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Vernon, Connecticut
Vernon
The Tower on Fox Hill in Henry Park
The Tower on Fox Hill in Henry Park
Flag of Vernon, Connecticut
Flag
Official seal of Vernon, Connecticut
Seal
Motto(s): 
The Crossroads for Opportunity
Location in Tolland County and the state of Connecticut
Location in Tolland County and the state of Connecticut
Country United States
State Connecticut
County Tolland
Metropolitan area Hartford
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
FIPS code 09-78250
GNIS feature ID 0213520
Major highways I-84.svg
Website www.vernon-ct.gov

Vernon is the most populous town in Tolland County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 30,215 at the 2020 census. Vernon contains the smaller villages of Talcottville and Dobsonville. Vernon contains the former City of Rockville.

History

Vernon was incorporated in October 1808, from Bolton. Vernon was named after George Washington's Mount Vernon estate. Vernon contains the former city of Rockville, incorporated in January 1889. The Town of Vernon and city of Rockville consolidated as a town on July 1, 1965. Vernon also contains the smaller villages of Talcottville and Dobsonville.

The New England Civil War Museum is located here.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 18.1 square miles (47 km2), of which 17.7 square miles (46 km2) is land and 0.3 square miles (0.78 km2) (1.88%) is water.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1810 827
1820 966 16.8%
1830 1,164 20.5%
1840 1,430 22.9%
1850 2,900 102.8%
1860 3,838 32.3%
1870 5,446 41.9%
1880 6,915 27.0%
1890 8,808 27.4%
1900 8,483 −3.7%
1910 9,087 7.1%
1920 8,898 −2.1%
1930 8,703 −2.2%
1940 8,978 3.2%
1950 10,115 12.7%
1960 16,961 67.7%
1970 27,237 60.6%
1980 27,974 2.7%
1990 29,841 6.7%
2000 28,063 −6.0%
2010 29,179 4.0%
2020 30,215 3.6%
U.S. Decennial Census

At the 2000 census, there were 28,063 people, 12,269 households and 7,275 families living in the town. The population density was 1,582.8 per square mile (611.1/km2). There were 12,867 housing units at an average density of 725.7 per square mile (280.2/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 89.95% White, 3.99% African American, 0.24% Native American, 2.65% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 1.22% from other races, and 1.91% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.58% of the population.

There were 12,269 households, out of which 26.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.3% were married couples living together, 10.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.7% were non-families. 33.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.90.

22.1% of the population was under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 32.4% from 25 to 44, 23.9% from 45 to 64, and 13.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 91.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.1 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $47,816, and the median income for a family was $59,599. Males had a median income of $43,620 versus $31,515 for females. The per capita income for the town was $25,150. About 4.1% of families and 5.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.9% of those under age 18 and 6.1% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Elementary schools

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

Middle and secondary schools

  • Vernon Center Middle School

Secondary schools

  • Rockville High School

Notable people

  • Jahine Arnold (born 1973), NFL wide receiver
  • Eliza Talcott, American missionary to Japan and co-founder of Kobe College.
  • Katie Taylor, Irish boxer and former footballer
  • Mark Warner, former Governor of Virginia and current U.S. Senator, was raised in Vernon.
  • Teephlow West African poet and rapper from Ghana currently resides in Vernon.
  • Gene Pitney (1941–2006), internationally known singer/songwriter, member of Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, born in Hartford, raised in Rockville
  • Charles Ethan Porter (c. 1847–1923), an African-American still-life painter, lived in the Rockville neighborhood as a child.
  • Kenneth North (1930-2010), U.S. Air Force brigadier general
  • Bill Romanowski was born in Vernon; he is a former professional American football player and four-time Super Bowl champion.
  • Christian Sharps, inventor of the Sharps rifle, spent the final years of his life farming in Vernon.
  • Lucille Barkley, film actress in the 1940s and 1950s, died in Vernon.
  • Stephen Farrell (1863–1933), world champion sprinter and track coach
  • Jim Penders, head coach of the Connecticut Huskies baseball team, was born in Vernon.
  • Joe Courtney, current U.S. congressman from Connecticut's 2nd congressional district.
  • George L. Graziadio, Jr., business and property developer born in Vernon.
  • Marie Herbst, politician and former mayor of Vernon.
  • Ross A. Hull, radio engineer, lived and died in Vernon.
  • Martin Kellogg, former president of the University of California, was born in Vernon.
  • Dwight Marcy, politician and attorney in Vernon
  • Morgan Lewis (1906–1968), songwriter and Broadway theatre composer
  • Dwight Loomis (1821–1903), U.S. Representative
  • Bob Pease (1940-2011), analog integrated circuit design expert and technical author
  • M. William Phelps, investigative journalist and crime writer, lives in Vernon.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Vernon (Connecticut) para niños

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