Vernon County is a county in Missouri, United States, on the Kansas state line in the west-central part of the state. It had a population of 19,707 at the 2020 census and covers 826 square miles (2,140 km2) of land, centred near 37°51′N 94°20′W.
Nevada is the county seat and its postal code is 64772. The county has 4 incorporated cities, 7 villages and roughly two dozen unincorporated communities, sits in the Central time zone, and has no organized civil townships.
Towns & Villages in Vernon County
Vernon County has 11 named cities and villages plus a long list of small unincorporated communities and rail-era hamlets scattered across the prairie. CDP = census-designated place; Unincorp. = unincorporated community with no separate population count.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nevada | City · seat | 8,373 | 64772 |
| Sheldon | City | — | 64784 |
| Schell City | City | — | 64783 |
| Bronaugh | City | — | 64728 |
| Walker | Village | — | 64790 |
| Moundville | Village | — | 64771 |
| Harwood | Village | — | 64750 |
| Richards | Village | — | 64778 |
| Milo | Village | — | 64767 |
| Deerfield | Village | — | 64741 |
| Metz | Village | — | 64765 |
| Amos | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Arthur | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Bellamy | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Blaine | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Bristow | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Carbon Center | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Dean Ford | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Dederick | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Ellis | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Eve | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Fair Haven | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Handley | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Hong | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Horton | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Indian Springs | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Katy | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Ketterman | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Nassau Junction | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Oak Ridge | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Panama | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Portia | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Rinehart | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Rock | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Rousertown | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Sandstone | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Stotesbury | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Swart | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Zodiac | Unincorp. | — | — |
ZIP Codes
- 64772 — Nevada (also serves the surrounding county seat area)
- 64784 — Sheldon
- 64790 — Walker
- 64783 — Schell City
- 64771 — Moundville
- 64728 — Bronaugh
- 64750 — Harwood
- 64778 — Richards
- 64767 — Milo
- 64741 — Deerfield
- 64765 — Metz (PO Box only)
Most of the county’s small unincorporated communities have no ZIP code of their own and are served by the nearest listed post office town.
Geography
Vernon County sits on the prairie of west-central Missouri, at the edge of the Osage Plains, with gently rolling farmland cut by creeks draining toward the Marmaton and Osage river systems. The county covers 826 square miles of land and 10 square miles of water (1.2% of its total area).
Vernon County borders Bates County to the north, St. Clair County to the northeast (no page), Cedar County to the east, Barton County to the south, Crawford County, Kansas to the southwest, Bourbon County, Kansas to the west (no page), and Linn County, Kansas to the northwest.
Demographics
Vernon County had 19,707 residents at the 2020 census. Nevada, the county seat, is by far the largest community, with Sheldon a distant second. Median household income in the county runs below the Missouri median of $68,545, typical of the rural counties along the Kansas line. Population density is roughly 24 people per square mile.
Economy & Local Life
Agriculture anchors the local economy — cattle grazing, hay, corn and soybeans on the surrounding prairie. Nevada is home to Cottey College, a small private women’s liberal arts college, and hosts the Bushwhacker Days festival each June, commemorating the county’s Civil War history. Healthcare (Nevada Regional Medical Center) and manufacturing round out the county’s largest employers.
History
Vernon County was organized on February 27, 1855, later than most counties in eastern Missouri, and was named for Colonel Miles Vernon (1786–1867), a state senator and veteran of the Battle of New Orleans. The area had earlier been part of Osage territory. The county suffered heavily during the Civil War: it was one of four western Missouri counties emptied of civilian population under General Order No. 11, issued by Union General Thomas Ewing Jr. in 1863 in response to guerrilla raids, and much of it was resettled only after the war.
Getting There
Interstate 49 and U.S. Routes 54 and 71 cross the county, along with Missouri Route 43.
- Joplin, Missouri — 45 miles south
- Fort Scott, Kansas — 25 miles west
- Butler, Missouri — 35 miles north
- Kansas City, Missouri — 100 miles north
The nearest commercial airport is Joplin Regional Airport, about 50 miles to the south.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Vernon County, Missouri?
It is in west-central Missouri, directly on the Kansas state line, southeast of Kansas City.
What is the population of Vernon County?
19,707 people at the 2020 census.
How big is Vernon County?
826 square miles (2,140 km2) of land, plus 10 square miles of water.
What is the county seat of Vernon County?
Nevada is the county seat and largest city.
How many towns and villages are in Vernon County?
Four incorporated cities, seven villages, and about two dozen smaller unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Vernon County?
64772 (Nevada), 64784 (Sheldon), 64783 (Schell City), 64728 (Bronaugh), 64790 (Walker), 64771 (Moundville), 64750 (Harwood), 64778 (Richards), 64767 (Milo), 64741 (Deerfield) and 64765 (Metz, PO box only).
Why was Vernon County depopulated during the Civil War?
It was one of four Missouri counties along the Kansas border emptied under General Order No. 11 in 1863, a Union response to pro-Confederate guerrilla activity in the area.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Missouri.