Vernon Parish, Louisiana
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Vernon Parish, Louisiana | |
| Map | |
 Location in the state of Louisiana |
|
| Statistics | |
| Formed | 1871 |
|---|---|
| Seat | Leesville |
| Area - Total - Land - Water |
3,474 km² (1,342 mi²) 3,441 km² (1,328 mi²) 34 km² (13 mi²), |
| Population - (2000) - Density |
52,531 15/km² (40/mi²)/km² |
| Website: www.chambervernonparish.com | |
Contents |
Vernon Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The parish seat is Leesville and as of 2000, the population was 52,531.
Vernon Parish is best known for Fort Polk, a large Army base located near Leesville.
It is also the birthplace of veteran Republican Congressman James O. "Jim" McCrery, III. He was born in Leesville in 1949.
The parish trends Republican in competitive elections, but most of the local officials are Democrats.
[edit] History
On March 30, 1871, the Louisiana General Assembly passed an act designating the creation of Vernon Parish, to be named in honor of Mt. Vernon, the home of George Washington, by taking territory from the parishes of Natchitoches, Rapides, and Sabine. Originally the area comprising Vernon was apart of a tract of land that was indispute between the United States and Spain, this land was called the "Neutral Strip." As a result of this dispute the area became a haven for outlaws. Prior to the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, the only persons who came to the area were a few French and Spanish settlers. It was also during this periood that Dr. Burr established the community of Burr Ferry. This community was known as the "Gateway to Louisiana". Also located near this community, there still stands an artillery site (now called the "Confederate Breast Works"), which was manned by the Confederacy to guard against Union movements along the "’Nolan Trace" during the Civil War.
Leesville has been the parish seat of Vernon since the parish was created, but wasn't incorporated until February 15, 1900. The city, although founded by Dr. Edmund E. Smart, was named by Senator R. Smart, his father, in honor of General Robert E. Lee. At the time of Leesville's founding, the site was the home of a plantation owned by Dr. Smart. The house from that plantation may still be found today at the corner of Lula and First street.
In the late 1890's the timber industry, which was the dominant industry in the parish from its creation, began to boom with the arrival of the Kansas City Southern Railway in 1897, which is still in operation today.
In the period after World War I, Vernon became the site of two socialist based communities; the Llano del Rio Cooperative Colony[2] (which became New Llano) established in 1917 and the Christian Commonwealth Colony. These colonies attempted to attract economists and sociologists for the purpose of conducting an experiment in communal membership and the sharing of labor duties. Of the two colonies the Llano del Rio was the largest with over 10,000 people and was also the longest surviving community. Both colonies failed in the 1930's when the depression hit.
In 1941, the United States Army opened Camp Polk, shortly after the 1939-40 maneuvers. Camp Polk quickly surpassed the timber industry as the dominant force in the parish's economy, which became evident in the parish seat of Leesville when its population jumped from 3,500 to 18,000 after the camp opened. The Camp receives its name from Leonidas Polk, the first Episcopal Bishop in Louisiana, known as the "Fighting Bishop of the Confederacy" and served as one of the major training camps during World War II. Today, now called Fort Polk is the 5th largest military installation in the nation, containing approximately 200,000 acres. With the constant movement of soldiers and their dependents in and out of the parish. Vernon experiences a unique blend of culture from numerous states and countries creating a true "melting pot."[3]
[edit] Geography
The parish has a total area of 3,474 km² (1,342 mi²). 3,441 km² (1,328 mi²) of it is land and 34 km² (13 mi²) of it (0.98%) is water.
[edit] Major Highways
[edit] Adjacent parishes
- Sabine Parish (northwest)
- Natchitoches Parish (north)
- Rapides Parish (east)
- Allen Parish (southeast)
- Beauregard Parish (south)
- Newton County, Texas (west)
[edit] Demographics
As of the census² of 2000, there were 52,531 people, 18,260 households, and 13,713 families residing in the parish. The population density was 15/km² (40/mi²). There were 21,030 housing units at an average density of 6/km² (16/mi²). The racial makeup of the parish was 73.70% White, 17.06% Black or African American, 1.46% Native American, 1.58% Asian, 0.30% Pacific Islander, 2.50% from other races, and 3.40% from two or more races. 5.92% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 18,260 households out of which 42.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.20% were married couples living together, 10.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.90% were non-families. 22.00% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.69 and the average family size was 3.15.
In the parish the population was spread out with 29.10% under the age of 18, 14.70% from 18 to 24, 31.40% from 25 to 44, 16.80% from 45 to 64, and 7.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 28 years. For every 100 females there were 109.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 109.70 males.
The median income for a household in the parish was $31,216, and the median income for a family was $34,680. Males had a median income of $26,451 versus $20,417 for females. The per capita income for the parish was $14,036. About 12.20% of families and 15.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.60% of those under age 18 and 14.80% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] Cities and towns
[edit] Notes
- ^ The map may be found at this website, and is the result of the hard work of Pam Rietsch.
- ^ Not to be confused with the Llano del Rio established in Antelope Valley, California in 1914 and abandoned in 1917.
- ^ Information in the History section is a composite of information found on the Center for Cultural Eco-Tourism website and the Greater Vernon Parish Chamber of Commerce Website.
