Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
More historic than 71% of U.S. towns · #411 of 993 in Ohio. What drives it
2 places in town are on the National Register, among them a historic district with 2 buildings. Below: maps from 1907 on and old-book passages.
More historic than 71% of U.S. towns, on its age, its old homes and the National Register.
On its age, its old homes and the National Register, Vernon Township is more historic than 71% of U.S. towns, #411 of 993 in Ohio. All 2 inputs are above most U.S. towns; its National Register listings ranks highest and its share of homes from before 1940 lowest.
Ohio towns list about as much on the Register as the country (a typical Ohio town has 2.9 per 10,000 residents, the U.S. 2.4), so Vernon Township’s 6.6 sits above most of its state (68% of Ohio towns have fewer) while its 2 listings outnumber those of 60% of U.S. towns.
Founding year: our sources. 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 →
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 Township’s history is told.
Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of Vernon Township. 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 Township.
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 one of the thirteen townships of Clinton County, Ohio, United States. The 2020 census reported 2,951 people living in the township.
Its population held steady between the last two censuses: 2,997 in 2010, 2,951 in 2020.
Intro from Wikipedia. Population: U.S. Census Bureau.
Passages that mention Vernon Township, cut from the printed page as they were published.
From the year 1826, the records of Vernon Township as regards township officers and receipts and expenditures have been well preserved. The first election we have a full record of was held April 3, 1826, at the house of Josiah Biggs (the Morgan House, Villars’ Chapel), and the following officers were elected: Trustees, Jonathan Tribbey, Josiah Biggs and John Saulsbury; Clerk, Uriah Biggs; Treasurer, Horatio Cast; Constables, Jacob Garrison, Joseph Blancett; Overseers of the Poor, Horatio Cast, Jacob Garrison; Fence Viewers, John Morrison, William Crosson. Horatio Cast and Jacob Garrison refusing
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
In 1863, same township officers elected. At a special election in 1863, Jonathan Lawrence was elected Justice of the Peace of Vernon Township. July 9, 1864, an election was held to fill the vacancy caused by the expiration of the term of J. W. Compton, Justice of the Peace. W. H. Gardner was elected. Mr. Gardner refused to serve, and another election was held in October, 1864, to fill the vacancy. The vote on this occasion shows that
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.
The country’s official list of buildings and places worth saving.
National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places. Photos from Wikimedia Commons, credited on each place’s page.
Nobody well known was born in Vernon Township itself, so here are the best known from just nearby.
Places and cemeteries from the USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).
Each neighbor’s History grade, on the same three inputs.
Vernon Township is more historic than 71% of U.S. towns, #411 of 993 in Ohio. 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.
Two places: the Pansy Methodist Church and School Historic District (listed 1973) and the Cowan Creek Circular Enclosure (1974).
16% of Vernon Township’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate, ±6.7 points), against a typical 15% for an Ohio town; the median home was built in 1988.
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).
From Wikimedia Commons (1), the National Register of Historic Places (2), U.S. Geological Survey historical maps, 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.
2015
