48-543: Charles City is a city in and the county seat of Floyd County, Iowa , United States. Charles City is a significant commercial and transportation center for the area. U.S. Routes 18 and 218 , Iowa Highway 14 , and the Canadian National and Canadian Pacific railroads serve the city. The population was 7,396 at the time of the 2020 census , a decrease of 5.3%, from 7,812 in 2000. The Ho-Chunk people , also known as Winnebago, had long occupied this area and had
96-649: A family was $ 38,297. Males had a median income of $ 29,536 versus $ 19,904 for females. The per capita income for the city was $ 16,659. About 8.5% of families and 11.2% of the population were below the poverty line , including 14.6% of those under age 18 and 5.6% of those age 65 or over. Charles City is served by the Charles City Community School District ., which includes the Charles City High School . There were two former institutions called Charles City College ,
144-656: A fatality) in the U.S. back to 1880. The Fujita scale was adopted in most areas outside of the United Kingdom . On February 1, 2007, the Fujita scale was decommissioned, and the Enhanced Fujita Scale was introduced in the United States. The new scale more accurately matches wind speeds to the severity of damage caused by the tornado. Though each damage level is associated with a wind speed,
192-439: A household in the county was $ 35,237, and the median income for a family was $ 41,133. Males had a median income of $ 30,285 versus $ 20,867 for females. The per capita income for the county was $ 17,091. About 6.50% of families and 9.30% of the population were below the poverty line , including 13.00% of those under age 18 and 5.70% of those age 65 or over. Floyd County is divided into twelve townships : The population ranking of
240-403: A means to differentiate tornado intensity and path area, assigned wind speeds to damage that were, at best, educated guesses. Fujita and others recognized this immediately and intensive engineering analysis was conducted through the rest of the 1970s. This research, as well as subsequent research, showed that tornado wind speeds required to inflict the described damage were actually much lower than
288-502: A tornado rated F4 based on damage with a path length of 63 miles (101 km) and a path width of 800 yards (730 m) would be rated F,P,P 4,4,4. Use of the Pearson scales was not widespread, however, and it remained more common to simply list a tornado's path length and path width directly. For purposes such as tornado climatology studies, Fujita scale ratings may be grouped into classes. The Fujita scale, introduced in 1971 as
336-610: A village along the Cedar River . In 1851 Joseph Kelly, the first-known European-American settler in the area, came here after the Ho-Chunk had been pushed out. He believed that the site was ideal for a town, as it had water from the Cedar River and adjacent timberland to supply building needs. The settlement was first called "Charlestown" after his son. By 1852, twenty-five other settler families had joined Kelly. The town name
384-516: Is a county located in the U.S. state of Iowa . As of the 2020 census , the population was 15,627. The county seat is Charles City . Floyd County was established in 1854 and was named for Sergeant Charles Floyd of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, who died in 1804 near what is now Sioux City , Iowa , and who was the only member to die on the Expedition. The first school in the county
432-500: Is a scale for rating tornado intensity , based primarily on the damage tornadoes inflict on human-built structures and vegetation. The official Fujita scale category is determined by meteorologists and engineers after a ground or aerial damage survey , or both; and depending on the circumstances, ground-swirl patterns ( cycloidal marks), weather radar data, witness testimonies, media reports and damage imagery, as well as photogrammetry or videogrammetry if motion picture recording
480-718: Is available. The Fujita scale was replaced with the Enhanced Fujita scale (EF-Scale) in the United States in February 2007. In April 2013, Canada adopted the EF-Scale over the Fujita scale along with 31 "Specific Damage Indicators" used by Environment Canada (EC) in their ratings. The scale was introduced in 1971 by Ted Fujita of the University of Chicago , in collaboration with Allen Pearson , head of
528-478: Is the location of the last lynching in Iowa, that of James Cullen in 1907. National women's rights leader Carrie Lane Chapman Catt spent her girlhood years on a farm south of Charles City. Catt is well known as a prominent leader of the woman's suffrage movement and was instrumental in gaining passage of the 19th Amendment , ratified on August 18, 1920, which granted women the right to vote. Carrie Catt also founded
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#1732773107987576-728: Is the oldest surviving internal combustion engine tractor in the United States. It is displayed at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C. In 1929, Hart-Parr was one of the four companies that merged to form Oliver Farm Equipment Company and finally the White Farm-New Idea Equipment Co . At its peak in the mid-1970s, the sprawling plant complex encompassed 23 acres and employed nearly 3,000 workers. The 1980s farm crisis and other economic pressures led to
