Platted in 1815 by John Vawter on a scenic peninsula formed by a horseshoe bend of the Muscatatuck River, the Vernon Historic District encompasses nearly the entire town of Vernon, the historic seat of Jennings County, Indiana. This remarkably preserved nineteenth-century community reflects the physical layout and architectural evolution of an early Midwestern county seat. Because it was largely bypassed by major industrial development in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, Vernon retains an exceptional collection of early residential, commercial, and civic buildings that represent Federal, Greek Revival, and Italianate styles. The district's cohesive streetscapes, historic brick sidewalks, and lack of modern encroachment offer a rare, undisturbed glimpse into Indiana's pioneer and early railroad eras.

At the heart of the district stands the imposing Jennings County Courthouse, a red-brick Italianate structure designed by noted architect Isaac Hodgson and completed in 1859, which remains the centerpiece of local civic life. Beyond its architectural merits, the Vernon Historic District holds significant historical associations, most notably with the American Civil War. In July 1863, during the daring Morgan's Raid, Confederate General John Hunt Morgan demanded the surrender of the town however, Vernon's local militia and defenders stoutly refused to yield, prompting Morgan to bypass the town and sparing its historic fabric from destruction. Today, the district is recognized as a premier showcase of Indiana's early heritage, prized for its high level of historic integrity and its unique geographic setting.