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PARISH PLANNING BASELINE |
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Vernon Parish
Vernon is a rural parish on Louisiana's western border with Texas. The engines of the parish economy are the timber industry and support for the U.S. Army’s Fort Polk, a training center for light infantry and special-forces units. Part of the parish in the New Llano area was settled as an experimental Socialist colony at the turn of the twentieth century. Timbering still contributes steadily to the prosperity of Vernon, while hunting and fishing tourism increases each year. Leesville's charming downtown features turn of the century homes and businesses.
After surviving a disaster such as a hurricane, people often reevaluate what is important in their lives (or their communities). Vernon Parish residents were asked what they most valued about their community, and they responded:
“We treasure our heritage and history. The natural resources, especially fishing and wildlife, are a community treasure. We want to preserve Fort Polk and the timber industry.”
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- Vernon Parish has 1,328 sq. miles in land area and a population density of 37.3 per square mile. In the last three decades of the 1900s, its population declined by 2.3%.
- Fort Polk was established in 1941 and named in honor of the Right Reverend Leonidas Polk, the first Episcopal Bishop of the Diocese of Louisiana and a Confederate general. It occupies a portion of 198,000 acres of federal land in Vernon Parish and serves over 9,000 active duty and over 26,000 Reservists.
- The average household size is 2.69 persons compared to an average family size of 3.15 persons.
- In 2004 retail trade was the largest of 20 major sectors. It had an average wage per job of $17,141. Per capita income grew by 23.3% between 1993 and 2003
- The parish seat is Leesville.
- Larger communities are Anacoco, Hornbeck, Leesville, New Llano, Rosepine and Simpson.
- The parish was named either for the home of U.S. President George Washington, Mount Vernon or for a champion race horse named, Vernon. (There is local dispute.) Leesville is named for Confederate General Robert E. Lee.
- Pre-storm, the population was 50,000.
- Significant economic interests are support and employment for Army Base Fort Polk, Public Administration (local government and schools), timber, retail, light manufacturing, hunting and fishing tourism.
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