Vernon, Texas
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Vernon is a city located in Wilbarger County, Texas. As of the 2000 census, Vernon had a total population of 11,660. It is the county seat of Wilbarger County. Template:GR.
Vernon is the birthplace of rock and roll singer/musician Roy Orbison and jazz trombonist Jack Teagarden. It is the hometown of country singer Kaye Adams.
Geography
Image:TXMap-doton-Vernon.PNG Vernon is located at 34°9'4" North, 99°17'26" West (34.151116, -99.290473)Template:GR.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 21.0 km² (8.1 mi²). 21.0 km² (8.1 mi²) of it is land and 0.12% is water.
Major businesses and industries in Vernon include a Tyson Foods bacon processing plant, a Rhodia, Inc. guar processing plant, North Texas State Hospital, which is operated by the Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation (MH-MR), Victory Field Correctional Academy, a juvenile detention facility operated by the Texas Youth Commission (TYC) and a Texas A&M University Agricultural Research and Extension Center.
Vernon College, a two-year junior college, is also located here and also has a campus in Wichita Falls. Some major academic programs offered by Vernon College include cosmetology, nursing and many vocational technical programs.
The Vernon Independent School District serves students in grades pre-kindergarten through 12. The district's school campuses include three elementary schools (grades pre-kindergarten through 5), a middle school (grades 6-8) and a high school (grades 9-12). The district also operates an alternative education program as well as an education program for juveniles of the Adolescent Forensic Program at North Texas State Hospital.
Vernon is located 50 miles northwest of Wichita Falls, Texas and approximate distances of approximately 160 to 180 miles from surrounding metropolitan areas including Amarillo, Lubbock, Dallas-Fort Worth and Oklahoma City. The city is served by four U.S. highways including U.S. 70, 183, 283 and 287. Bus transportation is available to Amarillo and Dallas-Fort Worth. Wilbarger County Airport is located 5 miles north of Vernon and the nearest airport with scheduled flights is Wichita Falls Municipal Airport 50 miles to the east which predominantly offers flights of commuter airlines to Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport and recently added an airline with direct flights to Las Vegas, NV. The nearest international airports from Vernon with major airline connections include Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, Will Rogers World Airport in Oklahoma City and Amarillo International Airport.
Demographics
As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 11,660 people, 4,506 households, and 2,946 families residing in the city. The population density was 555.8/km² (1,439.2/mi²). There were 5,166 housing units at an average density of 246.2/km² (637.6/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 76.33% White, 9.65% African American, 0.69% Native American, 0.71% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 10.72% from other races, and 1.89% from two or more races. 22.39% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 4,506 households out of which 31.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.7% were married couples living together, 11.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.6% were non-families. 31.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 3.07.
In the city the population was spread out with 26.6% under the age of 18, 10.1% from 18 to 24, 25.2% from 25 to 44, 20.9% from 45 to 64, and 17.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 92.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $28,194, and the median income for a family was $36,913. Males had a median income of $25,167 versus $18,971 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,747. 14.1% of the population and 10.2% of families were below the poverty line. 17.2% of those under the age of 18 and 14.6% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.