Vernon, Alabama
{{short description|City in Alabama, United States}}
{{Use American English|date=September 2024}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name = Vernon
|settlement_type = City
|image_skyline = LamarCoALCourthouse.jpg
|imagesize =
|image_caption = Lamar County courthouse in Vernon
|image_seal =
|image_map = File:Lamar County Alabama Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Vernon Highlighted 0178480.svg
|mapsize = 250px
|map_caption = Location of Vernon in Lamar County, Alabama.
|subdivision_type = Country
|subdivision_type1 = State
|subdivision_type2 = County
|subdivision_name = United States
|subdivision_name1 = Alabama
|subdivision_name2 = Lamar
|government_type =
|leader_title =
|leader_name =
|established_date =
|area_magnitude =
|area_total_sq_mi = 5.89
|area_land_sq_mi = 5.89
|area_water_sq_mi = 0.00
|elevation_ft = 295
|population_as_of = 2020
|population_footnotes =
|population_total = 1921
|population_metro =
|population_density_sq_mi = 325.92
|timezone = Central (CST)
|utc_offset = -6
|coordinates = {{coord|33|45|23|N|88|6|41|W|region:US-AL|display=inline}}
|timezone_DST = CDT
|utc_offset_DST = -5
|postal_code_type = ZIP code
|postal_code = 35592
|area_code = 205, 659
|blank_name = FIPS code
|blank_info = 01-78480
|blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
|blank1_info = 0153839
|footnotes =
|website =
|pop_est_as_of =
|pop_est_footnotes =
|population_est =
|unit_pref = Imperial
|area_total_km2 = 15.26
|area_land_km2 = 15.26
|area_water_km2 = 0.00
|population_density_km2 = 125.85
}}
Vernon is a city in Lamar County, Alabama, United States. The city is the county seat of Lamar County, and previously served as the seat of its two predecessors, Jones County (not to be confused with Covington County), which briefly existed in 1867, and for Sanford County from 1868 until it was renamed Lamar in 1877. It incorporated in 1870.{{Cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=REtEXQNWq6MC&dq=%22vernon%22&pg=PA22 |title = Historical Gazetteer of the United States|isbn = 1135948593|last1 = Hellmann|first1 = Paul T.|date = February 14, 2006}} At the 2010 census the population was 2,000, down from 2,143 in 2000. It is the largest city in Lamar County as of 2010, and previously held the distinction in 1880 and from 1960 to 1990, falling to 2nd place in 2000 behind Sulligent, but since reclaiming the title.U.S. Census records for Millport, Sulligent and Vernon, 1880-2010 (See historic population data boxes)
Geography
Vernon is located at {{coord|33|45|23|N|88|6|41|W|type:city}} (33.756414, -88.111409).{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=April 23, 2011|date=February 12, 2011|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of {{convert|5.9|sqmi|km2}}, all land.
=Climate=
{{Weather box
| single line = Y
| location = Vernon, Alabama, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1956–present
|Jan record high F = 82
|Feb record high F = 85
|Mar record high F = 89
|Apr record high F = 94
|May record high F = 100
|Jun record high F = 104
|Jul record high F = 105
|Aug record high F = 109
|Sep record high F = 104
|Oct record high F = 102
|Nov record high F = 89
|Dec record high F = 81
|Jan avg record high F = 71.6
|Feb avg record high F = 75.9
|Mar avg record high F = 82.0
|Apr avg record high F = 85.6
|May avg record high F = 91.0
|Jun avg record high F = 94.9
|Jul avg record high F = 97.8
|Aug avg record high F = 97.7
|Sep avg record high F = 94.8
|Oct avg record high F = 88.1
|Nov avg record high F = 79.6
|Dec avg record high F = 72.8
|year avg record high F = 99.2
| Jan high F =55.0
| Feb high F =59.4
| Mar high F =68.0
| Apr high F =75.9
| May high F =82.7
| Jun high F =89.0
| Jul high F =91.8
| Aug high F =91.8
| Sep high F =86.7
| Oct high F =77.1
| Nov high F =65.6
| Dec high F =57.1
| Jan mean F =44.2
| Feb mean F =48.1
| Mar mean F =55.8
| Apr mean F =62.9
| May mean F =71.1
| Jun mean F =78.2
| Jul mean F =81.2
| Aug mean F =80.9
| Sep mean F =75.1
| Oct mean F =64.2
| Nov mean F =53.8
| Dec mean F =46.6
| Jan low F =33.4
| Feb low F =36.9
| Mar low F =43.7
| Apr low F =49.9
| May low F =59.5
| Jun low F =67.5
| Jul low F =70.6
| Aug low F =69.9
| Sep low F =63.4
| Oct low F =51.2
| Nov low F =42.0
| Dec low F =36.0
|Jan avg record low F = 14.2
|Feb avg record low F = 18.2
|Mar avg record low F = 23.8
|Apr avg record low F = 32.4
|May avg record low F = 42.8
|Jun avg record low F = 55.5
|Jul avg record low F = 62.0
|Aug avg record low F = 60.2
|Sep avg record low F = 48.2
