2020 census
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 48,750 people, 17,696 households, and 12,375 families residing in the parish.
2010 census
As of the census of 2010, there were 52,334 people living in the parish. The population density was 39.4 people per square mile (15/km2). The racial makeup of the parish was 75.70% White, 14.2% Black or African American, 1.4% Native American, 1.8% Asian, 0.50% Pacific Islander, and 4.1% from two or more races. 7.2% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
In the parish the population was spread out, with 9.2% under 5 years of age, 27.7% under the age of 18, and 9.4% who were 65 years of age or older. Vernon parish residents are 48.8% female and 51.2% male.
There were 18,590 households, with an average household size of 2.644. The median income for a household in the parish was $42,322. The per capita income for the parish was $14,036. About 16.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.60% of those under age 18 and 14.80% of those age 65 or over.
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.
Schools providing a secondary education include:
Evans High School (Grades PK-12)
Hicks High School (Grades PK-12)
Hornbeck High School (Grades PK-12)
Pitkin High School (Grades PK-12)
Simpson High School (Grades PK-12)
Anacoco High School (Grades 7–12)
Pickering High School (Grades 7–12)
Rosepine Junior/Senior High School (Grades 7–12)
Leesville High School (Grades 9–12)
Vernon Parish Optional School (Grades 7–12)
Faith training Christian academy (private k4-12)
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 is part of the University of Louisiana System. The NSU-Leesville/Fort Polk Campus is located on Highway 467 near Fort Polk. It 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 U.S. 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 Polk, 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's 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.
Public libraries
The Vernon Parish Library operates public libraries. It operates the main library and the Dunbar Branch Library in Leesville and the Pitkin Branch Library in Pitkin.
National Guard
The Louisiana Army National Guard maintains a maintenance facility which services its vehicles on Fort Polk.
3-156 IB part of 256th Tiger Brigade is located at Fort Polk.
Communities
Cities
DeRidder (most of DeRidder is in Beauregard Parish, with a very small portion reaching into Vernon)
Leesville (parish seat and largest municipality)
Towns
Hornbeck
New Llano
Rosepine
Villages
Anacoco
Simpson
Unincorporated areas
Census-designated places
Fort Polk North
Fort Polk South
Pitkin
Unincorporated communities
Burr Ferry
Caney
Coopers
Cravens
Evans
Fullerton
Hawthorne
Hicks
Hutton
Kurthwood
Lacamp
Leander
Pickering
Sandy Hill
Slagle
Standard
Temple
Notable people
Bert A. Adams, state representative from Vernon Parish from 1956 to 1968
James Armes, state representative for Beauregard and Vernon parishes since 2008; landscape contractor in Leesville
Walter O. Bigby, Louisiana state representative from Bossier Parish from 1968 to 1979, known as "Dean of the House".
Allen Bradley, DeRidder lawyer and businessman who represented Vernon and Beauregard parishes in the Louisiana House of Representatives from 1984 to 1992
Eddie Fuller – National Football League player, running back with the Buffalo Bills, also played for Louisiana State University and was part of the play which became known as the "Earthquake game".
Frank A. Howard, former Vernon Parish sheriff and Republican member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from Vernon, Sabine, Red River, and De Soto parishes.
Claude Anthony "Buddy" Leach, Jr. – Politician, former member of the United States House of Representatives, Louisiana House of Representatives, and Louisiana Democratic state chairman
Kevin Mawae – National Football League All-Pro Center for the Tennessee Titans
Demond Mallet – Professional basketball player, guard. Played in the German League and currently with Spanish Joventut Badalona.
Jim McCrery, Republican former U.S. Representative for Louisiana's 4th congressional district, was born in Shreveport, but reared in Leesville, where he graduated from Leesville High School in 1967.
Keith Munyan – Born in Leesville in 1961 but moved away with his family as a toddler; he is a Los Angeles photographer known for his celebrity clients.
Jewel Prestage, first African-American woman to earn a PhD in political science, former Dean of the School of Public Policy and Urban Affairs at Southern University.
Charles M. Poston, Sr., of Hornbeck, was a Louisiana state senator, 1960–1964; father of Bryan A. Poston.
Bryan A. Poston, member of the Louisiana State Senate from 1964 to 1992, was a Hornbeck businessman.
D'Anthony Smith – National Football League player, Chicago Bears. Born in Berlin, Germany, he lived as a teen in Leesville while family was stationed at Fort Polk. Attended Pickering High School in Leesville and played collegiate football at Louisiana Tech University.
Politics
