Vernon is a central New York town with ties to tourism and travel
The town of Vernon began developing in the late 1700s along the edges of the Great Genesee Trail, an early roadway across the flatter sections of central New York. Eventually, the trail became the Seneca Turnpike, or state Route 5, which remains a convenient route for modern-day residents. Like many towns in New York, Vernon includes smaller villages and a hamlet, but it is somewhat unique in also including the smallest city in the state, Sherrill, home to around 3,000 people. Each community offers a few amenities, and the town’s manufacturing, agriculture and tourism industries provide plenty of jobs. Nearby Oneida and Utica give residents access to urban amenities and services as well.
Housing options include early 1900s residences in Sherrill
Most homes in Vernon were built in the 20th century, but a few date back to the 1800s and some were added after 2000. “We really haven’t seen much new construction since COVID,” says lifelong area resident Julie Stickels, broker and owner of Kay Real Estate. In Sherrill, tree-shaded sidewalks lead past early 1900s bungalows, Nationals and Cape Cods. The village of Vernon features some similar options, plus some midcentury moderns and ranch-style houses in planned developments. In the more rural outlying areas, houses often sit on on multiacre parcels.
Most sales range from $100,000 to $400,000, while large, newer builds on expansive lots typically go for $400,000 to $690,000. Fixer-uppers tend to sell for $100,000 to $150,000. Creeks and waterways sometimes flood after heavy rains, so homebuyers may need flood insurance.
Most students attend VVS Central Schools
Vernon is served by two school districts. Oneida Castle residents are zoned for the Oneida City School District, rated an overall C-plus by Niche, but the majority of the town falls within the Vernon Verona Sherrill Central Schools district, which receives a B rating. In the VVS school district, students typically start at E.A. McAllister Elementary School, rated B-plus. They continue at VVS Middle School, rated C, followed by B-rated VVS High School. The high school’s Future Farmers of America chapter was originally formed in the 1950s, and it remains active today.
Recreation ranges from playgrounds to the Utica-Rome Speedway
Each section of town offers its own recreation. Bartholomew Memorial Park, a highlight for Vernon village residents, features sports fields, a playground and access to a creek with a small waterfall. Sherrill is home to 11 small parks, most with playgrounds or ball fields. Sherrill’s Community Activity Center offers bowling, an indoor gym and pool tables. Hikers can explore the loop trails at Maxwell Field & Duross Conservancy beside Oneida Castle, and golfers can play the 18-hole course at Atunyote, which is open to the public and owned by the Turning Stone Resort Casino, “a huge attraction for people to come to the area,” Stickels says. Other popular tourist attractions include Vernon Downs Casino Hotel, known for its harness races, and the Utica-Rome Speedway, which holds stock car events.
Sherrill and Vernon offer comfort food and casual dining
Sherrill and the village of Vernon each offer a small selection of local businesses. Sherrill has a Grand Union grocery store and a compact downtown with independently owned shops, including Sweet Life of a Baker and Sweet Basil’s Diner and Catering. At the southern tip of the city, the Marble Hill Inn is a long-standing casual restaurant and bar. In Vernon, Apple Bettys has old-fashioned home cooking, and 3 Bastards Brewing serves pub fare.
Some of Vernon’s other businesses cater to tourists and guests of the Vernon Downs Casino Hotel, including several restaurants beside the racetrack. Along Seneca Street, the Dibbles Inn Orchard & Estate, the Mason Jar and a handful of other storefronts are part of a wedding venue complex. There are more shopping and dining options in Oneida, and big-box shopping is available in New Hartford, about 15 miles east.
Summer food truck gatherings and Old Home Day bring residents together
Although the horse track and car races often attract tourists, the town also hosts smaller-scale celebrations for locals. Oneida Castle Park holds weekly food truck gatherings throughout the summer, and holiday get-togethers often take place at Sherrill’s Reilly-Mumford Park or the Community Activity Center. The Vernon Center United Methodist Church also sponsors the annual Old Home Day, which features a parade, vendors and a 5K race.
State routes connect Vernon to nearby cities and services
Local employers include the Stoltzfus Family Dairy, Vernon Downs Casino Hotel and Ferris, a lawnmower manufacturing company. Although there are some sidewalks, the community is largely car-dependent, and several state routes run through the area. Verona is about 5 miles north, Oneida lies just west of Oneida Castle, and Utica is less than 20 miles east. Emergency care is available at Oneida Health Hospital in Oneida, and Syracuse Hancock International Airport is roughly 40 miles.
