Vernon, Texas

Vernon is a city in Wilbarger County, Texas, United States. It is the county seat,[5] and as of the 2010 Census had a population of 11,002.

Vernon, Texas
City
Vernon City Hall
Motto(s): 
"Steer Our Way!"
Location of Vernon, Texas
Coordinates: 34°9′4″N 99°17′26″W
CountryUnited States
StateTexas
CountyWilbarger
Area
 • Total7.90 sq mi (20.47 km2)
 • Land7.89 sq mi (20.45 km2)
 • Water0.01 sq mi (0.02 km2)
Elevation
1,184 ft (361 m)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total11,002
 • Estimate 
(2019)[2]
10,323
 • Density1,307.54/sq mi (504.86/km2)
Time zoneUTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP codes
76384-76385
Area code(s)940
FIPS code48-75308[3]
GNIS feature ID1370623[4]
WebsiteVernon, Texas
A glimpse of downtown Vernon, with Waggoner National Bank in the left background
The Red River Valley Museum is located on the Vernon College campus.

History

The original town was called Eagle Springs by the Tonkawa Native Americans and as early as 1858. After the American Civil War, more settlers began moving in the area, and in 1880 they applied for a post office as Eagle Flat. However, the U.S. Post Office rejected the name, saying too many Texas towns were already called Eagle something. The town then chose the name Vernon, after George Washington's home, Mount Vernon.[6][7]

An estimated seven million head of cattle passed through Vernon on the Great Western Cattle Trail between 1873 and the 1890s. The historic trail was located 90 miles west of and parallel to the better-known Chisholm Trail.

Geography

Vernon is located at 34°09′04″N 99°17′26″W (34.151116, −99.290473).[8]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 8.1 square miles (21.0 km2), of which 8.1 square miles (21.0 km2) are land and 0.12% is water.

Climate

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen climate classification system, Vernon has a humid subtropical climate, Cfa on climate maps.[9]

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
18902,857—
19001,993−30.2%
19103,19560.3%
19205,14260.9%
19309,13777.7%
19409,2771.5%
195012,65136.4%
196012,141−4.0%
197011,454−5.7%
198012,69510.8%
199012,001−5.5%
200011,660−2.8%
201011,002−5.6%
Est. 201910,323[2]−6.2%
U.S. Decennial Census[10]

As of the census[3] of 2000, there were 11,660 people, 4,506 households, and 2,946 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,439.2 people per square mile (555.8/km2). There were 5,166 housing units at an average density of 637.6 per square mile (246.2/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 76.33% White, 9.65% African American, 0.69% Native American, 0.71% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 10.72% from other races, and 1.89% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 22.39% of the population.

There were 4,506 households out of which 31.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.7% were married couples living together, 11.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.6% were non-families. 31.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 3.07.

In the city, the population was spread out with 26.6% under the age of 18, 10.1% from 18 to 24, 25.2% from 25 to 44, 20.9% from 45 to 64, and 17.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.4 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $28,194, and the median income for a family was $36,913. Males had a median income of $25,167 versus $18,971 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,747. About 10.2% of families and 14.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.2% of those under age 18 and 14.6% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

In 1905, the Wichita Mill and Elevator Company, owned and managed by the entrepreneur Frank Kell of Wichita Falls, established a mill in Vernon. Kell's business partner was W. O. Anderson.[11]

Major businesses and industries in Vernon include a Tyson Foods (formerly Wright Brand Foods) bacon processing plant, a Rhodia, Inc. guar processing plant, North Texas State Hospital, which is operated by the Texas Department of State Health Services (an agency of the Texas Health and Human Services System), Victory Field Correctional Academy (a juvenile detention facility operated by the Texas Youth Commission), and the Texas AgriLife (Texas A&M System) Research and Extension Center.

The nearby Waggoner Ranch holds the distinction of being the largest spread in Texas under one fence. The ranch remains operational, with business in petroleum, farming, horses, and cattle. The Waggoner produces some of the best ranch horses in Texas, many from the breeding of the quarter horse Poco Bueno. According to the wishes of E. Paul Waggoner, Poco Bueno is buried in a standing position on the corner at the main entrance to the ranch.

Arts and culture

Santa Rosa Roundup Rodeo

Vernon is host to various events annually including the four-day Santa Rosa Roundup rodeo in May, which is sponsored by the local Santa Rosa Palomino Club. VSMCA is host to Summer's Last Blast, a car show that shows a variety of the '50s - late 2000s cars, which is held the second weekend of August every year.

