HIGHLIGHTS: Hurricane, W.Va.

Population: 5,222 (based on the 2000 U.S. Census).

Known for: Waves of Fun wave pool, Museum in the Community, specialty shops and murals.

Origin: In April 1774, a party of surveyors commissioned by George Washington traveling down the Kanawha River noted in their journals that at the mouth of a creek, all the trees were bent in the same direction. They decided the location was the site of a hurricane. The creek became known as Hurricane Creek because of this phenomenon.

Don't miss: Civil War Weekend, the last weekend in March; July 4 Celebration; a citywide garage sale in August; Harvest Festival, the last Saturday in March; Shop Til you Drop, the first weekend in November; Christmas Celebration, first weekend in December.

Mayor's office: (304) 562-5988.

City Hall: 3255 Teays Valley Road, (304) 562-5896. Hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Police: Hurricane Police Department (304) 562-9911 (non-emergency number).

Fire department: Hurricane Fire Department (304) 562-5663 (non-emergency number).

Trash collection: Cummings Collection Service, pickup once a week. (304) 562-9291.

Boundaries: Peach Ridge to the north, South Brook to the east, U.S. 60 to the south and west. Area is 3.2 square miles.

Recycling: Solid Waste Authority, (304) 586-0495.

School district: Putnam County Schools, (304) 586-0500.

City budget: $1.74 million.

Median age: 36.5.

Percentage of population age 17 and younger: 25.1.

Percent age 65 and older: 12.6.

Racial and ethnic breakdown by percent: 98.1 white, 0.7 African American, 0.1 Native American, 0.4 Asian, 0.5 Hispanic or Latino.

Average commute: 23.2 minutes.

Per capita income: $20,119.

Median household income: $39,591.

Median home value: $89,000.

Percent housing owner-occupied: 75.2.

Percent people in poverty: 10.3.