Hurricane is a city in Washington County, Utah. Its population was 8,250 at the 2000 U.S. Census. Along with several other areas of southwestern Utah, the Hurricane area has seen a large population growth since the 1970s, and it has blended in with neighboring city of St. George, Utah.
The name of this town was traditionally pronounced pronounced /ˈhɜrɪkən/ ("hur ih kun") for many decades.[citation needed] However, newer residents often use the usual American pronunciation of hurricane, pronounced /ˈhɜrɪˌkeɪn/ ("hur ih kane").[citation needed]
Hurricane received its name after a whirlwind blew the top off of a buggy that Erastus Snow was riding in. Snow exclaimed, "Well, that was a Hurricane. We'll name this 'Hurricane Hill'."[4]
A primary employer of Hurricane residents[citation needed] is the Purgatory Correctional Facility, a prison of the State of Utah.
Education
Hurricane is a part of the Washington County School District.
Hurricane has one high school, Hurricane High School (encompassing grades 10-12), attended also by students from the surrounding communities of La Verkin, Toquerville and Springdale, among others. There are also several elementary schools and middle schools.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 31.5 square miles (81.7 km²), of which, 31.1 square miles (80.6 km²) of it is land and 0.4 square miles (1.1 km²) of it (1.39%) is water.
Demographics
At the 2000 census[1], there were 8,250 people, 2,762 households and 2,201 families residing in the city. The population density was 265.2 per square mile (102.4/km²). There were 3,375 housing units at an average density of 108.5/sq mi (41.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 95.89% White, 0.16% African American, 0.96% Native American, 0.25% Asian, 0.29% Pacific Islander, 1.16% from other races, and 1.28% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.72% of the population.
There were 2,762 households of which 38.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 70.0% were married couples living together, 7.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.3% were non-families. 18.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.97 and the average family size was 3.38.
Age distribution was 32.8% under the age of 18, 9.5% from 18 to 24, 21.6% from 25 to 44, 19.2% from 45 to 64, and 16.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 98.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.5 males.
The median household income was $32,865, and the median family income was $36,955. Males had a median income of $30,172 versus $19,588 for females. The per capita income for the city was $13,353. About 10.8% of families and 13.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.2% of those under age 18 and 5.9% of those age 65 or over.
Notable residents
Also from Hurricane, Utah is Taylor Vaifanua, who made to the Top 36 of the reality TV show American Idol.[citation needed]
Staff Sergeant Travis Terpstra from Comanche Company 1-2 Stryker Calvery Regiment, received the Bronze Star for valor in the Sadr City uprising April 2008. His platoon was ambushed by a IED initiated complex ambush, 3 days into the conflict.[citation needed]
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