Editing La Vernia, Texas

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name            = La Vernia, Texas
| settlement_type          = City
| nickname                 = L V, Bear Country
| motto                    = This is Bear Country
| image_skyline            = La vernia city hall 2013.jpg
| imagesize                = 250px
| image_caption            = 
| image_map                = TXMap-doton-LaVernia.PNG
| mapsize                  = 250px
| map_caption              = Location of La Vernia, Texas
| image_map1               = Wilson County LaVernia.svg
| mapsize1                 = 250px
| map_caption1             = 
<!-- Location -->
| subdivision_type         = Country
| subdivision_name         = United States
| subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1        = [[Texas]]
| subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Texas|County]]
| subdivision_name2        = [[Wilson County, Texas|Wilson]]
<!-- Government -->
| government_footnotes     = 
| government_type          = 
| leader_title             = 
| leader_name              = 
| established_title        = 
| established_date         = 
<!-- Area -->
| unit_pref                = Imperial
| area_footnotes           = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2019">{{cite web|title=2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2019_Gazetteer/2019_gaz_place_48.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=August 7, 2020}}</ref>
| area_total_km2           = 6.20
| area_land_km2            = 6.19
| area_water_km2           = 0.01
| area_total_sq_mi         = 2.39
| area_land_sq_mi          = 2.39
| area_water_sq_mi         = 0.00
<!-- Population -->
| population_as_of         = [[2020 United States Census|2020]]
| population_footnotes     = 
| population_total         = 1077
| population_density_sq_mi = 597.74
| population_density_km2   = 230.77
<!-- General information -->
| timezone                 = [[North American Central Time Zone|Central (CST)]]
| utc_offset               = &minus;6
| timezone_DST             = CDT
| utc_offset_DST           = &minus;5
| elevation_footnotes      = <ref name=gnis/>
| elevation_ft             = 495
| coordinates              = {{coord|29|21|16|N|98|07|45|W|type:city_region:US-TX|display=it}}
| postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
| postal_code              = 78121
| area_code                = [[Area code 830|830]]
| blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info               = 48-41764<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2008-01-31|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref>
| blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info              = 2411585<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2411585}}</ref>
| website                  = [http://www.lavernia-tx.gov/ lavernia-tx.gov]
| footnotes                = 
}}

'''La Vernia''' is a city in [[Wilson County, Texas]], United States. La Vernia is on the south bank of [[Cibolo Creek]] at the junction of [[U.S. Route 87 in Texas|U.S. Highway 87]] and Texas [[Farm to Market Road 775]], approximately 25 miles east of downtown [[San Antonio]].<ref name="tshaonline.org">{{cite web |url=https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/hll04 |title=LA VERNIA, TX |first=Claudia |last=Hazlewood |date=15 June 2010 |publisher=La Vernia Municipal Development District |website=www.tshaonline.org |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220320065735/https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/la-vernia-tx |archive-date=20 March 2022}}</ref> The population was 1,077 at the 2020 census.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://censusviewer.com/city/TX/La%20Vernia%20(Lavernia) |title=La Vernia (Lavernia), TX Population - Census 2010 and 2000 Interactive Map, Demographics, Statistics, Quick Facts - CensusViewer |website=censusviewer.com |access-date=2016-10-24}}</ref><ref name="MDDdemo">{{cite web|title=Demographics|url=http://www.laverniamdd.org/community-profile/demographics/|publisher=La Vernia Municipal Development District|access-date=19 May 2018}}</ref> La Vernia is part of the [[San Antonio, Texas|San Antonio]] [[San Antonio metropolitan area|Metropolitan Statistical Area]].

==History==
The La Vernia area was first inhabited by the [[Coahuiltecan]] speaking peoples of Texas and subsequently by nomadic bands of [[Apache]] and [[Comanche]] who migrated to Texas in the 17th century.  One of the earliest land grants made was to [[Deaf Smith|Erastus "Deaf" Smith]]. Smith married Guadalupe Ruiz Durán, a [[Mexicans|Mexican]] citizen, who was descended from one of the original [[Tejano]] or [[Spanish Texas]] families;<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tamu.edu/faculty/ccbn/dewitt/adp/history/bios/e_smith/e_smith.html|title=Erastus(Deaf)Smith|website=www.tamu.edu}}</ref> and as such, received a land grant from the Mexican government on Cibolo Creek, north of present-day La Vernia in 1825. This area remained primarily unsettled by Europeans until 1837, when veterans from the [[Texas Revolution]] began to arrive.  
 
