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Our Genealogy Helper

Introduction ...

We have a couple of goals for our Gazetteer:

  • That it be a tool which helps us with planning our trips.
  • We're trying to shape our Gazetteer as a tool to help us understand the community in which our ancestors lived, the community that was part of their daily lives.
  • On our trips, we try to visit those places where our ancestors left their footprints.

By learning about Vernon Center (and the surrounding area) during the time that our ancestors lived, we hope to have a better understanding of both their community and its relationship to their lifes. We hope that this tool helps to give us an insight into their world.

As we add data and organize our Gazetteer to help with our family research, we will be adding to this our Genealogical Helper for Vernon Center. While we don't have information that is specific to any given person or family, we intend to expand our understanding about where and how people lived.

Name Variations for Vernon Center ...

When searching records, keep in mind that names and their spelling can change over time. Our sources include documents like maps, railroad schedules, Travel, Express and Shipping Guides. Many of these documents date from the 1800's and it's common to find spelling differences.

For example, a typical abbreviation for Vernon Center: Vernon Ctr. (or less commonly used: Vernon Cen., Vernon Cent. or Vernon Cntr.)

You might be interested in other communities that are also named Vernon Center. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Vernon Center.

If you have information about these names (such as the reason for the change, date of change, the origin of the name), please Contact Us.

Neighboring Counties ...

When searching for family records, we have frequently made the mistake of not checking the neighboring counties.

For example, we have great-grandparents who lived in the northwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals and doctors were in the next county to the west. Almost all of the nearby churches and cemeteries were in the county to the north.

So when searching for records, we had our best success by looking in neighboring counties instead of the county in which they lived:  their home county contained property and probate records; the county to the west contained birth and death records; the county to the north contained their burial records. If we hadn't included the neighboring counties, we would have missed many valuable sources of information.

If you're in a similar situation, we hope that the following information helps.

Vernon Center is located in Tolland County.

To see how the shape of Connecticut's counties may have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.

The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Tolland County: Hartford, New London, Windham, Hampden (MA) & Worcester (MA).

Below are the counties that are near Vernon Center. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Vernon Center:

