Vernon, Indiana

Vernon, Indiana
Jennings County courthouse in Vernon
Location of Vernon in Jennings County, Indiana.
Coordinates: 38°59′07″N 85°36′36″W / 38.98528°N 85.61000°W / 38.98528; -85.61000
CountryUnited States
StateIndiana
CountyJennings
TownshipVernon
Area
  Total
0.21 sq mi (0.54 km2)
  Land0.21 sq mi (0.54 km2)
  Water0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation
659 ft (201 m)
Population
 (2020)
  Total
236
  Density1,140.10/sq mi (439.78/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
  Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
47282
Area code812
FIPS code18-78902
GNIS feature ID2397713
Websitewww.vernonindiana.org

Vernon is a town within Vernon Township and the county seat of Jennings County, Indiana, United States. With a population of just 236 in the 2020 census, it is the smallest county seat by population in the state of Indiana, lying just south of the much larger North Vernon. It sits on a peninsula as it is nearly surrounded by the Muscatatuck River. Vernon is the only Indiana town with an elected mayor and an elected town marshal. As of 2025, Wayne Zamora is the mayor and Britt Burgmeier is the marshal.

The Vernon Historic District is on the National Register of Historic Places and is the site of many firsts in the state.

  • The first area set aside for use as a public playground in Indiana, The Commons
  • The first elevated railroad overpass west of the Alleghenies
  • The first all women's jury in Indiana
  • The first Disciples of Christ church in Indiana

It was also the home of Indiana's fourth state park, now called Muscatatuck County Park.