City Of Vernon Prepares For Population Boom To 200 People

VERNON (AP) — Vernon has long been an oddity in Southern California — a city devoted almost exclusively to industry, with a population hovering around 100 people.

That's about to change.

A series of public corruption scandals led to reforms. And next month, an apartment complex will welcome 102 new residents, effectively doubling the population.

The apartments will be Vernon's first privately owned residences in decades and mark a pivot for the city that long fought to keep people out.

Mayor Michael McCormick told the Los Angeles Times on Friday that Vernon is changing with the times.

Historically, Vernon's tightly controlled population allowed city leaders to avoid contested elections.

There was little scrutiny of how government worked. In recent years, three top city leaders were charged with public corruption.