Vernon Township dates to 1849, and 3 of its places are on the National Register
More historic than 57% of U.S. towns · #354 of 768 in Illinois. What drives it
Most of Vernon Township was built recently: 1% of its homes predate 1940 and the median home dates from 1986. 3 places in town are on the National Register, among them a historic district with 10 buildings. Below: 1 old photo or paper and maps from 1900 on.
On its age, its old homes and the National Register, Vernon Township is more historic than 57% of U.S. towns, #354 of 768 in Illinois. Its age holds the grade up; its share of homes from before 1940 pulls it down.
B
HistoryA character grade: shown, never part of Vernon Township’s overall grade.
Few Illinois towns list much on the Register (a typical Illinois town has 0.5 per 10,000 residents, the U.S. 2.4), so Vernon Township’s 2.0 sits above most of its state (67% of Illinois towns have fewer) while its 14 historic buildings outnumber those of 78% of U.S. towns.
NoteThe founding year comes from Wikidata alone; no second source gives 1849.
How sure. Graded on any two of the three inputs instead, the letter would range from C+ to A−. The pre-1940 share (±0.4 points) is firm at this size.
Founding year: Wikidata (other dates in Quick answers). Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register: National Park Service, May 2026 list; each listing counted once (boundary changes and added documentation belong to their listing), and a historic district counts its contributing buildings. How TownRatings grades history →
What stands out about Vernon Township’s past
Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.
Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of Vernon Township. Tap a year, or press play to watch the town change.
1900Highwood sheet · 1:62,500
U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (public domain), via Esri’s collection of the scans. The red ring marks the center of Vernon Township.
Timeline
Vernon Township, 1849 to 1900
Woven from the archive, old maps, post office records, the National Register and the people born here.
Wikipedia doesn’t have a history of Vernon Township yet. The photos, dates and memories neighbors add here are how it gets written.
Vernon Township is a township in Lake County, Illinois, USA. As of the 2020 census, its population was 71,377. The name "Vernon Township" comes from George Washington's estate, Mount Vernon.
Vernon Township was established in 1849. Between the 2010 and 2020 censuses its population grew from 67,095 to 71,377 (+6%).
Intro from Wikipedia. Population: U.S. Census Bureau.
By decade
Vernon Township, decade by decade
One decade in the archive so far: the 1850s. Scroll each row; tap a photo for its story.
In 1849, according to Wikidata. Vernon Township’s post office opened in 1836.
How does Vernon Township rank for history?
Vernon Township is more historic than 57% of U.S. towns, #354 of 768 in Illinois. The History grade combines the town’s founding era, the share of homes built before 1940 and its National Register listings. It’s a character grade, so it isn’t part of the overall grade. How it works.
What is on the National Register in Vernon Township?
3 listings: 1 historic district, the Ryerson, Edward L., Area Historic District, with 10 contributing buildings. 14 historic buildings in all.
How old are the homes in Vernon Township?
1% of Vernon Township’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate), against a typical 11% for an Illinois town; the median home was built in 1986.
Founding dates: Wikidata, Wikipedia, the U.S. post office records of Blevins & Helbock (CC0) and the Census. Homes by year built: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register of Historic Places: National Park Service (list of May 22, 2026). Old photos, postcards and papers: Wikimedia Commons, the Library of Congress and other public archives, credited on each item’s page. Maps: U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (via Esri) and Sanborn fire-insurance maps (Library of Congress). History text and census tables: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Places that used to be: USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).
From Wikimedia Commons (1), the National Register of Historic Places (1), U.S. Geological Survey historical maps and the USGS Geographic Names Information System. Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.
