Vernon, Connecticut facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Vernon, Connecticut
Town
Town of Vernon
The Tower on Fox Hill in Henry Park
Flag Seal
Motto(s):  The Crossroads for Opportunity
Tolland County and Connecticut  Capitol Planning Region and Connecticut
Country	United States
U.S. state	Connecticut
County	Tolland
Region	Capitol Region
Incorporated	1808
Government
• Type	Mayor-council
Area
• Total	18.1 sq mi (46.9 km2)
• Land	17.7 sq mi (45.8 km2)
• Water	0.4 sq mi (1.0 km2)
Elevation	390 ft (119 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	30,215
• Density	1,709/sq mi (659.7/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (EST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP Code	06066
Area code(s)	860/959
FIPS code	09-78250
GNIS feature ID	0213520
Major highways
Website	www.vernon-ct.gov

Vernon is a busy town in Tolland County, Connecticut, in the United States. It's part of the Capitol Planning Region. In 2020, about 30,215 people lived here. Vernon also includes smaller areas like Talcottville and Dobsonville. It used to have a city called Rockville within its borders.

History of Vernon

Vernon became an official town in October 1808. It was created from a part of Bolton. The town was named after Mount Vernon, the home of George Washington. The area known as Rockville was once its own city, formed in 1889. It later joined with Vernon in 1965.

Geography and Land Area

Vernon covers about 18.1 square miles (46.9 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 17.7 square miles (45.8 square kilometers), is land. The rest, about 0.3 square miles (1.0 square kilometer), is water.

Population Changes Over Time

In 2000, Vernon had 28,063 people living there. The population was made up of different groups. About 90% were White, nearly 4% were African American, and about 2.6% were Asian. People of Hispanic or Latino background made up about 3.6% of the population.

The average age of people in Vernon in 2000 was 38 years old. About 22% of the population was under 18 years old.

Exploring Rockville's Historic District

Most of Rockville is part of the Rockville Historic District. This area was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1984. It includes 842 buildings and covers over 550 acres. You can see different styles of old buildings here, like Greek Revival and Victorian. About 7,474 people live in this historic part of Vernon.

Important Buildings in Rockville

Some interesting buildings in Rockville include:

• St. Bernard Church
• The Memorial Building, which holds the New England Civil War Museum and Vernon's town offices.
• Old Rockville High School and East School
• Saxony Mill
• Florence Mill
• The Tower on Fox Hill

Schools in Vernon

Vernon has several schools for students of all ages.

Elementary Schools

• Lake Street School
• Maple Street School
• Northeast School
• Center Road School
• Skinner Road School

Middle School

• Vernon Center Middle School

High School

• Rockville High School

Economy and Top Employers

Many people work in Vernon. Here are some of the biggest employers in the town as of 2023:

Emergency Services in Vernon

Vernon has its own fire department, called the Town of Vernon Fire Department (TVFD). It was created in 1980 when two smaller fire departments joined together. The TVFD is made up entirely of volunteers. They work from five fire stations and a Public Safety Building. This building also handles emergency medical services (EMS) and manages town emergencies.

The TVFD has five engine companies, a heavy rescue truck, a squad truck, and two ladder trucks. They also have an EMS team that provides basic life support ambulance services.

Fun Places to Visit

Vernon has many interesting places to explore:

• Arts Center East
• Belding Wildlife Property
• Gene Pitney Exhibit in Town Hall
• New England Civil War Museum
• Rails to Trails
• Rockville Community Alliance
• Rockville Farmers Market
• Rockville Public Library
• Talcottville Historic District
• Talcottville Ravine
• Valley Falls Park
• Vernon Historical Society
• Victorian Homes
• Henry Park/Fox Hill Tower

Famous People from Vernon

Many notable people have connections to Vernon:

• Jahine Arnold (born 1973), a former professional football player.
• Lucille Barkley, an actress from the 1940s and 1950s.
• Kevin Brown, a current member of the Connecticut House of Representatives.
• Joe Courtney, a current U.S. congressman.
• Stephen Farrell (1863–1933), a world champion sprinter.
• George L. Graziadio, Jr., a business and property developer.
• Marie Herbst, a politician and former mayor of Vernon.
• Ross A. Hull, a radio engineer.
• Martin Kellogg, a former president of the University of California.
• Morgan Lewis (1906–1968), a songwriter and Broadway composer.
• Dwight Loomis (1821–1903), a former U.S. Representative.
• Dwight Marcy, a politician and lawyer.
• Kenneth North (1930–2010), a U.S. Air Force brigadier general.
• Bob Pease (1940–2011), an expert in electronic circuit design.
• Jim Penders, the head coach of the Connecticut Huskies baseball team.
• M. William Phelps, an investigative journalist and crime writer.
• Gene Pitney (1941–2006), a famous singer/songwriter and member of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
• Charles Ethan Porter (circa 1847–1923), an African-American still-life painter.
• Bill Romanowski, a former professional football player and four-time Super Bowl champion.
• Christian Sharps, the inventor of the Sharps rifle.
• Eliza Talcott, an American missionary to Japan.
• Katie Taylor, an Irish boxer and former footballer.
• Teephlow, a West African poet and rapper.
• Mark Warner, a former Governor of Virginia and current U.S. Senator.

Images for kids

• 

  The Tower on Fox Hill in Henry Park

• 

  Flag of Vernon

• 

  Seal of Vernon

• 

  Vernon's location within Tolland County and Connecticut

• 

  Vernon's location within the Capitol Planning Region and the state of Connecticut

• 

  Interstate 84 in Connecticut

See also

In Spanish: Vernon (Connecticut) para niños