Editing Vernon, Texas

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{confuse|Mount Vernon, Texas}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name      = Vernon, Texas
| settlement_type    = [[City]]
| motto              = "Steer Our Way!"
| image_skyline      = Vernon, TX City Hall Picture_2207.jpg
| imagesize          = 
| image_caption      = <span style="font-size:100%;">Vernon City Hall</span>
| image_flag         = 
| image_seal         = <!-- Maps -->
| image_map          = TXMap-doton-Vernon.PNG
| mapsize            = 
| map_caption        = Location of Vernon, Texas
| image_map1         = Wilbarger County Vernon.svg
| mapsize1           = 
| map_caption1       = <!-- Location -->
| subdivision_type   = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name   = United States
| subdivision_type1  = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1  = [[Texas]]
| subdivision_type2  = [[List of counties in Texas|County]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[Wilbarger County, Texas|Wilbarger]]
<!-- Government -->| government_footnotes = 
| government_type    = Mayor–city commission
| 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     = 20.47
| area_land_km2      = 20.45
| area_water_km2     = 0.02
| area_total_sq_mi   = 7.90
| area_land_sq_mi    = 7.89
| area_water_sq_mi   = 0.01
<!-- Population -->
| population_as_of   = [[2020 United States Census|2020]]
| population_footnotes = 
| population_total   = 10078
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_density_sq_mi = auto
<!-- General information -->
| timezone           = [[North American Central Time Zone|Central (CST)]]
| utc_offset         = -6
| timezone_DST       = CDT
| utc_offset_DST     = -5
| elevation_footnotes = <ref name=gnis/>
| elevation_ft       = 1240
| coordinates        = {{coord|34|08|53|N|99|18|00|W|region:US-TX|display=inline,title}}
| postal_code_type   = [[ZIP Code]]s
| postal_code        = 76384–76385
| area_code          = [[Area code 940|940]]
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info         = 48-75308<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        = 2412151<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2412151}}</ref>
| website            = {{URL|https://www.vernontx.gov}}
| footnotes          = 
}}
[[Image:Downtown Vernon, TX Picture 2209.jpg|thumb|<span style="font-size:100%;">A glimpse of downtown Vernon, with Waggoner National Bank in the left background</span>]]
[[Image:Red River Valley Museum, Vernon, TX Picture 2202.jpg|thumb|The [[Red River Valley Museum]] is located on the Vernon College campus.]]

'''Vernon''' is a [[city]] and the [[county seat]] of [[Wilbarger County, Texas]], United States.<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date=2011-06-07 |title=Find a County |publisher=National Association of Counties |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=May 31, 2011 }}</ref> and as of the [[2010 United States Census|2010 census]] had a population of 11,002.

==History==

The original town was called Eagle Springs by the [[Indigenous peoples of the Americas|indigenous community]] as early as 1858. After the [[American Civil War]], more settlers began moving into 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.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/hev01|title=The Handbook Of Texas, Vernon, Texas|publisher=Texas|access-date=August 11, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Profile for Vernon, Texas, TX |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/vernoncitytexas |access-date=February 24, 2024 |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau}}</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of 8.1&nbsp;sq mi (21.0&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>), of which 0.12% is covered by 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]], Vernon has a [[humid subtropical climate]], ''Cfa'' on climate maps.<ref>[http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=3837&cityname=Vernon%2C+Texas%2C+United+States+of+America&units= Climate Summary for Vernon, Texas]</ref>

