Vernon County, Missouri

Vernon County, Missouri
Location in the state of Missouri
Missouri's location in the U.S.
Founded	1855
Named for	Colonel Miles Vernon, state senator, and veteran of the Battle of New Orleans
Seat	Nevada
Largest city	Nevada
Area  - Total  - Land  - Water	837.04 sq mi (2,168 km²) 833.95 sq mi (2,160 km²) 3.09 sq mi (8 km²), 0.37%
Population  - (2010)  - Density	21,159 24/sq mi (9/km²)
Time zone	Central: UTC-6/-5

Vernon County is a county located in the U.S. state of Missouri. At the 2010 census, the population was 21,159, representing a 3.4% increase over the 2000 census population of 20,454. Its county seat is Nevada. The county was organized on February 27, 1855 and was named for Col. Miles Vernon (1786–1867), a state senator and veteran of the Battle of New Orleans. Vernon County suffered considerable damage during the American Civil War, and the court house was burned by Union troops on May 23, 1863, along with the entire town of Nevada. The present court house dates to 1908.

Vernon County was one of four which were completely depopulated by Union General Thomas Ewing's notorious General Order No. 11 (1863). Most would not be allowed to return home until after the war ended in 1865.

The Texas political figure Orville Bullington was born in Indian Springs in Vernon County before his family moved to Parker County, Texas.

Geography

According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 837.04 square miles (2,167.9 km²), of which 833.95 square miles (2,159.9 km²) (or 99.63%) is land and 3.09 square miles (8.0 km²) (or 0.37%) is water.

Adjacent counties

• Bates County (north)
• St. Clair County (northeast)
• Cedar County (east)
• Barton County (south)
• Crawford County, Kansas (southwest)
• Bourbon County, Kansas (west)
• Linn County, Kansas (northwest)

Major highways

• U.S. Route 54
• U.S. Route 71
• Route 43

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 20,454 people, 7,966 households, and 5,432 families residing in the county. The population density was 24 people per square mile (9/km²). There were 8,872 housing units at an average density of 11 per square mile (4/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 96.99% White, 0.61% Black or African American, 0.79% Native American, 0.31% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.31% from other races, and 0.95% from two or more races. 0.84% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 7,966 households out of which 32.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.30% were married couples living together, 9.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.80% were non-families. 28.10% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.00% 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 2.97.

In the county the population was spread out with 26.60% under the age of 18, 9.20% from 18 to 24, 25.40% from 25 to 44, 22.50% from 45 to 64, and 16.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 93.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $30,021, and the median income for a family was $37,714. Males had a median income of $28,182 versus $19,026 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,047. About 10.10% of families and 14.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.30% of those under age 18 and 13.30% of those age 65 or over.

Cities and towns

Bronaugh Deerfield Harwood

Horton Metz Milo

Moundville Nevada Richards

Schell City Sheldon Stotesbury

Walker

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Vernon County, Missouri

External links

• Digitized 1930 Plat Book of Vernon County from University of Missouri Division of Special Collections, Archives, and Rare Books