|Oct avg record low F = 32.8
|Nov avg record low F = 23.2
|Dec avg record low F = 19.1
|year avg record low F = 11.9
|Jan record low F = -11
|Feb record low F = 1
|Mar record low F = 6
|Apr record low F = 20
|May record low F = 30
|Jun record low F = 38
|Jul record low F = 49
|Aug record low F = 46
|Sep record low F = 33
|Oct record low F = 21
|Nov record low F = 9
|Dec record low F = -3
| precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation inch =5.26
| Feb precipitation inch =4.94
| Mar precipitation inch =5.56
| Apr precipitation inch =5.94
| May precipitation inch =5.39
| Jun precipitation inch =4.72
| Jul precipitation inch =5.35
| Aug precipitation inch =3.49
| Sep precipitation inch =3.36
| Oct precipitation inch =3.82
| Nov precipitation inch =4.61
| Dec precipitation inch =6.01
|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
|Jan precipitation days = 10.3
|Feb precipitation days = 7.8
|Mar precipitation days = 8.8
|Apr precipitation days = 6.6
|May precipitation days = 7.4
|Jun precipitation days = 8.9
|Jul precipitation days = 8.6
|Aug precipitation days = 7.0
|Sep precipitation days = 5.2
|Oct precipitation days = 5.7
|Nov precipitation days = 7.7
|Dec precipitation days = 8.9
| Jan snow inch =0.3
| Feb snow inch =0.0
| Mar snow inch =0.2
| 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
|unit snow days = 0.1 in
|Jan snow days = 0.2
|Feb snow days = 0.0
|Mar snow days = 0.0
|Apr snow days = 0.0
|May snow days = 0.0
|Jun snow days = 0.0
|Jul snow days = 0.0
|Aug snow days = 0.0
|Sep snow days = 0.0
|Oct snow days = 0.0
|Nov snow days = 0.0
|Dec snow days = 0.0
{{cite web
|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00018517&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|title = U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access – Station: Vernon, AL
|access-date = March 4, 2023
}}
|source 2 = National Weather Service
{{cite web
|url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/climate?wfo=bmx
|publisher = National Weather Service
|title = NOAA Online Weather Data – NWS Birmingham
|access-date = March 4, 2023
}}
}}
History
The city of Vernon was originally known as Swayne Courthouse; it was named for the head of the Freedman's Bureau, General Wager Swayne, who served in the Chattahoochee District of the state. Many of the records of this time were lost, when the courthouse burned in 1866.{{cite web |last1=FamilySearch |title=Lamar County Genealogy |url=https://www.familysearch.org/wiki/en/Lamar_County,_Alabama_Genealogy |website=FamilySearch |publisher=FamilySearch |access-date=June 9, 2020}} The name of the town was changed in 1868 to Vernon after Edmund Vernon.{{cite web |last1=Alabama Department of Archives |title=Alabama Counties: Lamar County |url=https://archives.alabama.gov/counties/lamar.html#:~:text=In%201866%2C%20the%20community%20known,an%20immigrant%20from%20Vernon%2C%20England. |website=Alabama Department of Archives and History |access-date=June 9, 2020}}
Both before and after the Civil war, the economy of Vernon was based on timber, agriculture, and milling. After the Civil War, the plantations were sold off to timber interests, which eliminated many jobs. Since the end of Reconstruction, Vernon has experienced waves of manufacturing with textile factories being introduced in the early 20th century. All of these textile factories no longer exist.{{cite web |last1=Wilson |first1=Claire M. |title=Vernon |url=http://www.encyclopediaofalabama.org/article/h-2503 |website=Encyclopedia of Alabama |publisher=Encyclopedia of Alabama |access-date=June 9, 2020}} Some manufacturers remain, such as [https://www.marathonequipment.com/contact Marathon], an international manufacturer of trash compactors.{{cite web |last1=Marathon |title=Marathon |url=https://www.marathonequipment.com/contact |access-date=June 9, 2020}}
Demographics
{{US Census population
|1880= 208
|1890= 192
|1900= 291
|1910= 423
|1920= 440
|1930= 519
|1940= 759
|1950= 791
|1960= 1492
|1970= 2190
|1980= 2609
|1990= 2247
|2000= 2143
|2010= 2000
|2020= 1921
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=U.S. Decennial Census|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 6, 2013}}
2013 Estimate{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/popest/data/cities/totals/2013/SUB-EST2013-3.html|title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2013|access-date=June 3, 2014}}
}}
=2000 census=
