an American perennial political candidate and retired engineer. He is the presidential nominee of the Prohibition Party for the 2012 presidential election.-Campaigns:...
, perennial candidatePerennial candidateA perennial candidate is one who frequently runs for public office with a record of success that is infrequent, if existent at all. Perennial candidates are often either members of minority political parties or have political opinions that are not mainstream. They may run without any serious hope...
for President of the United StatesPresident of the United StatesThe President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....