Editing Vernon Township, Pennsylvania

{{short description|Township in Pennsylvania, US}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Distinguish|New Vernon Township, Pennsylvania}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name                   = Vernon Township, Crawford County,<br>Pennsylvania
| settlement_type        = [[Township (Pennsylvania)|Township]]
| image_skyline          = PennDOT Vernon Twp PA.jpg
| image_alt              = 
| image_caption          = [[PennDOT]] facility
| image_flag             = 
| flag_size              = 
| flag_alt               = 
| image_seal             = 
| seal_size              = 
| seal_alt               = 
| seal_type              = 
| etymology              = 
| nickname               = The Golden Link
| motto                  = 
| image_map              = Map of Vernon Township, Crawford County, Pennsylvania Highlighted.png
| mapsize                = 
| map_alt                = 
| map_caption            = Location of Vernon Township in Crawford County
| image_map1             = Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Crawford County.svg
| mapsize1               = 
| map_alt1               = 
| map_caption1           = Location of Crawford County in Pennsylvania
| pushpin_map            = 
| pushpin_label_position = 
| pushpin_map_alt        = 
| pushpin_map_caption    = 
| pushpin_image          = 
| pushpin_overlay        = 
| coordinates            = 
| coordinates_footnotes  = 
| subdivision_type       = Country
| subdivision_name       = United States
| subdivision_type1      = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1      = [[Pennsylvania]]
| subdivision_type2      = County
| subdivision_name2      = [[Crawford County, Pennsylvania|Crawford]]
| subdivision_type3      = 
| subdivision_name3      = 
| subdivision_type4      = Municipality
| subdivision_name4      = 
| established_title      = 
| established_date       = 
| established_title1     = 
| established_date1      = 
| founder                = 
| seat_type              = 
| seat                   = 
| leader_party           = 
| leader_title           = Mayor
| leader_name            = 
| unit_pref              = Imperial
| area_footnotes         = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2016">{{cite web|title=2016 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2016_Gazetteer/2016_gaz_place_42.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=August 13, 2017}}</ref>
| area_total_sq_mi       = 29.57
| area_land_sq_mi        = 29.56
| area_water_sq_mi       = 0.01
| area_urban_sq_mi       = 
| area_rural_sq_mi       = 
| area_metro_sq_mi       = 
| area_water_percent     = 
| area_note              = 
<!-- elevation -->
| elevation_footnotes     = <!-- for references: use <ref> tags -->
| elevation_m             =
| elevation_ft            =
| elevation_point         = <!-- for denoting the measurement point -->
| elevation_max_footnotes = <ref name="CRTopozone">{{cite web |title=Cemetery Run Topo Map, Crawford County PA (Meadville Area) |url=https://www.topozone.com/pennsylvania/crawford-pa/stream/cemetery-run-2/ |website=TopoZone |publisher=Locality, LLC |access-date=September 2, 2019 |language=en}}</ref>
| elevation_max_m         =
| elevation_max_ft        = 1,512
| elevation_max_point     = Top of Round Top
| elevation_max_rank      = 
| elevation_min_footnotes = <ref name="CRTopozone"/>
| elevation_min_m         =
| elevation_min_ft        = 1,060
| elevation_min_point     = [[French Creek (Allegheny River tributary)|French Creek]]
| elevation_min_rank      = 
| population_footnotes   = <ref name="USCensusEst2020-2023">{{cite web |title=City and Town Population Totals: 2020-2023 |url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-total-cities-and-towns.html |website=Census.gov |publisher=US Census Bureau |access-date=June 6, 2024}}</ref>
| population_total       = 5309
| population_as_of       = [[2020 United States Census|2020]]
| population_density_km2 = 71.37
| population_demonym     = 
| population_note        = 
| timezone1              = [[Eastern Time Zone|EST]]
| utc_offset1            = -4
| timezone1_DST          = [[Eastern Daylight Time|EDT]]
| utc_offset1_DST        = -5
| postal_code_type       = 
| postal_code            = 
| area_code_type         = 
| area_code              = 814
| blank_name_sec1        = 
| blank_info_sec1        = 
| website                = {{URL|www.vernontwp-pa.gov}}
|pop_est_as_of = 2023
|pop_est_footnotes = <ref name="USCensusEst2020-2023"/>
|population_est = 5234
|blank_name = [[Federal Information Processing Standards|FIPS code]]
|blank_info = 42-039-80000
|area_total_km2 = 76.58
|area_land_km2 = 76.56
|area_water_km2 = 0.02
|population_density_sq_mi = 184.86
}}
'''Vernon Township''' is a [[township (Pennsylvania)|township]] in [[Crawford County, Pennsylvania]], United States. The population was 5,309 at the 2020 census,<ref name="USCensusEst2020-2023"/> down from 5,630 at the 2010 census.<ref name="Census 2010">{{cite web| url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/0600000US4203980000| title=Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Census Summary File 1 (G001): Vernon township, Crawford County, Pennsylvania| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder| access-date=June 12, 2015| archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213123259/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/0600000US4203980000| archive-date=February 13, 2020| url-status=dead}}</ref>