La Vernia was first settled in earnest around 1850. W. R. Wiseman of [[Mississippi]], who organized a [[Presbyterian]] church at the site around 1851, is said to have named the place Live Oak Grove, for a grove of trees nearby.<ref name="tshaonline.org" />
[[File:La-vernia-tx2016-13(brahan-lodge).jpg|thumb|left|Brahan Masonic Lodge]]
In 1853 a [[post office]] was established under the name Post Oak.<ref name="tshaonline.org" /> The town's name was changed to La Vernia in 1859. The name came from the local Spanish vernacular for green oaks (Lavernia is not Spanish for green oaks). Hence, The Brahan [[Masonic lodge]] was established in 1859. The building also served as a school and church.<ref>{{cite web
|title=Concrete Cemetery in La Vernia Historical Marker
|url=http://www.stoppingpoints.com/texas/sights.cgi?marker=Concrete+Cemetery&cnty=guadalupe
|author=Texas State Historical Commission
|access-date=August 24, 2009
}}</ref>

German and Polish immigration brought the population to 110 by 1885. The community was now served by three churches, a steam [[gristmill]], and a [[cotton gin]]. During this time, the major crops grown were corn and cotton, which are still major crops in the area today.<ref name="tshaonline.org" />

In 1890, La Vernia had a population of 200. Construction of the [[San Antonio and Gulf Railroad]] across the area in 1893 brought the population to 343 by 1900. A [[two-teacher school]] was in operation by 1896. Classes grew to be so large, that they had to move out of the Masonic lodge. The enrollment had grown to sixty-six children.<ref name="tshaonline.org"/>

By 1915, the town operated two cotton gins, a bank, four churches, a pottery plant, a brick works, and supported a population of 500. In 1947, there were seventeen businesses recorded. In 1965, population had increased to 700 residents and twenty-five businesses.<ref name="tshaonline.org"/>

The community incorporated around 1966, and in 1990, had a population of 639 and thirty-six businesses. La Vernia experienced a population drop as people began to migrate to the larger job markets available in neighboring [[San Antonio]], [[Floresville]] and [[Canyon Lake, Texas|Canyon Lake]].

In 2000, La Vernia had 136 businesses and a population of 931. The [[census]]<ref name="GR2" /> of 2005 La Vernia had a population of 1,087 of people. In 2010 a new shopping area was built just west of town on Highway 87, including a new [[H-E-B]] grocery store and gas station. A longtime grocer, Baumann's Grocery store, closed at the time H-E-B opened.

==Geography==

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], La Vernia has a total area of {{convert|2.4|sqmi|km2}}, all land.<ref>{{cite web|title=US Gazetteer Files 2016-Places-Texas|url=https://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/gazetteer.html|website=US Census|access-date=7 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190801212339/https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/geography.html|archive-date=1 August 2019|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Demographics==

{{US Census population
|align=left
|1970= 425
|1980= 632
|1990= 639
|2000= 931
|2010= 1034
|align-fn=center
|footnote=[https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html U.S. Decennial Census]
|2020=1077}}
{| class="wikitable"
|+'''La Vernia racial composition as of 2020'''<ref>{{Cite web |title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=1600000US4841764&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2 |access-date=2022-05-24 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref><br /> (NH = Non-Hispanic){{efn|Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/en.html|title=Census.gov|website=Census.gov}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=About the Hispanic Population and its Origin |url=https://www.census.gov/topics/population/hispanic-origin/about.html |website=www.census.gov |access-date=18 May 2022}}</ref>}}
!Race
!Number
!Percentage
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] (NH)
|735
|68.25%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] (NH)
|3
|0.28%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] (NH)
|4
|0.37%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] (NH)
|8
|0.74%
|-
|Some Other Race (NH)
|6
|0.56%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed/Multi-Racial]] (NH)
|24
|2.23%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]]
|297
|27.58%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''1,077'''
|
|}
As of the [[2020 United States census]], there were 1,077 people, 348 households, and 233 families residing in the city.

As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2" /> of 2000, there were 931 people, 317 households, and 239 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|482.8|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 344 housing units at an average density of {{convert|178.4|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 92.48% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.11% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.75% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.64% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 4.19% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.83% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 19.98% of the population.

There were 317 households, out of which 40.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.4% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 15.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.6% were non-families. 21.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.08.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 25.1% under the age of 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 27.2% from 25 to 44, 17.1% from 45 to 64, and 23.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 81.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 72.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $38,500, and the median income for a family was $46,912. Males had a median income of $35,625 versus $24,844 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $19,931. About 12.5% of families and 12.3% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 18.1% of those under age 18 and 12.6% of those age 65 or over.

