Vernon, Iowa Explained
| Official Name: | Vernon, Iowa |
| Pushpin Map: | Iowa |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | United States |
| Subdivision Type1: | State |
| Subdivision Name1: | Iowa |
| Subdivision Type2: | County |
| Subdivision Name2: | Van Buren |
| Timezone: | Central (CST) |
| Utc Offset: | -6 |
| Timezone Dst: | CDT |
| Utc Offset Dst: | -5 |
| Elevation Ft: | 564 |
| Coordinates: | 40.7225°N -91.8553°W |
| Blank Name: | GNIS feature ID |
| Blank Info: | 462552 |
Vernon is an unincorporated community in Van Buren County, in the U.S. state of Iowa.
Geography
The community is across the Des Moines River from Bentonsport.[1] The community is in sections 1 and 2 of Henry Township, south of the Des Moines River.[2]
History
Van Buren was platted on June 12, 1837, by Henry Smith, John Smith, S.C. Reed, and Isaac Reed. The community was originally known as South Bentonsport, as it lay on the south side of the Des Moines River, across from Bentonsport. According to The Annals of Iowa, Vernon was probably named in honor of Mount Vernon, the home of George Washington.[2]
During the early years, a ferry provided connection between Vernon and Bentonsport over the Des Moines.
A grist mill was built in Vernon in 1845. This mill was later used as a wool mill and then a flour mill. A pottery opened in Vernon in 1848. The Methodist Episcopal Church of Vernon opened in 1856.[3]
The Vernon post office opened in 1853.[4] By the 1870s, a hotel and blacksmith shop were also located in Vernon.[3] Vernon School District #5 was formed.[2]
The population of Vernon was 386 in 1902.[5] The Vernon post office closed in 1903.[4]
Vernon's population was 78 in 1925.[6]
See also
Winchester, Iowa
Notes and References
- Web site: Van Buren County Welcome Center . 2021-06-18 . villagesofvanburen.com . June 24, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210624200544/https://villagesofvanburen.com/directory.html?item=1501 . live .
- Web site: Fitzpatrick . T.J. . July 1931 . The Place-Names of Van Buren County, Iowa . 2024-01-09 . 102-103 . University of Iowa . January 11, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240111175634/https://pubs.lib.uiowa.edu/annals-of-iowa/article/13344/galley/121804/view/ . live .
- Book: Western Historical Co . The History of Van Buren County, Iowa, containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, &c, a biographical directory of citizens, war record of its volunteers in the late rebellion, general and local statistics... history of the Northwest, history of Iowa... &c... . 1878 . Chicago, Western Historical Co. . 491–492 . en.
- Web site: Post Offices . 2022-11-26 . www.postalhistory.com . November 26, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221126182333/https://www.postalhistory.com/postoffices.asp?task=display&searchtext=Vernon&state=IA&county=&searchtype=word . live .
- Book: Cram's Modern Atlas: The New Unrivaled New Census Edition . 1902 . J. R. Gray & Company . 203–207 . en . June 18, 2021 . December 29, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231229210727/https://books.google.com/books?id=9AzrWecxN1wC . live .
- Book: Premier Atlas of the World: Containing Maps of All Countries of the World, with the Most Recent Boundary Decisions, and Maps of All the States,territories, and Possessions of the United States with Population Figures from the Latest Official Census Reports, Also Data of Interest Concerning International and Domestic Political Questions . 1925 . Rand McNally & Company . 190 . en . June 18, 2021 . December 29, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231229220633/https://books.google.com/books?id=WqRRAQAAMAAJ . live .
