by Alana A. Carmon

With 1,328.5 square miles of land area, Vernon is the largest of Louisiana’s parishes. Sabine, Rapides, and Natchitoches parishes contributed territory to its formation in 1871.

Since the Vernon Parish area was part of the "Neutral Strip" in the dispute between Spanish Texas and the United States, settlement was slow. Only a few French and Spanish settlers came to the region prior to the Louisiana Purchase in 1803.Vernon Parish was home to two communal colonies that failed during the depression of the 1930s. The New Llano Cooperative Colony and the Christian Commonwealth Colony both served to attract economists and sociologists to conduct an experiment in the sharing of labor duties and cooperative membership. No money was ever circulated in either colony. Vernon Parish was more successful however, in the 1940s when the United States Army constructed Folk Polk near Leesville. Still in existence, Folk Polk served as one of the major training camps during World War II. A substantial portion of Vernon’s economy stems from the large military fort, as evident in the parish seat of Leesville. The town’s population jumped from 3,500 to 18,000 when the base was established. Vernon’s economy is also based on forestry, truck farming, dairy farming, and the cattle industry.

For those interested in a "Venture into Vernon Parish" there is plenty to see and do. Nature and water sports lovers will enjoy Vernon Lake, Anacoco Lake, the internationally renowned Toledo Bend, and Kisatchie National Forest with its Little Cypress Pond and Fullerton Lake. History enthusiasts must visit the Folk Polk Military Museum and browse through the Museum of West Louisiana in Leesville.