La Vernia has a lower crime rate compared to surrounding towns.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.city-data.com/city/La-Vernia-Texas.html|title=La Vernia, Texas (TX 78121) profile: population, maps, real estate, averages, homes, statistics, relocation, travel, jobs, hospitals, schools, crime, moving, houses, news, sex offenders|website=www.city-data.com}}</ref> Statistics presented are based on data collected by the FBI as part of its Uniform Crime Reporting Program. These data represent offenses reported to and arrests made by State and local law enforcement agencies as reported to the FBI. Total 347, Murder is 2, Rape are 3, Robbery is 0, Aggravated Assault has recorded 38, Burglary 70, Larceny – theft is unusually high at 228, Motor vehicle thefts is at 6, and Coverage indicator is 100%.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Crime Report for La Vernia, Texas |url=http://www.homesurfer.com/crimereports/view/crime_report.cfm?state=TX&area=La%20Vernia |url-status=deviated |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120319074634/http://www.homesurfer.com/crimereports/view/crime_report.cfm?state=TX&area=La%20Vernia |archive-date=2012-03-19 |access-date=19 Jun 2023 |website=Homesurfer}}</ref>

==Education==
[[La Vernia Independent School District]] with a total enrollment of 3182 students provides public education to the La Vernia. La Vernia Primary School includes grades pre-k through third grade.  The newly constructed Intermediate School, opened in 2009, includes grades three to five. The building that now serves as the junior high was the first school building built for the La Vernia school district.  Originally serving all grades, it now houses the sixth, seventh and eighth grades. [[La Vernia High School]] consists of grades nine to twelve.<ref name="lvisd">{{cite web|title=La Vernia Independent School District|url=http://lvisd.org/|access-date=19 May 2018}}</ref>

Private school education is available at La Vernia Christian Teaching Center.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://lvctc.com/|title=La Vernia Christian Teaching Center/Full Gospel Church|website=lvctc.com}}</ref>

==Economy==
La Vernia is located in the center of the [[Eagle Ford Shale]] Play, a source of [[petroleum]] and [[natural gas]] production, which is a significant economic driver of growth and development in [[South Texas]].

The largest employers are La Vernia Independent School District and Guadalupe Valley Electric Cooperative.<ref>{{cite web|title=Area Employers|url=http://www.laverniamdd.org/business-climate/area-employers/|website=La Vernia Municipal Development District|access-date=19 May 2018}}</ref> The highest percentage of employment is in the retail trade with grocery store [[H-E-B]] being the largest employer in that industry.<ref>{{cite web|title=Workforce Data|url=http://www.laverniamdd.org/community-profile/workforce-data/|website=La Vernia Municipal Development District|access-date=19 May 2018}}</ref>

==Culture==
The La Vernia Heritage Museum displays artifacts and memorabilia relating to the history and development of the city.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://laverniahistory.com/museum/|title=Museum – La Vernia Historical Association}}</ref>

==Sports==
La Vernia High School fields girls teams that compete in basketball, softball, soccer, cheerleading, track & field, tennis, volleyball and golf. The school has boys teams that compete in football, baseball, basketball, soccer, track & field, tennis, wrestling and golf.<ref>{{cite web|title=La Vernia High School|url=https://www.rankonesport.com/Schedules/View_Schedule_All.aspx?P=0&D=6BDEA3F2-FB54-48C1-98A2-442A5BABAADF&S=4385|website=Rank One Sport|access-date=19 May 2018}}</ref>

La Vernia Little League has baseball and softball divisions for ages 4 to 16.<ref>{{cite web|title=Divisions|url=http://www.lavernialittleleague.com/Default.aspx?tabid=913202|website=La Vernia Little League|access-date=19 May 2018}}</ref>

==Notable people==
* [[Dusty Jonas]], Olympic high jumper
<!-- * [[Kenyon Luthi]], USAF veteran -->
* [[Austin Mahone]], pop singer
* [[Jane Y. McCallum]], Texas Secretary of State
*[[Hugh M. Tiner]], the second president of [[Pepperdine University]]

==References==
{{reflist}}
{{notelist}}

==Further reading==

* "The Good Old Days a history of La Vernia" by the Civic Government class of La Vernia High School, 1936–1937 school year.
* "Wilson County Centennial 1860–1960"  By the Wilson county library, Centennial program handed out at The 100yr centennial celebration.
{{commons category|La Vernia, Texas}}

==External links==
{{Portal|Texas}}
{{commons category-inline}}
* {{Official website|http://www.lavernia-tx.gov/ }}
* [http://www.thelavernianews.com La Vernia News]
* [http://www.lavernialions.org/bluebonnet.html Bluebonnet Fest]

{{Greater San Antonio}}
{{Wilson County, Texas}}
{{Texas}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in Texas]]
[[Category:Cities in Wilson County, Texas]]
[[Category:Greater San Antonio]]