{{Weather box   <!-- Infobox begins -->
| single line = Y
| location    = Vernon, Texas (1991–2020)
<!-- Average high temperatures -->
| Jan high F  =54.7
| Feb high F  =58.5
| Mar high F  =67.9
| Apr high F  =76.2
| May high F  =84.5
| Jun high F  =92.6
| Jul high F  =97.2
| Aug high F  =96.5
| Sep high F  =88.1
| Oct high F  =77.9
| Nov high F  =65.1
| Dec high F  =55.8
<!-- Mean daily temperature -->
| Jan mean F  =41.7
| Feb mean F  =44.9
| Mar mean F  =54.4
| Apr mean F  =62.3
| May mean F  =72.1
| Jun mean F  =80.7
| Jul mean F  =84.9
| Aug mean F  =84.1
| Sep mean F  =75.9
| Oct mean F  =64.6
| Nov mean F  =52.3
| Dec mean F  =43.2
<!-- Average low temperatures -->
| Jan low F  =28.7
| Feb low F  =31.3
| Mar low F  =40.9
| Apr low F  =48.3
| May low F  =59.8
| Jun low F  =68.9
| Jul low F  =72.6
| Aug low F  =71.7
| Sep low F  =63.8
| Oct low F  =51.4
| Nov low F  =39.4
| Dec low F  =30.6
<!-- Total precipitation, this should include rain and snow. -->
| precipitation colour    =  green
| Jan precipitation inch  =1.15
| Feb precipitation inch  =1.18
| Mar precipitation inch  =2.09
| Apr precipitation inch  =2.57
| May precipitation inch  =3.67
| Jun precipitation inch  =4.10
| Jul precipitation inch  =2.37
| Aug precipitation inch  =2.80
| Sep precipitation inch  =3.04
| Oct precipitation inch  =2.53
| Nov precipitation inch  =1.60
| Dec precipitation inch  =1.26
<!-- Snowfall -->
| Jan snow inch  =0.9
| Feb snow inch  =0.3
| Mar snow inch  =0.0
| Apr snow inch  =0.0
| May snow inch  =0.0
| Jun snow inch  =0.0
| Jul snow inch  =0.0
| Aug snow inch  =0.0
| Sep snow inch  =0.0
| Oct snow inch  =0.0
| Nov snow inch  =0.0
| Dec snow inch  =0.0
<!-- Mandatory fields, source -->
| source = NOAA<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/us-climate-normals/#dataset=normals-monthly&timeframe=30&station=USC00419346 |title=NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access |publisher=NOAA |access-date=2025-04-05 }}</ref>
}}<!-- Infobox ends -->

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
| 1890 = 2857
| 1900 = 1993
| 1910 = 3195
| 1920 = 5142
| 1930 = 9137
| 1940 = 9277
| 1950 = 12651
| 1960 = 12141
| 1970 = 11454
| 1980 = 12695
| 1990 = 12001
| 2000 = 11660
| 2010 = 11002
| 2020 = 10078
| estyear =
| estimate =
| estref = 
| footnote = U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015|df=mdy-all}}</ref>
}}

===2020 census===

{| class="wikitable"
|+'''Vernon racial composition'''<ref>{{Cite web |title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=1600000US4875308&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2 |access-date=2022-05-19 |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>https://www.census.gov/ {{nonspecific|date=August 2022}}</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)
|5,023
|49.84%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] (NH)
|814
|8.08%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] (NH)
|91
|0.9%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] (NH)
|538
|5.34%
|-
|Some other race (NH)
|22
|0.22%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed/multiracial]] (NH)
|347
|3.44%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]]
|3,243
|32.18%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''10,078'''
|
|}
As of the [[2020 United States census]], 10,078 people, 4,160 households, and 2,426 families resided in the city.

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2" /> of 2000,  11,660 people, 4,506 households, and 2,946 families were residing in the city. The [[population density]] was 1,439.2 people/sq mi (555.8/km<sup>2</sup>). The 5,166 housing units averaged 637.6/sq mi (246.2/km<sup>2</sup>). The [[Race (United States Census)|racial makeup]] of the city was 76.33% White, 9.65% African American, 0.69% Native American, 0.71% Asian,  10.74% from other races, and 1.89% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 22.39% of the population.

Of the 4,506 households, 31.3% had children under 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 not families. About 31.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.4% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.44, and the average family size was 3.07.

In the city, the age distribution was 26.6% under 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 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 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 18 and 14.6% of those age 65 or over.

