Vernon, Indiana

Vernon, Indiana
Town

Jennings County courthouse in Vernon

Location of Vernon in the state of Indiana
Coordinates: 38°59′6″N 85°36′36″W / 38.98500°N 85.61000°W / 38.98500; -85.61000Coordinates: 38°59′6″N 85°36′36″W / 38.98500°N 85.61000°W / 38.98500; -85.61000[1]
Country United States
State Indiana
County Jennings
Township Vernon
Area[2]
 • Total 0.24 sq mi (0.62 km2)
 • Land 0.24 sq mi (0.62 km2)
 • Water 0 sq mi (0 km2)
Elevation 663 ft (202 m)
Population (2010)[3]
 • Total 318
 • Estimate (2012[4]) 314
 • Density 1,325.0/sq mi (511.6/km2)
Time zone Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
 • Summer (DST) EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP code 47282
Area code(s) 812
FIPS code 18-78902[5]
GNIS feature ID 0445255[6]
Website www.vernonindiana.org

Vernon is a town in Vernon Township, Jennings County, Indiana, United States. It is the county seat of Jennings County.[7] With a population of 318 in the 2010 census, it is the smallest town with that designation in the state of Indiana. It is nearly surrounded by the Muscatatuck River. Vernon has the only elected mayor of a town in the state of Indiana and the only elected town marshal. As of 2010, Dan Wright is Mayor and Britt Burgmeier is the Marshal.

The Vernon Historic District is on the National Register of Historic Places and is the host of many firsts in the state.

It was also the home of Indiana's fourth state park, now called Muscatatuck County Park.

History

Vernon was named after Mount Vernon.[8] The Vernon post office was established in 1817.[9]

Geography

According to the 2010 census, Vernon has a total area of 0.24 square miles (0.62 km2), all land.[2]

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1850690—
1860630−8.7%
18706736.8%
1880616−8.5%
1890613−0.5%
1900557−9.1%
1910453−18.7%
1920423−6.6%
1930410−3.1%
19404130.7%
195048016.2%
1960461−4.0%
1970440−4.6%
1980329−25.2%
199037012.5%
2000330−10.8%
2010318−3.6%
Est. 2015311[10]−2.2%
U.S. Decennial Census[11]

2010 census

As of the census[3] of 2010, there were 318 people, 134 households, and 84 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,325.0 inhabitants per square mile (511.6/km2). There were 167 housing units at an average density of 695.8 per square mile (268.6/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 97.5% White, 0.3% African American, 0.3% Asian, 0.3% from other races, and 1.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.6% of the population.

There were 134 households of which 35.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.3% were married couples living together, 12.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.7% had a male householder with no wife present, and 37.3% were non-families. 32.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.92.

The median age in the town was 39.3 years. 26.4% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.2% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 25.5% were from 25 to 44; 27% were from 45 to 64; and 13.8% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 48.1% male and 51.9% female.

2000 census

As of the census[5] of 2000, there were 330 people, 117 households, and 80 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,383.2 people per square mile (530.9/km²). There were 139 housing units at an average density of 582.6 per square mile (223.6/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.48% White, 0.91% African American, 0.30% Native American and 0.30% Asian.

There were 117 households out of which 32.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.6% were married couples living together, 15.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.6% were non-families. 27.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.83.

In the town the population was spread out with 20.9% under the age of 18, 11.5% from 18 to 24, 33.6% from 25 to 44, 19.7% from 45 to 64, and 14.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 124.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 123.1 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $29,750, and the median income for a family was $36,875. Males had a median income of $28,333 versus $22,143 for females. The per capita income for the town was $17,367. About 5.2% of families and 9.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.1% of those under age 18 and 4.3% of those age 65 or over.

Notable people

General Robert S. Foster, officer in the Civil War; Lincoln Dixon, a member of the U.S. Congress; Sarah T. Bolton, pioneer poet; Shirley Dare, magazine writer; John C. New, U.S. Consul General to Great Britain and publisher of the Indianapolis Journal; Ovid Butler, founder of Butler University; Horatio C Newcomb, Mayor of Indianapolis; Phyliss Jackson, author; William Forsyth and Theodore Steele, artists.

Famous people who visited and lived in Vernon include: Alexander Campbell, founder of the Christian Church and Bethany College; Henry Ward Beecher came to Vernon early in the Civil War and made a plea for Lincoln and the Union at the Courthouse; and Lord Flanigan, English nobleman, was at one time a citizen of Vernon. Richard Nixon spoke in front of the courthouse in Vernon on June 24, 1971 for the dedication of a plaque commemorating the birthplace of his mother, Hannah Milhous Nixon.

Literature

In Jessamyn West's book, "The Friendly Persuasion", the Birdwell family lives near Vernon.

References

  1. ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  2. 1 2 "G001 - Geographic Identifiers - 2010 Census Summary File 1". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2015-07-25.
  3. 1 2 "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2012-12-11.
  4. ↑ "Population Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 17, 2013. Retrieved 2013-06-25.
  5. 1 2 "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on September 11, 2013. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  6. ↑ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  7. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  8. ↑ Baker, Ronald L. (October 1995). From Needmore to Prosperity: Hoosier Place Names in Folklore and History. Indiana University Press. p. 334. ISBN 978-0-253-32866-3. ...named for Mount Vernon, the home of George Washington.
  9. ↑ "Jennings County". Jim Forte Postal History. Retrieved 9 November 2014.
  10. ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2015". Retrieved July 2, 2016.
  11. ↑ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Archived from the original on May 11, 2015. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
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