Vernon is the birthplace of the great Grammy Award winner-rock pioneer-singer-songwriter-general all-around legend Roy Orbison (known as "The Big O" to his fans).
Vernon is the county seat of Wilbarger County and found right at the top center of Texas, only a few miles from its border with Oklahoma
Vernon is the birthplace of the great Grammy Award winner-rock pioneer-singer-songwriter-general all-around legend Roy Orbison (known as "The Big O" to his fans).
Vernon is the county seat of Wilbarger County and found right at the top center of Texas, only a few miles from its border with Oklahoma. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the population of Vernon was 11,002, and there are a few thousand properties in the city and its surrounding area. The weather, as you'd expect for Texas, is classified as humid subtropical, with warm, humid summers and generally mild winters. The closest major urban area is Wichita Falls, about 50 miles southeast, with Dallas about 3 times the distance in the same direction.
Vernon is pretty isolated, although places like Wichita Falls and the smaller settlements of Burkburnett, Frederick, and Quanah are within commuting distance. You're going to need a car for most errands, because the WalkScore for the city is only 20 -- unless you travel Forrest Gump-style. Most homes are detached houses, so rental housing is easy to find given the city's generous vacancy rate. There are also plenty of apartments for rent, but studios are rare in these parts; if you're on your own, look for a 1 bedroom apartment for rent. Rental prices are low and easily manageable for most employed tenants.
If you plan to work in the city itself and don't have a car, it's important to find somewhere a nearby location to live. There are 3 neighborhoods in the middle of town, as well as one that wraps around the city and extends way out into the dusty desert. Generally, you'll find more places to live in Vernon by sticking close to the middle.
City Center: This is the eastern portion of the city, where the major routes of 70, 283, and 287 cross. Down Main Street, you'll find plenty of amenities: Waggoner National Bank, the post office, and a couple of restaurants, including Cracker Barrel.
County Rd 126 W / U.S. Route 70: This area marks the southern portion of the city, containing a host of baseball fields -- watch your head (and your windshield) if you live nearby!
College Dr / Garland Johnston Dr: This neighborhood, which runs along the north of the city, is home to Vernon College and Red River Valley Museum. You'll also find North Texas State Hospital here if you get into any scrapes.
Lockett / Fargo: This is the big-boy neighborhood that cuddles all the other ones in its arms and literally stretches for miles outside the city in all directions. There are a few places of note out here, including Santa Rosa Lake to the south and the Wilbarger County Airport to the north.
Life in Vernon is quiet and relatively serene. Beyond the boundaries of town it's pretty dusty, with farmland stretching far and wide. Most people live and work in the area, which makes commuting times much lower than the national average at less than 14 minutes. Less road rage is something to celebrate: there are festivals held throughout the year, with the annual Santa Rosa Roundup rodeo in May and Summer's Last Blast in the middle of August. There are plenty of restaurants in the city too, such as Duncan's Smoke House and Fred's Corner Grille, although Crazy Mike's saloon is one of the only drinking establishments in town. Bus links to nearby towns provide added convenience, and there are plenty of roads cutting through the city, as well -- getting around isn't much of a chore and you're not likely to run into too much traffic.
Awesome neighborhoods, low traffic, and the Big O's homeland. Come to Vernon and join the party.
