| Upper Falls, West Virginia | |
|---|---|
| — Census designated place — | |
| Motto: Since 1742 | |
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Upper Falls, West Virginia
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| Coordinates: | |
| Country | United States |
| State | West Virginia |
| County | Kanawha |
| Area[1] | |
| • Total | 17.2 sq mi (44.5 km2) |
| • Land | 16.9 sq mi (43.8 km2) |
| • Water | 0.2 sq mi (0.5 km2) |
| Elevation | 614 ft (187 m) |
| Population (2010)[2] | |
| • Total | 3,701 |
| • Density | 215.2/sq mi (83.1/km2) |
| Time zone | Eastern (EST) (UTC-5) |
| • Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| ZIP Codes | 25177, 25202 |
| Area code(s) | 304 & 681 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1555859[3] |
Upper Falls[4] is an unincorporated census designated place (CDP) in Kanawha County, West Virginia, United States. As of the 2010 census, its population was 3,701.[2]
The Coal River bisects the community and gives it its name from the cascading waters of its Upper Falls.[5]
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Upper Falls is located at (38.342872, -81.844296)[1].
According to the United States Census Bureau, the Upper Falls CDP has a total area of 17.2 square miles (44.49 km²), of which, 16.9 square miles (43.84 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square miles (0.644 km²) of it (1.45%) is water.[6]
The United States National Geodetic Survey control point for Upper Falls is at 38 20 23 N, 081 50 20 W.[7]
The United States Geological Survey identifies the community's namesake Upper Falls of Coal River at 38 20 33 N, 081 50 29 W.[8]
As of the Census of 2010,[9] 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.
Upper Falls 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 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 who survived the attacks of the native peoples usually fled to safer destinations. But by around 1800, a gristmill was established by Joseph Thomas at 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 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. Upper Falls was the site of Lock and Dam Number Three and Edward Kenna, who developed a sawmill at Upper Falls around 1850, was lock keeper; his son, John Edward Kenna, served as United States 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, the Coal River and Western Railway began construction in 1902 and was completed in 1904. The economic boom brought by the railroad to the region saw the bustling Upper Falls Station offer daily service for both passengers and freight. Timber extraction ended in the 1920s, but the rail line 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 Upper Falls. They found employment in the defense and chemical manufacturing industries in the Kanawha Valley and benefited from economic prosperity as a result. Today, Upper Falls is a residential suburb and recreation destination of the Charleston metropolitan area.[10]
The Upper Falls of Coal Post Office, the first to serve the area, was established in 1851.[11] During Reconstruction, its name was changed to Tornado in 1881.[12] Today, residents in the northern portion of Upper Falls receive mail service from the Saint Albans Post Office. Residents in the southern portion receive mail through the Tornado Post Office, which is currently the only one to support delivery using the city name Upper Falls.[13]
Since the earliest European settlers moved into the area in the 1700s, Upper Falls was also known as 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.[14]
Tornado[15] is another variant name for Upper Falls.[16] A Tornado CDP with a population of 1,111[2] was created for the 2000 Census, then subsumed by the much larger Upper Falls CDP for the 2010 Census.
During its history, transportation infrastructure serving Upper Falls has included roads, rail and water transport.
The primary means of transportation throughout the CDP today is by secondary highways.
In a clockwise direction on the map, Coal River Road (Kanawha County Highway 3) intersects the northern boundary of Upper Falls at Tear Drop Lane (private). Dogwood Road (CH 6/6) crosses the northern border at the Armstrong Tunnel. Smith Creek Road (CH 9) crosses east at Dry Ridge Road (CH 8). Coal River Road (CH 9/1) bisects Upper Falls, as it also crosses the southern border at the Lincoln County line. Falls Creek Road (CH 3) crosses south at the Lincoln County line. Woods Drive (CH 1/3) crosses to the west at the Putnam County line. Finally, Browns Creek Road (CH 1) crosses at the intersection of Bryants Branch Road (CH 3/3) to the north.[17]
The Coal River subdivision, a CSX main line, runs parallel to Coal River, dividing Upper Falls from north to south. Its primary use is to transport coal from the Southern West Virginia coalfields to global markets. There was once a railroad station in Upper Falls of the same name.[18]
Coal River is still designated by the federal government as a navigable waterway, though the 19th century system of locks and dams that made commercial transportation possible no longer exists.[19]
Educational opportunities available to Upper Falls students are provided by these schools.[20]
Upper Falls offers numerous recreational possibilities.[21]
Churches of the following denominations serve the spiritual needs of Upper Falls residents.[22]
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