Vernon is a city in Washington County, Florida. The population was 732 at the 2020 census, up from 687 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Panama City—Panama City Beach, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area.
History
thumb|left|Vernon Family Health Center
The pioneer city was the site of a major Native American settlement before colonization. In the 1820s, during the Florida Territory era, Vernon started off as a colonial settlement called "Roche's Bluff" after one of the earliest settler's surname, Stephen J. Roche, who built and owned a trading post along Holmes Creek. The community was renamed "Vernon" in 1851. It was renamed for George Washington's Virginia home, Mount Vernon, playing off the county's name being Washington County. Vernon held the county seat from 1851 until 1927, when the seat was moved to Chipley.
Vernon gained infamy in the late 1950s and early 1960s due to the improbably high percentage of residents who made insurance claims for lost limbs, leading to an investigation of whether residents of the city were intentionally dismembering themselves for the insurance money. These insurance claims from Vernon, with a population of 500 to 800, accounted for as many as 2/3 of claims nationally, but there was no way of proving that any particular amputation was deliberate. This led to Vernon being referred to as "nub city" during this period. In 1980, Errol Morris attempted to make a documentary about this phenomenon, but after being threatened by city residents and physically attacked by one, he changed the focus of the film, resulting in the 1981 documentary film Vernon, Florida.
Geography
Florida State Road 79 is the main route through the city, and leads north to Bonifay along Interstate 10 and southwest to Ebro. Another more local road, Florida State Road 277, begins in the city and leads northeast to Chipley, the Washington County seat.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all land.
Climate
The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild winters. According to the Köppen climate classification, the City of Vernon has a humid subtropical climate zone (Cfa).
Demographics
2010 and 2020 census
{| class="wikitable"
|+Vernon racial composition<br> (Hispanics excluded from racial categories)<br> (NH = Non-Hispanic)<br>
!Race
!Pop 2010
!Pop 2020
!% 2010
!% 2020
|-
|White (NH)
|524
|523
|76.27%
|71.45%
|-
|Black or African American (NH)
|96
|101
|13.97%
|13.80%
|-
|Native American or Alaska Native (NH)
|24
|22
|3.49%
|3.01%
|-
|Asian (NH)
|2
|3
|0.29%
|0.41%
|-
|Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian (NH)
|1
|1
|0.15%
|0.14%
|-
|Some other race (NH)
|1
|7
|0.15%
|0.96%
|-
|Two or more races/Multiracial (NH)
|12
|46
|1.75%
|6.28%
|-
|Hispanic or Latino (any race)
|27
|29
|3.93%
|3.96%
|-
|Total
|687
|732
|
|
|-
|}
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 732 people, 288 households, and 163 families residing in the city.
As of the 2010 United States census, there were 687 people, 462 households, and 306 families residing in the city.
2000 census
As of the census The district includes the entire county.
- Vernon Elementary School
- Vernon Middle School
- Vernon High School
References
External links
- Official Website for the City of Vernon
- Historical Society - City of Vernon, Florida
- Washington County