Vernon Parish, Louisiana

Vernon Parish Education, Geography, and History

Vernon Parish is a parish located in the state of Louisiana. Based on the 2010 census, the population was 52,334. The parish seat is Leesville. The parish was founded in 1871.

Vernon Parish is part of the Fort Polk South, LA Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the DeRidder-Fort Polk South, LA Combined Statistical Area.

Etymology - Origin of Vernon Parish Name

the parish was named in honor of Mount Vernon, the home of George Washington, the first US President .

Demographics:

County QuickFacts: CensusBureau Quick Facts

Vernon County History

Vernon Parish was created on 1871, from Natchitoches, Rapides and Sabine Parishes and the parish was named in honor of Mount Vernon, the home of George Washington, the first US President. The Parish seat is Leesville.

Geography: Land and Water

As reported by the Census Bureau, the parish has a total area of 1,341 square miles (3,470 km²), of which 1,328 square miles (3,440 km²) is land and 14 square miles (36 km²) (1.0%) is water. It is the largest parish in Louisiana by land area.

Neighboring Parishes

Bordering parishes and counties are as follows:

• North: Natchitoches Parish
• East: Rapides Parish
• Southeast: Allen Parish
• Southwest: Beauregard Parish; Newton County, Tex.
• Northwest: Sabine Parish

Education

Primary and secondary education

All public schools in Vernon Parish are operated by the Vernon Parish School Board, which operates 18 public schools and one optional school.

Colleges and universities

The Louisiana Technical College (LTC) system operates the Lamar Salter campus south of New Llano. The Central Louisiana Technical College Lamar Salter campus is one of 40 LTC campuses across the state.

Northwestern State University (NSU), is a four-year public university primarily situated in Natchitoches, Louisiana and a part of the a part of the University of Louisiana System. The NSU-Leesville/Fort Polk Campus is located on Highway 467 near Fort Polk and serves the civilian communities of Vernon, Beauregard, and Sabine parishes, as well as the military community at Fort Polk. http://leesville.nsula.edu/

The Fort Polk Education Center offers self-development opportunities for Service members, military family members, Department of the Defense employees, military Retirees, Department of Defense contractors, and civilians from the local community in the classroom, distance learning, and online environments. Civilian students coming to the post for classes are required to use the main entrance located off US Highway 171.

Central Michigan University (CMU) operates a campus at Fort Polk.

Central Texas College (CTC) is a public, open-admission community college offering associate degrees and certificate programs in academic, professional and vocational/technical fields. Due to its proximity to Fort Hood, CTC has evolved from a small junior college into a college catering to the military. CTC also help students transition from a 2-year to a 4-year degree through numerous articulation agreements with 4-year institutions nationwide.

Louisiana State University offers a Master of Arts in Liberal Arts.

The Upper Iowa University (UIU) at Fort Polk offers classes on post to both military personnel and civilians in the area. It was opened in 1995 and offers bachelor' degrees in nine majors. Courses can also be blended with UIU distance learning programs (online and independent study) to complete 11 other majors. Certificate programs are also available. UIU offers courses on post during five eight-week terms during the academic year. All courses are offered during the evenings and on weekends.

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