624-453: Is water. The 2020 census recorded a population of 15,627 in the county, with a population density of 31.1337/sq mi (12.0208/km ). 96.21% of the population reported being of one race. There were 7,314 housing units of which 6,674 were occupied. The 2010 census recorded a population of 16,303 in the county, with a population density of 32.567/sq mi (12.5742/km ). There were 7,526 housing units, of which 6,886 were occupied. As of
672-463: The Dr. Alvin L. Miller House , a Usonian house designed by Frank Lloyd Wright . Charles City is in a location subject to tornadoes, and has been severely damaged by them many times in its history. In the summer of 1858 (possibly July 21), while still known as the village of St. Charles, a "Terrific Tornado" was recorded. There were 16 deaths, 13 inside the village. The property value of buildings destroyed
720-459: The League of Women Voters . Her home and a visitor's center are open for public viewing. On June 9, 2008, record flooding caused major damage in the town. Charles City's historic suspension bridge, which crossed over the Cedar River, collapsed. Numerous homes around the city were also destroyed. A new bridge, built with FEMA and state funding, opened in early 2010. Charles City is the location of
768-481: The United States Census Bureau , the city has a total area of 6.31 square miles (16.34 km), of which 6.22 square miles (16.11 km) is land and 0.09 square miles (0.23 km) is water. The peak of population was in 1950. The loss of industrial jobs has led to a decline in residents. As of the census of 2020, there were 7,396 people, 3,343 households, and 1,816 families residing in
816-479: The University of Wisconsin , Hart and Parr developed a two-cylinder gasoline engine. They set up their Hart-Parr Gasoline Engine Company in Charles City in 1897. In 1901 the two founders coined the word "tractor", with Latin roots and a combination of the words "traction" and "power". In 1903 the firm built fifteen "tractors", the first successful production-model tractor line in the U.S. The 14,000-pound No. 3
864-513: The census of 2000, there were 16,900 people, 6,828 households, and 4,711 families residing in the county. The population density was 34 people per square mile (13 people/km ). There were 7,317 housing units at an average density of 15 units per square mile (5.8 units/km ). The racial makeup of the county was 98.11% White , 0.23% Black or African American , 0.09% Native American , 0.43% Asian , 0.09% Pacific Islander , 0.44% from other races , and 0.60% from two or more races. 1.31% of
912-620: The EF scale wind speeds, but these are biased to United States construction practices. The EF scale also improved damage parameter descriptions. The original scale as derived by Fujita was a theoretical 13-level scale (F0–F12) designed to smoothly connect the Beaufort scale and the Mach number scale. F1 corresponds to the twelfth level of the Beaufort scale, and F12 corresponds to Mach number 1.0. F0
960-540: The F-scale indicated, particularly for the upper categories. Also, although the scale gave general descriptions of damage a tornado could cause, it gave little leeway for strength of construction and other factors that might cause a building to sustain more damage at lower wind speeds. Fujita tried to address these problems somewhat in 1992 with the Modified Fujita Scale, but by then he was semi-retired and
1008-402: The Fujita scale is effectively a damage scale, and the wind speeds associated with the damage listed are not rigorously verified. The Enhanced Fujita Scale was formulated due to research that suggested that the wind speeds required to inflict damage by intense tornadoes on the Fujita scale are greatly overestimated. A process of expert elicitation with top engineers and meteorologists resulted in
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#17327731079871056-863: The National Severe Storms Forecast Center/NSSFC (currently the Storm Prediction Center /SPC). The scale was updated in 1973, taking into account path length and width. In the United States, starting in the late 1970s, tornadoes were rated soon after occurrence. The Fujita scale was applied retroactively to tornadoes reported between 1950 and the adoption of the scale in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Tornado Database. Fujita rated tornadoes from 1916 to 1992 and Tom Grazulis of The Tornado Project retroactively rated all known significant tornadoes (F2–F5 or causing
1104-719: The National Weather Service was not in a position to update to an entirely new scale, so it went largely unenacted. In the United States, on February 1, 2007, the Fujita scale was decommissioned in favor of what scientists believe is a more accurate Enhanced Fujita Scale. The meteorologists and engineers who designed the EF Scale believe it improves on the F-scale on many counts. It accounts for different degrees of damage that occur with different types of structures, both manmade and natural. The expanded and refined damage indicators and degrees of damage standardize what
