Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
Below: maps from 1945 on and the census since 1910.
Vernon dates its founding to 1872 (Wikipedia’s history). The census first counted it in 1910.
Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.
The first neighbors to add old photos shape how Vernon’s history is told.
From Wikipedia’s history of Vernon.
The village was established in 1872 by the Illinois Central Railroad. The community is named for one of the railway's auditors, William Vernon.
Vernon is the birthplace of Herbert Ryman, an artist at Walt Disney Studios.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Passages that mention Vernon, cut from the printed page as they were published.
In the second story, and in the attic, are numerous chambers furnished by the Mount Vernon Association with antique articles and revolutionary relics, and mostly named after different states. The one known as “ Lafayette’s room,” at the head of the first landing, was always occupied by the gallant Frenchman whenever he passed a night at Mount Vernon. The only original piece of furniture it now contains is the bureau, but it has been reproduced nearly as it was when he used it. Near this room is the one occupied by Miss
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
a village has grown up, and a post-office for the residents is located on the Mount Vernon grounds. The main portion of the wharf at the river-landing was constructed by Washington, but within a few years additions have been made. Here vessels were laden with great quantities of tobacco, and also with flour ground in the Mount Vernon mill, each barrel bearing the widely-known brand, “ George Washington, Mount Vernon.” The old flour-mill is located about three miles from the
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.Scans and text from the Internet Archive. Books published in 1930 or earlier, which are in the public domain.
Woven from the archive, old maps, post office records, the National Register and the people born here.
On the mapFirst mapped by the U.S. Geological SurveyWeddings on Main Street, storms, parades, school pictures, the old store. If it’s in your family album, it belongs here.
Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of Vernon. Tap a year, or press play to watch the town change.
U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (public domain), via Esri’s collection of the scans. The red ring marks the center of Vernon.
Between 103 and 333 people in every census since 1910.
12 censuses, 1910–2020.
U.S. Census Bureau decennial counts, from the census table on Vernon’s Wikipedia page.
In 1872, according to Wikipedia’s history of the town. Vernon’s post office opened in 1873, and the census of 1910 counted 333 people here.
What the archives can’t tell you, neighbors can.
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). How TownRatings grades history →
From Wikipedia, Wikidata and Wikipedia for famous people, U.S. Geological Survey historical maps, U.S. Census counts (via Wikipedia), the US Post Offices dataset (Blevins & Helbock), the USGS Geographic Names Information System and old county and town histories (Internet Archive). Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.
