| |
History
The first settlers in Wilbarger County were the Doans family who came to the
area in 1878. They settled on the Red River north of Vernon near a spot where
the Western Trail of the famous Chisholm Trail crossed the Red River going
north to cattle markets in Kansas. Millions of cattle were driven out of Texas
to northern markets over this route. Judge Doan and C.F. Doan established a
trading post at this point and the old building still remains. The Wilbarger
County Historical Society has renovated the original adobe owned by C.F. Doan
for a permanent historical attraction.
Just across the river from the Doan’s Community were the Comanche and Kiowa
Indian Reservations. These Indians were food customers of the store. The
nearest Post Office was Henrietta some 70 miles to the east. In 1879 a mail
line was established from Wichita Falls to points north through Doan’s. A mail
route was also established south to Seymour in 1880 and settlers began to move
in very rapidly.
Wilbarger County was officially organized on October 10, 1881, and the county
government was established at the time. A trading post was located at Condon
Springs (now Hillcrest Country Club) and a community was established called
Eagle Flat because of the many eagles nesting in the area. The Post Office
Department later changed the name to Vernon in honor of Washington’s home,
Mount Vernon. There being no mountains hereabouts, the “Mount” was dropped.
Western Atmosphere
Ranch Headquarters
Headquarters for the W.T. Waggoner Estate operates one of the nation’s largest
ranches. More than 500,000 adjoining acres extend into six counties. The
operation contrasts the old and the new as it is not uncommon to witness a
cowboy on horseback gesturing to a helicopter hovering overhead. Waggoner Ranch
cowboys captured an unprecedented title by winning the Ranch Roundup
Competition for three years in a row. Ranch Roundup is held every August in
nearby Wichita Falls and features cowboys from the working ranches representing
their brand by competing against other ranches.
Santa Rosa Palomino Club
The Santa Rosa Palomino Club has been honored as the official “Ambassadors on
Horseback” for the State of Texas, the outstanding riding club in America, and
the National Drill Team Championship. The riders use precision horsemanship
with matched palomino mounts, colorful attire and unparalleled esprit de corps
to maintain its position year after year as one of the greatest
non-professional riding groups ever assembled. Celebrating its 50th anniversary
in 1999, the self-supporting group draws superlatives wherever it performs.
Santa Rosa Roundup
The Santa Rosa Stud Farm provides facilities for one of the major rodeos in the
nation. Annually, thousands thrill to the feats performed by top professional
rodeo contestants. The 4-day event is held the third weekend in May, starting
with a Rodeo Parade downtown on Wednesday afternoon. Rodeo performances are
held nightly at 7:30 p.m.
Location
Vernon is the county seat of Wilbarger County. It is located in the Western
Plains of Texas, near the Red River, east of the Texas panhandle in the Red
River/Pease River watershed. U.S. Highway 287, U.S. Highway 183, U.S. Highway
283, and U.S. Highway 70 intersect in the city. Vernon is 180 miles northwest
of Dallas, 180 miles southwest of Amarillo, 170 miles east of Lubbock, 140
miles northeast of Abilene, 50 miles west of Wichita Falls, and 170 southwest
of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
Population
The present population of Vernon is 11,660. Wilbarger County population is
14,676. Within a 100-mile radius of Vernon the population approaches 150,000. A
summary of the city and county population over the past years is as follows:
Year
|
City
|
County
|
2000
|
11,660
|
14,676
|
1996
|
12,947
|
14,356
|
1990
|
12,001
|
15,151
|
1980
|
12,695
|
15,931
|
1970
|
11,454
|
15,335
|
The ethnic background of Wilbarger county according to the 2000 census is as
follows: White, 8,900; American Indian, 80, Asian, 80; Hispanic, 2,611; Other
1,470.
|
|
