Jordan, Iowa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jordan, Iowa
|
|
|---|---|
 Jordan, Iowa
Location in Iowa
|
|
| Country | United States |
| State | Iowa |
| County | Boone |
| Elevation | 1,102 ft (336 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| Area code(s) | 515 |
| GNIS feature ID | 457993 |
Jordan is a small, unincorporated community in Boone County, Iowa, United States. An unincorporated community means it's a group of homes or businesses without its own local government.
History of Jordan
Jordan was once known by other names, like Midway and Harmon's Switch. Its current name comes from the famous Jordan River. This community was never officially "platted," which means its streets and lots were not formally mapped out and recorded by the government.
In 1902, only 12 people lived in Jordan. By 1925, the population had grown slightly to 26 people.
The 1976 Tornado
On June 13, 1976, a very powerful tornado hit Jordan. The National Weather Service rated this tornado as an F5, which is the strongest rating on the Fujita scale. This means it caused incredible damage.
The tornado's path was about 880 yards (800 m) (or half a mile) wide and 21 miles (34 km) long. It destroyed almost every house and business in Jordan. Amazingly, even with all that destruction, every single person living in the community survived!
Another unusual tornado, an F-3 anticyclonic tornado, appeared about two miles southeast of Jordan at the same time. Anticyclonic tornadoes spin in the opposite direction of most tornadoes. Both tornadoes made a right turn at the same time, which was very rare. Dr. Ted Fujita, who created the tornado intensity scale, said the Jordan tornado was one of the most intense and destructive he had ever studied.