At the 2000 census there were 2,143 people in 953 households, including 630 families, in the city. The population density was {{convert|362.2|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 1,070 housing units at an average density of {{convert|180.9|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 86.19% White, 12.65% Black or African American, 0.23% Native American, 0.05% Asian, and 0.89% from two or more races. 0.65% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=January 31, 2008 |title=U.S. Census website }}
Of the 953 households 31.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.5% were married couples living together, 18.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.8% were non-families. 32.3% of households were one person and 15.6% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.19 and the average family size was 2.75.
The age distribution was 24.1% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 26.9% from 25 to 44, 23.0% from 45 to 64, and 17.5% 65 or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 83.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.2 males.
The median household income was $27,344 and the median family income was $36,618. Males had a median income of $31,550 versus $19,470 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,784. About 10.7% of families and 15.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.2% of those under age 18 and 21.6% of those age 65 or over.
=2010 census=
At the 2010 census there were 2,000 people in 890 households, including 569 families, in the city. The population density was {{convert|339|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 1,033 housing units at an average density of {{convert|175.1|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 79.4% White, 18.1% Black or African American, 0.3% Native American, 0.0% Asian, and 1.2% from two or more races. 1.7% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=July 30, 2015 |title=U.S. Census website }}
Of the 890 households 30.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.1% were married couples living together, 17.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.1% were non-families. 33.4% of households were one person and 14.2% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.25 and the average family size was 2.86.
The age distribution was 26.3% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 23.6% from 25 to 44, 26.3% from 45 to 64, and 15.8% 65 or older. The median age was 38.1 years. For every 100 females, there were 81.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.7 males.
The median household income was $34,236 and the median family income was $43,950. Males had a median income of $41,339 versus $21,331 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,814. About 15.9% of families and 19.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.2% of those under age 18 and 10.6% of those age 65 or over.
=2020 census=
| class="wikitable"
|+Vernon racial composition{{Cite web|title=Explore Census Data|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=1600000US0178480&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|access-date=December 18, 2021|website=data.census.gov}} !Race !Num. !Perc. |
| White (non-Hispanic)
|1,503 |78.24% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic)
|294 |15.3% |
| Native American
|3 |0.16% |
| Other/Mixed
|94 |4.89% |
| Hispanic or Latino
|27 |1.41% |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 1,921 people, 923 households, and 535 families residing in the city.
Notable people
- Reuben Houston "Rube" Burrow, the most wanted outlaw of the late 1880s, he committed a series of train robberies along with his younger brother James Buchanan "Jim" Burrow.
- Dixie McArthur, former Major League Baseball pitcher
- Terry Moore, born in Vernon, major league baseball player{{cite book |editor= Reichler, Joseph L. |title= The Baseball Encyclopedia |orig-year= 1969 |edition= 4th |year= 1979 |publisher= Macmillan Publishing |location= New York |isbn= 0-02-578970-8 |url-access= registration |url= https://archive.org/details/baseballencyclop00reic }}
- Guy Morton, born in Vernon, major league baseball player[https://www.baseball-reference.com/m/mortogu01.shtml Baseball-Reference.com]. Retrieved October 22, 2006.
- Dan Penn, songwriter, born in Vernon.
- William Hall Smith, president of Mississippi State University from 1916 to 1920.
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Coord|display=title|33.756414|-88.111409}}
{{Lamar County, Alabama}}
{{Alabama county seats}}
{{authority control}}