On March 30, 1871, the Louisiana Louisiana LegislatureGeneral Assembly passed an act designating the creation of Vernon Parish, to be named in honor of Mount Vernon (plantation)Mt. Vernon, the home of George Washington, by taking territory from the parishes of Natchitoches Parish, LouisianaNatchitoches, Rapides Parish, LouisianaRapides, and Sabine Parish, LouisianaSabine. Originally the area comprising Vernon was apart of a tract of land that was indispute between the United States and Spain, this land was called the "Neutral Strip (Louisiana)Neutral Strip." As a result of this dispute the area became a haven for outlaws. Prior to the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, the only persons who came to the area were a few French and Spanish settlers. It was also during this periood that Dr. Burr established the community of Burr Ferry. This community was known as the "Gateway to Louisiana". Also located near this community, there still stands an artillery site (now called the "Confederate Breast Works"), which was manned by the Confederate States of AmericaConfederacy to guard against Union movements along the "’Nolan Trace" during the Civil War. Leesville, LouisianaLeesville has been the parish seat of Vernon since the parish was created, but wasn't incorporated until February 15, 1900. The city, although founded by Dr. Edmund E. Smart, was named by Senator R. Smart, his father, in honor of General Robert E LeeRobert E. Lee. At the time of Leesville, LouisianaLeesville's founding, the site was the home of a plantation owned by Dr. Smart. The house from that plantation may still be found today at the corner of Lula and First street. In the late 1890's the timber industry, which was the dominant industry in the parish from its creation, began to boom with the arrival of the Kansas City Southern Railway in 1897, which is still in operation today. In the period after World War I, Vernon became the site of two socialist based communities; the Llano del Rio Cooperative Colony In 1941, the United States Army opened Camp Polk, shortly after the 1939-40 maneuvers. Camp Polk quickly surpassed the timber industry as the dominant force in the parish's economy, which became evident in the parish seat of Leesville, LouisianaLeesville when its population jumped from 3,500 to 18,000 after the camp opened. The Camp receives its name from Leonidas Polk, the first Episcopal Bishop in Louisiana, known as the "Fighting Bishop of the Confederacy" and served as one of the major training camps during World War II. Today, now called Fort Polk, LouisianaFort Polk is the 5th largest military installation in the nation, containing approximately 200,000 acres. With the constant movement of soldiers and their dependents in and out of the parish. Vernon experiences a unique blend of culture from numerous states and countries creating a true "melting pot."Information in the History section is a composite of information found on the http://ccet.louisiana.edu/03a_Cultural_Tourism_Files/02.3_Central_Louisiana_Files/Vernon_Parish.html Center for Cultural Eco-Tourism website and the http://www.chambervernonparish.com/custom2.asp?pageid Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vernon_Parish%2C_Louisiana