Tar Hill, Kentucky facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Tar Hill, Kentucky
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 Tar Hill, Kentucky
Location in Kentucky
Tar Hill, Kentucky
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Kentucky |
| County | Grayson |
| Named after the Federal asphalt mine nearby. The mine and store closed in 1928. | The "Tar Hill store" re-opened in 1928 by the Tulley family in its present location. |
| Elevation | 718 ft (219 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| GNIS feature ID | 509187 |
Tar Hill is a small place in Grayson County, Kentucky, United States. It is known as an unincorporated community. This means it's a group of homes and businesses that don't have their own local government, like a city or town does. Instead, it is part of the larger Grayson County.
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About Tar Hill
Tar Hill is located in Grayson County, Kentucky. It is a quiet place where people live and work. The name "Tar Hill" came from a nearby asphalt mine that used to operate there. This mine and a store closed down in 1928. However, a new "Tar Hill store" was opened in the same year by the Tulley family. It has been a part of the community ever since.
What is an Unincorporated Community?
An unincorporated community is a place where people live together, but it is not officially a city or town. It does not have its own mayor or city council. Instead, the county government takes care of services like roads and public safety. Many small places in the United States are unincorporated communities.
The 2011 Tornadoes
On April 26, 2011, Tar Hill was hit by two tornadoes. These tornadoes were part of a much larger weather event called the 2011 Super Outbreak. This outbreak saw many powerful tornadoes across the southeastern United States. It was one of the biggest tornado events in American history.
How Tornadoes are Measured
Tornadoes are measured using the Enhanced Fujita scale, or EF scale. This scale rates tornadoes from EF0 (weakest) to EF5 (strongest). The rating is based on the damage the tornado causes. Higher ratings mean more severe damage.
The first tornado that hit Tar Hill was rated as an EF2. This means it was a strong tornado. It was about 440 yards (400 m) wide, which is almost half a kilometer. This tornado traveled for about 3 miles (4.8 km). It snapped and pulled up many large trees. It also destroyed a travel trailer, a mobile home, and many small buildings and barns. Fifteen homes had major damage to their roofs. Farm equipment was even thrown about 50 yards (46 m) away.
The second tornado was rated as an EF0. This was a weaker tornado. It was about 60 yards (55 m) wide and traveled for 0.28 miles (450 m). This tornado mainly caused trees to snap and be pulled up.