==Economy==
In 1905, the Wichita Mill and Elevator Company, owned and managed by entrepreneur Frank Kell of [[Wichita Falls, Texas|Wichita Falls]], bought a mill in Vernon. Kell's business partner was W. O. Anderson.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/fke07|title=J. W. Williams, "Frank Kell"|publisher=tshaonline.org|access-date=April 16, 2013}}</ref>

Major businesses and industries in Vernon include a [[Tyson Foods]] (formerly [[Wright Brand Foods]]) bacon-processing plant, a [[Rhodia (company)|Rhodia]], Inc. guar-processing plant, [[North Texas State Hospital]], which is operated by  the Texas Health and Human Services System, the Adolescent Forensic Program, a maximum security residential treatment program for youth aged 13-17<ref>NTSH One Pager 2021 FINAL.pdf (texas.gov)</ref> (formerly the Victory Field Correctional Academy, operated by the [[Texas Youth Commission]]), and the [[Texas A&M AgriLife|Texas AgriLife]] (Texas A&M System) [[Texas AgriLife Research|Research]] and [[Texas AgriLife Extension|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]], [[horse]]s, and [[cattle]]. The Waggoner produces some of the best ranch horses in Texas,{{citation needed|date=February 2023}} 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, held the second weekend of August every year - a car show that exhibits a variety of 1930s to 1985 model cars.

===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-shirt]]s are available for sale, and a king and queen are crowned at the annual event. One of the shirts for 2017 featured a design by [[Harold Dow Bugbee]], the late [[curator]] of the [[Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum]] in [[Canyon, Texas]], which depicts [[Texas Longhorn]]s and a [[cowboy]] crossing the [[Red River of the South|Red River]] at Doan's Crossing, where the [[postmaster]] Corwin F. Doan (1848–1929) also operated a store to supply the cowboys.<ref>Thomas Lindsay Baker, ''Ghost Towns of Texas'' ([[Norman, Oklahoma|Norman]]: [[University of Oklahoma Press]], 1986).</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.doansmaypicnic.com|title=Doan's May Picnic|publisher=doansmaypicnic.com|access-date=May 3, 2017}}</ref>

==Education==

===Public education===
The [[Vernon Independent School District]] serves students in prekindergarten through grade 12. The district's school campuses include three elementary schools (prekindergarten through grade 5), a middle school (grades 6–8) and [[Vernon High School (Vernon, Texas)|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. <!-- not encyclopedic or notable In 2008, the team finished second in the state, losing to Abilene Wylie in the championship game. In 2009, the team finished third in the state tourney and in 2010 the team finished second, again losing to Abilene Wylie in the finals. In UIL individual competition, VHS tennis players have won several awards.  Most recently, in 2009, Josh Marshall and Steven Stanley won the Class 3A State Boys Doubles title.  In 2008, Nick Lehman won the Class 3A State Boys Single title and in 2006 Brad Fenter and Kelly Clifton won the Class 3A State Mixed Doubles title. The VHS Tennis Team is guided by Head Coach Ruben Vargas. -->

===Vernon College===
[[Image:Vernon College IMG 0708.JPG|thumb|right|Vernon College is a [[community college]] in Vernon.]]
[[Image:Vernon College Administration Building IMG 0709.JPG|thumb|right|Osborne Administration Building at Vernon College]]

[[Vernon College]], a two-year [[community college]], is located here and maintains a branch campus in [[Wichita Falls, Texas|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 junior college-level competition.

==Infrastructure==

===Transportation===
Vernon is located 50 miles northwest of Wichita Falls, 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: [[U.S. Route 70 in Texas|70]], [[U.S. Route 183 in Texas|183]], [[U.S. Route 283 in Texas|283]], and [[U.S. Route 287 in Texas|287]].

Wilbarger County Airport is located five miles north of Vernon; 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]] rail freight line bypassing downtown from Fort Worth to Amarillo.

