Vernon

The Heart Of The Unspoiled Panhandle

VERNON is the geographical center of Washington County and is named for George Washington’s Virginia home. The city rests just a stone’s throw from tranquil Holmes Creek, where steamboats traveled in the early 1900s.

Many landings in the Vernon area supply easy access to Holmes Creek for fishing, hunting, or just drifting through crystal clear waters while enjoying the wildlife and beautiful scenery nature provides.

Education is key and our youth are the pride of Vernon. Early education can begin at the Head Start Center. There are also three public schools, an elementary, middle and high school. The middle and high schools are new, and there are future plans for a new elementary. Children in the Vernon community enjoy a variety of programs within their schools as well as their city, with Vernon recreational department providing programs for all area youth.

The Community Center is available for public rental and has future plans for senior citizen and youth programs through the recreational department.

Vernon Fire & Rescue provides service to the Vernon community, as well as Washington County, with a coverage area of approximately 88 square miles.

Sam Mitchell Public Library ensures hours of enjoyment for all ages and is conveniently located right off Main Street.

Local dining offers something for everyone with several restaurants to choose from. Whether you’re in the mood for seafood, pizza, international fare, or good old fashion home cooking, you can find it here. Wine enthusiasts also enjoy visiting Vernon, with a local winery that offers tasting, tours, and a wonderful gift shop.

Area churches welcome everyone with open arms, and provide food for the soul. Many denominations are represented, boasting a "home church" feel even on the first visit.

Small businesses are thriving. As you drive through town, expect to see real-estate offices, an auto parts store, automotive repair shops, as well as cellular services, a/c maintenance, movie rentals & tanning, storage rentals, dog grooming, a florist, hair styling & barber shops, a hardware, and feed & seed, fruit & vegetable stands, satellite services, grocery and convenient stores, a pharmacy, and healthcare center, all working together to meet the needs of the community.

New subdivisions are popping up all over and big business is on the horizon. A shopping center and major grocery store are now in the works.

The look of Main Street will soon change with the widening of Highway.79, but the heart of the city remains within the people here. Vernon has no intention of "going quietly into that dark night." Quite the contrary, Vernon citizens and Council Members are working diligently to preserve the past while moving forward with the times, in pursuit of Vernon’s continued growth.

This quaint City holds a pioneering past, and is poised to embrace and equally ambitious future. Just thirty minutes away from the world’s most beautiful beaches, Vernon truly is the heart of the unspoiled Panhandle.

Contact Info:

Tracy Walker, City Clerk
2808 Yellow Jacket Drive
Vernon, Florida 32462
850-535-2444