According to the township's website, Vernon Township is nicknamed the "Golden Link" due to its location between the county seat ([[Meadville, Pennsylvania|Meadville]]) and the largest natural lake in the state ([[Conneaut Lake]]), as well as being the self-described business center of Crawford County.<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.vernontwp-pa.gov/online/index.php|title = Welcome to Vernon Township|access-date = November 19, 2014|website = Vernon Township, Pennsylvania official website}}</ref>

==Geography==
The township is southwest of the geographic center of Crawford County and is bordered to the east by Meadville, the [[county seat]]. [[French Creek (Allegheny River)|French Creek]], a southward-flowing tributary of the [[Allegheny River]], forms most of the boundary with Meadville, as well as the eastern boundary of the township north and south of Meadville. The township includes the unincorporated communities of [[Fredericksburg, Crawford County, Pennsylvania|Fredericksburg]] and [[Kerrtown, Pennsylvania|Kerrtown]], both in the east along the Meadville border.

[[Interstate 79#Pennsylvania|Interstate 79]] crosses the township, with access from Exit 147 ([[U.S. Route 6 in Pennsylvania|U.S. Route 6]] and [[U.S. Route 322|322]]). From this exit it is {{Convert|40|mi}} north to [[Erie, Pennsylvania|Erie]] and {{convert|88|mi}} south to [[Pittsburgh]]. US 6 and 322 lead northeast into Meadville and west {{convert|7|mi|0}} to [[Conneaut Lake, Pennsylvania|Conneaut Lake]].
 
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the township has a total area of {{convert|76.6|sqkm|order=flip}}, of which {{convert|0.02|sqkm|order=flip|2}}, or 0.03%, is water.<ref name="Census 2010"/>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|align=left
|2000= 5499
|2010= 5630
|2020= 5309
|estyear=2023
|estimate=5234
|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2020-2023"/>
|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, 2016}}</ref>
}}
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=January 31, 2008 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref> of 2000, there were 5,499 people, 2,395 households, and 1,599 families residing in the township.  The population density was {{convert|186.1|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.  There were 2,599 housing units at an average density of {{convert|87.9|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.  The racial makeup of the township was 97.45% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 1.00% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.29% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.45% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.02% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.18% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.60% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 0.56% of the population.

There were 2,395 households, out of which 25.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.0% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 8.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.2% were non-families. 28.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.  The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.80.

In the township the population was spread out, with 20.8% under the age of 18, 6.1% from 18 to 24, 27.0% from 25 to 44, 28.0% from 45 to 64, and 18.1% who were 65 years of age or older.  The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.5 males.  For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.1 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $38,264, and the median income for a family was $46,420. Males had a median income of $36,272 versus $22,095 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the township was $21,808.  About 3.7% of families and 6.1% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 7.9% of those under age 18 and 7.2% of those age 65 or over.

== Government ==
The Township has an elected Board of Supervisors consisting of five elected Supervisors and a professional management staff that handles the day to day operations of the Township consisting of a township manager, currently Robert Horvat, and a secretary/treasurer Amie Steadman, along with other administrative staff. Township government agencies include a road department, planning board and zoning office, water authority, sanitation authority.  Police services are contracted with the City of Meadville to handle all calls for law enforcement. As of October 2024, the residents of the township are represented in the state legislature by State Senator Michele Brooks and State Representative Brad Roae.<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.vernontwp-pa.gov/online/index.php?option=com_content&view=section&layout=blog&id=5&Itemid=53|title = Township Offices|access-date = November 19, 2014|website = Vernon Township, Pennsylvania official website}}</ref>

==References==
<references />

==External links==
{{commons category}}
*[http://www.vernontwp-pa.gov Vernon Township official website]

{{Crawford County, Pennsylvania}}
{{coord|41|36|00|N|80|15|59|W|type:city_region:US-PA_source:GNIS-enwiki|display=title}}

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[[Category:Townships in Crawford County, Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Townships in Pennsylvania]]