1152-547: The actual wind speeds needed to cause that damage are unknown." Since then, the Enhanced Fujita Scale has been created using better wind estimates by engineers and meteorologists. The six categories are listed here, in order of increasing intensity. In 1973, Allen Pearson added additional path length and path width parameters to the Fujita scale. Under this version, each tornado would be assigned one Fujita scale rating and two Pearson scale ratings. For example,
1200-405: The average family size was 2.82. Age spread: 23.2% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 23.5% from 25 to 44, 21.9% from 45 to 64, and 24.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 84.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.8 males. The median income for a household in the city was $ 30,568, and the median income for
1248-438: The city. The population density was 1,207.8 inhabitants per square mile (466.3/km). There were 3,716 housing units at an average density of 606.8 per square mile (234.3/km). The racial makeup of the city was 84.6% White , 5.0% Black or African American , 0.2% Native American , 3.6% Asian , 0.0% Pacific Islander , 1.9% from other races and 4.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino persons of any race comprised 5.2% of
1296-419: The city. The population density was 1,230.2 inhabitants per square mile (475.0/km). There were 3,761 housing units at an average density of 604.7 per square mile (233.5/km). The racial makeup of the city was 92.7% White , 2.5% African American , 0.2% Native American , 2.5% Asian , 0.1% Pacific Islander , 1.0% from other races , and 1.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.6% of
1344-425: The city. The population density was 1,269.9 inhabitants per square mile (490.3/km). There were 3,597 housing units at an average density of 584.7 per square mile (225.8/km). The racial makeup of the city was 96.92% White , 0.44% African American , 0.15% Native American , 0.65% Asian , 0.19% Pacific Islander , 0.79% from other races , and 0.86% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.12% of
1392-520: The closing of the plant in 1993. As of 2013, the vacant site stands ready for re-use. Although best known for producing tractors, the Hart-Parr company also made some of the first washing machines. They sold for $ 155 in the 1920s, and the buyer had the option of ordering either an electric or gasoline engine. The Floyd County Historical Museum preserves the plant's history and memories in an extensive collection of documents and artifacts. Charles City
1440-417: The county swung 29.5 points Republican with Donald Trump winning the county by over 14 points after Barack Obama won the county by a similar margin 4 years earlier. 43°03′24″N 92°47′02″W / 43.05667°N 92.78389°W / 43.05667; -92.78389 Fujita scale The Fujita scale ( F-Scale ; / f u ˈ dʒ iː t ə / ), or Fujita–Pearson scale ( FPP scale ),
1488-447: The damage described at each category. The error manifests itself to an increasing degree as the category increases, especially in the range of F3 through F5. NOAA notes that "precise wind speed numbers are actually guesses and have never been scientifically verified. Different wind speeds may cause similar-looking damage from place to place—even from building to building. Without a thorough engineering analysis of tornado damage in any event,
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1536-480: The first a Methodist college that was absorbed into Morningside College in the 1910s, and the second a short lived branch of Parsons College in the late 1960s. The Charles City Public Library hosts the Mooney Art Collection, a set of original art prints by Rembrandt, Dali, Picasso, and Goya. Charles City is served by the following local media outlets: Floyd County, Iowa Floyd County
1584-437: The following table is based on the 2020 census of Floyd County. † county seat Prior to 1988, Floyd County was strongly Republican in presidential elections. In only four elections from 1896 to 1984 did a Republican presidential candidate fail to win the county. Starting with the 1988 election, the county consistently backed Democratic Party presidential candidates up until the 2016 election. In that presidential election,
1632-441: The population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. There were 6,828 households, out of which 30.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.70% were married couples living together, 7.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.00% were non-families. 28.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size
1680-450: The population. Of the 3,343 households, 24.9% of which had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.3% were married couples living together, 6.8% were cohabitating couples, 32.3% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present and 22.6% had a male householder with no spouse or partner present. 45.7% of all households were non-families. 40.8% of all households were made up of individuals, 19.2% had someone living alone who
1728-407: The population. There were 3,339 households, out of which 27.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.3% were married couples living together, 10.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.6% were non-families. 34.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.22 and