==Notable people==
* [[Kay Adams (singer)|Kay Adams]] (born 1941), country singer
* [[Skandor Akbar]], former professional wrestler in the [[Universal Wrestling Federation (Bill Watts)|Universal Wrestling Federation]]
* [[James Dixon (American football)|James Dixon]], former professional football player for the [[Dallas Cowboys]]
* [[Robert L. Duncan]] (born 1953), Republican former member of [[Texas House of Representatives]] and [[Texas State Senate]]
* [[Roy Farrell|Roy C. Farrell]] (1912–1996), co-founder of [[Cathay Pacific]]
* [[Lawrence Gaines]], former professional football player for [[Detroit Lions]]
* [[Clyde Gates]] (born 1986), NFL player for the [[Miami Dolphins]]
* [[Robert Gauldin]] (born 1931), classical music composer
* [[Rick Hardcastle]] (born 1956), Republican former member of [[Texas House of Representatives]]
* [[Jerry Haymes]] (born 1940), musician 
* [[Bill Herchman]], former professional football player
* [[Jack English Hightower]] (born 1926), politician, former 46th Judicial District Attorney<ref>{{cite book |last1=Barone |first1=Michael |author-link1=Michael Barone (pundit) |last2=Ujifusa |first2=Grant |title=[[The Almanac of American Politics|The Almanac of American Politics 1984]] |year=1983 |page=1152}}</ref>
* [[Dan Kubiak]] (1938–1998), politician; taught and coached in Vernon in 1962–1963 academic year
* [[John C. Morgan]] (1914–1991), World War II United States Army Air Forces B-17 pilot and [[Medal of Honor]] recipient
* [[Roy Orbison]] (1936–1988), nicknamed "The Big O," Orbison was a Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter and guitarist
* [[Marguerite Oswald]] (1907-1981), mother of [[Lee Harvey Oswald]]
* [[Mac Percival]], former professional football player for [[Chicago Bears]] and [[Dallas Cowboys]]
* [[Daryl Richardson]] (born 1990), NFL [[running back]] for the [[Cleveland Browns]]
* [[Eck Robertson]] (1887–1975), fiddle player, first country musician to be commercially recorded (1922)
* [[Cory Roper]] (born 1977), NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver <ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.racing-reference.info/driver/Cory_Roper | title=Driver }}</ref>
* [[Bernard Scott]] (born 1984), former NFL [[running back]] for the [[Cincinnati Bengals]]
* [[Ken Starr]], lead prosecutor in [[President Bill Clinton|Clinton]] impeachment
* [[Jack Teagarden]] (1905–1964), influential jazz trombonist and [[vocalist]]

==1979 tornado==
On [[1979 Red River Valley tornado outbreak|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 County, Texas|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, Oklahoma|Lawton]].

==See also==
*[[Vernon Plaza Theatre]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{notelist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.vernonrecord.com/ The Vernon Daily Record – Newspaper]
* {{Handbook of Texas|id=hev01|name=Vernon, Texas}}
* [http://www.vernontexas.org/ Vernon Chamber of Commerce]
* [http://www.vernoncollege.edu/ Vernon College]
* [http://www.vernonisd.org/ Vernon Independent School District]
* [http://texashistory.unt.edu/search/?q=%22United+States+-+Texas+-+Wilbarger+County+-+Vernon%22&t=dc.coverage Historic Vernon materials], hosted by the [http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20021008225402/http%3A//www%2Eco%2Ehidalgo%2Etx%2Eus/ Portal to Texas History.]

{{Geographic Location (8-way)
 | Centre =Vernon
 | North = [[Altus, Oklahoma]]
 | Northeast = [[Frederick, Oklahoma]]
 | East = [[Oklaunion, Texas]]
 | Southeast = 
 | South = [[Seymour, Texas]]
 | Southwest = [[Crowell, Texas]]
 | West = [[Chillicothe, Texas]]
 | Northwest = 
}}

{{Wilbarger County, Texas}}
{{Texas}}
{{Texas county seats}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Vernon, Texas| ]]
[[Category:Cities in Wilbarger County, Texas]]
[[Category:Cities in Texas]]
[[Category:County seats in Texas]]
[[Category:Micropolitan areas of Texas]]