Doan's May Picnic

Since 1884, Doan's May Picnic has been held on the first Saturday of May at the ghost town of Doans located 15 miles north of Vernon. A barbecue lunch and T-shirts are available for sale, and a king and queen are crowned at the annual event. One of the shirts for 2017 features a design by Harold Dow Bugbee, the late curator of the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum in Canyon, Texas, which depicts Longhorns and a cowboy crossing the Red River at Doan's Crossing, where the postmaster Corwin F. Doan (1848-1929) also operated a store to supply the cowboys.[12] Bugbee's sculpture is part of the 1931 Trail Drivers Monument located at Doans. Riders cross the river from Oklahoma and usually arrive just before noon. The 1881 adobe house, the oldest in Wilbarger County, is open for tours during the picnic.[13]

Education

Public education

The Vernon Independent School District serves students in grades prekindergarten through 12. The district's school campuses include three elementary schools (grades prekindergarten through 5), a middle school (grades 6–8) and Vernon High School (grades 9–12). The district also operates an alternative education program and an education program for juveniles of the Adolescent Forensic Program at North Texas State Hospital

Vernon High School's football team, the Vernon Lions, was one of the strongest programs in the 3A division until recently. The Lions won the 3A state championship in 1990 and were ranked number one all year. They finished in second place the previous year. The Lions have finished as semifinalists in 2003 and 2006, and were ranked in top 10 for the 2007 season, when they lost in a close game in the state quarterfinals to Snyder. The overall record of Vernon High School football is 595-363-38 (a winning percentage of 62.27%)

Vernon High School's first team state championship came in the 1984–1985 season as the Lady Lions won the 3A girls basketball state title. The Lady Lions returned to Austin the next season and were defeated in the semifinals.

Vernon High School is also known for its tennis team, which has completed 23 straight years of going to the Texas Tennis Coaches Association State Team Tennis Tournament. VHS Tennis has six TTCA state team tennis titles and has finished no lower than third place in 22 of the 23 years.

Vernon College is a community college in Vernon.
Osborne Administration Building at Vernon College

Vernon College

Vernon College, a two-year community college, is located here and maintains a branch campus in Wichita Falls. Academic offerings include cosmetology, nursing, and vocational-technical programs. Athletically, Vernon College fields women's softball, women's volleyball, men's baseball, and rodeo teams. The rodeo team is consistently ranked high in the JUCO level of competition.

Infrastructure

Transportation

Vernon is located 50 miles northwest of Wichita Falls, Texas and about 160 to 180 miles from surrounding metropolitan areas, including Amarillo, Abilene, Oklahoma City, and the DFW Metroplex. The city is served by four U.S. routes: 70, 183, 283, and 287.

Bus transportation is available to Amarillo and Dallas-Fort Worth. Wilbarger County Airport is located 5 miles north of Vernon and the nearest airport with scheduled flights is Wichita Falls Municipal Airport 50 miles to the east, which predominantly offers flights of commuter airlines to Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport.

The nearest international airports from Vernon with major airline connections include Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, Will Rogers World Airport in Oklahoma City, and Rick Husband Amarillo International Airport in Amarillo.

The area is also served by a BNSF line bypassing downtown from Ft. Worth to Amarillo.

Notable people

1979 tornado

On April 10, 1979, Vernon and surrounding Wilbarger County were struck by an F4 tornado, a part of a large storm in the Red River Valley. Much of Vernon was damaged or destroyed, and 11 people were killed as the tornado passed through Foard and Wilbarger Counties before it dissipated in a rural portion of Tillman County, Oklahoma. That same day, tornadoes also devastated the larger nearby cities of Wichita Falls and Lawton.

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See also

References
  1. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
  2. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  3. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  4. "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  5. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  6. "The Handbook Of Texas, Vernon, Texas". Texas. Retrieved August 11, 2012.
  7. "Profile for Vernon, Texas, TX". ePodunk. Retrieved July 27, 2012.
  8. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  9. Climate Summary for Vernon, Texas
  10. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  11. "J. W. Williams, "Frank Kell"". tshaonline.org. Retrieved April 16, 2013.
  12. Thomas Lindsay Baker, Ghost Towns of Texas (Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 1986).
  13. "Doan's May Picnic". doansmaypicnic.com. Retrieved May 3, 2017.
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