1776-440: The population. There were 3,440 households, of which 26.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.5% were married couples living together, 10.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.1% had a male householder with no wife present, and 42.9% were non-families. 38.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 19.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size
1824-581: The rating of F6, but both were later downgraded to F5. Based on aerial photographs of the damage it caused, Fujita assigned the strongest tornado of the 1974 Super Outbreak , which affected Xenia, Ohio, a preliminary rating of F6 intensity ± 1 scale. The 1977 Birmingham–Smithfield F5 tornado's damage was surveyed by Ted Fujita and he "toyed with the idea of rating the Smithfield tornado an F6". In 2001, tornado expert Thomas P. Grazulis stated in his book F5–F6 Tornadoes ; "In my opinion, if there ever
1872-433: Was 2.15 and the average family size was 2.86. The median age in the city was 42.9 years. 23% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.7% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 21.7% were from 25 to 44; 24.5% were from 45 to 64; and 23.1% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.0% male and 53.0% female. As of the census of 2000, there were 7,812 people, 3,339 households, and 2,083 families residing in
1920-400: Was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.92. In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.10% under the age of 18, 7.00% from 18 to 24, 24.40% from 25 to 44, 24.20% from 45 to 64, and 19.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 93.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.40 males. The median income for
1968-421: Was 65 years old or older. The median age in the city was 42.6 years. 25.1% of the residents were under the age of 20; 4.6% were between the ages of 20 and 24; 22.5% were from 25 and 44; 24.8% were from 45 and 64; and 23.0% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.9% male and 52.1% female. As of the census of 2010, there were 7,652 people, 3,440 households, and 1,964 families residing in
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2016-475: Was an F6 tornado caught on video, it was the Pampa, Texas tornado of 1995 ". In 2023, it was announced by the Storm Prediction Center and National Weather Service Norman, Oklahoma that the 1970 Lubbock tornado was originally rated F6, which was later downgraded to its official rating of F5. Furthermore, the original wind speed numbers have since been found to be higher than the actual speeds required to incur
2064-553: Was available on damage caused by wind, so the original scale presented little more than educated guesses at wind speed ranges for specific tiers of damage. Fujita intended that only F0–F5 be used in practice, as this covered all possible levels of damage to frame homes as well as the expected estimated bounds of wind speeds. He did, however, add a description for F6, which he called an "inconceivable tornado", to allow for wind speeds exceeding F5 and possible advancements in damage analysis that might show it. In total, two tornadoes received
2112-602: Was changed, first to "St. Charles" and then to "Charles City," to avoid duplication of other Iowa town names. Charles City became the county seat after Floyd County was established in 1851 and officially organized in 1854. Floyd County was named for Sergeant Charles Floyd , a member of the 1804 Lewis and Clark Expedition . Charles City is known for the role it played in the history of the American tractor . A native son Charles Walter Hart , whose father owned three local farms, met Charles H. Parr in college. After graduating from
2160-431: Was fifty thousand dollars (1908 dollars). Many people around the region remember Charles City as the site of a devastating F5 tornado that ripped through town on May 15, 1968 . It resulted in 13 dead, hundreds injured, and was one of the largest twisters ever recorded in the state, this storm destroyed much of the downtown – 256 businesses and 1,250 homes. Damage estimates were of more than $ 20 million. According to
2208-401: Was into the thousands of dollars (1858 dollars), and the loss of crops was said to be "beyond comprehension", according to the newspaper account. On June 8, 1908, a tornado destroyed or substantially damaged around 200 homes and barns. Residents W. R. Beck and a child were killed. The path of the tornado ran through the southeast part of the city, missing the business district. Loss of property
2256-410: Was placed at a position specifying no damage (approximately the eighth level of the Beaufort scale), in analogy to how Beaufort's zeroth level specifies little to no wind. From these wind speed numbers, qualitative descriptions of damage were made for each category of the Fujita scale, and then these descriptions were used to classify tornadoes. At the time Fujita derived the scale, little information
2304-535: Was taught at Nora Springs in 1854. The second was opened at Charles City, the third at Floyd. Twelve years later there were 54 schools in the county, in September 1875, there were 100 school-houses in Floyd County. According to the U.S. Census Bureau , the county has a total area of 501 square miles (1,300 km ), of which 501 square miles (1,300 km ) is land and 0.8 square miles (2.1 km ) (0.1%)
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