  • Tolland County     (The home county of Vernon Center)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Vernon Center, with the one closest to Vernon Center listed first.
    • Vernon
      (Less than 2 miles to the east)
      • Vernon is located in Tolland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vernon
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 29,400 people
    • Vernon
      (Less than 2 miles to the south)
    • Windermere
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
      • Windermere is located in Tolland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Windermere
    • Rockville
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Quarryville
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Quarryville is located in Tolland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quarryville
    • Ellington
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Ellington
      (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
      • Ellington is located in Tolland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellington
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 16,652 people
    • Tolland
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Bolton
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
      • Bolton is located in Tolland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bolton
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 4,855 people
    • Bolton
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • Tolland
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Tolland is located in Tolland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tolland
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 14,567 people
    • Coventry
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Coventry is located in Tolland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coventry
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 12,389 people
    • Andover
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Andover is located in Tolland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Andover
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,228 people
  • Hartford County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Vernon Center, with the one closest to Vernon Center listed first.
    • Lydallville
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
      • Lydallville is located in Hartford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lydallville
    • Manchester Green
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
      • Manchester Green is located in Hartford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Manchester Green
    • Windsorville
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Windsorville is located in Hartford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Windsorville
    • Manchester
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Wapping
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
      • Wapping is located in Hartford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wapping
    • Manchester
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
      • Manchester is located in Hartford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Manchester
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 57,362 people
    • South Windsor
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
      • South Windsor is located in Hartford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Windsor
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 26,102 people
    • South Windsor
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
    • Broad Brook
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Mill Pond Village
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Mill Pond Village is located in Hartford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mill Pond Village
    • Oxford Village
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Oxford Village is located in Hartford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oxford Village
    • East Windsor Hill
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • Burnham
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
      • Burnham is located in Hartford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burnham
  • Litchfield County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Vernon Center, with the one closest to Vernon Center listed first.
    • Barkhamsted
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
    • Hampsted
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
      • Hampsted is located in Litchfield County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hampsted
    • Browns Corner
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
      • Browns Corner is located in Litchfield County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Browns Corner
    • Pine Meadow
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
    • Puddle Town
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
      • Puddle Town is located in Litchfield County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Puddle Town
    • Barkhamsted
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • Barkhamsted is located in Litchfield County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barkhamsted
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,587 people
    • New Hartford
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
    • Nepaug
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Nepaug is located in Litchfield County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nepaug
    • New Hartford
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • New Hartford is located in Litchfield County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Hartford
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 6,639 people
    • Pleasant Valley
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
    • Torrington
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Torrington is located in Litchfield County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Torrington
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 33,870 people
    • Pequabuck
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Riverton
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
  • Middlesex County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Vernon Center, with the one closest to Vernon Center listed first.
    • Lake Pocotopaug
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
      • Lake Pocotopaug is located in Middlesex County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Pocotopaug
    • Portland
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
      • Portland is located in Middlesex County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Portland
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 9,213 people
    • East Hampton
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
      • East Hampton is located in Middlesex County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Hampton
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 12,747 people
    • East Hampton
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
    • Cromwell
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
      • Cromwell is located in Middlesex County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cromwell
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 13,772 people
    • Cromwell
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
    • Gildersleeve
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
      • Gildersleeve is located in Middlesex County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gildersleeve
    • Cobalt
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
    • Middle Haddam
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
    • Portland
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Middletown
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Middletown
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Middletown is located in Middlesex County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Middletown
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 46,013 people
    • Higganum
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
  • New Haven County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Vernon Center, with the one closest to Vernon Center listed first.
    • Meriden
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Meriden is located in New Haven County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meriden
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 58,981 people
    • Meriden
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
    • South Meriden
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • South Meriden is located in New Haven County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Meriden
    • Autumn HIll
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Autumn HIll is located in New Haven County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Autumn HIll
    • Wolcott
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Wolcott is located in New Haven County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wolcott
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 16,565 people
    • Yalesville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
  • New London County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Vernon Center, with the one closest to Vernon Center listed first.
    • Liberty Hill
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Liberty Hill is located in New London County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liberty Hill
    • North Westchester
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
    • Lebanon
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
      • Lebanon is located in New London County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lebanon
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 7,112 people
    • Colchester
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
    • Lebanon
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Westchester
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
      • Westchester is located in New London County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westchester
    • Williams Crossing
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Williams Crossing is located in New London County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Williams Crossing
    • North Franklin
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Franklin
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Franklin is located in New London County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Franklin
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,914 people
    • Gilman
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Franklin
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
    • Hanover
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Baltic
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
  • Windham County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Vernon Center, with the one closest to Vernon Center listed first.
    • Ashford
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
      • Ashford is located in Windham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashford
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 4,246 people
    • West Ashford
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
      • West Ashford is located in Windham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Ashford
    • Warrenville
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
      • Warrenville is located in Windham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Warrenville
    • Westford
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
      • Westford is located in Windham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westford
    • Willimantic
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
    • North Windham
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
    • Windham
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Windham is located in Windham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Windham
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 24,463 people
    • Ashford
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
    • Chaplin
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
      • Chaplin is located in Windham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chaplin
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,232 people
    • Chaplin
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
    • Windham
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
    • Eastford
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
      • Eastford is located in Windham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eastford
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,800 people
    • South Windham
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
  • Hampden County (MA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Vernon Center, with the one closest to Vernon Center listed first.
    • Baptist Village
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
      • Baptist Village is located in Hampden County (MA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baptist Village
    • East Longmeadow
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
      • East Longmeadow is located in Hampden County (MA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Longmeadow
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 16,093 people
    • Hampden
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
      • Hampden is located in Hampden County (MA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hampden
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 5,154 people
    • Longmeadow
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
      • Longmeadow is located in Hampden County (MA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Longmeadow
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 15,624 people
    • State Line
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
      • State Line is located in Hampden County (MA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for State Line
    • South Factory Village
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
      • South Factory Village is located in Hampden County (MA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Factory Village
    • Agawam
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Agawam is located in Hampden County (MA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Agawam
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 28,467 people
    • Springfield
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
      • Springfield is located in Hampden County (MA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Springfield
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 152,646 people
    • Wilbraham
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
      • Wilbraham is located in Hampden County (MA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilbraham
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 14,670 people
    • Monson
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Monson is located in Hampden County (MA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monson
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 8,750 people
    • Feeding Hills
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Feeding Hills is located in Hampden County (MA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Feeding Hills
    • Hosmer Corner
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Hosmer Corner is located in Hampden County (MA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hosmer Corner
    • Merrick
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Merrick is located in Hampden County (MA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Merrick
  • Hampshire County (MA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Vernon Center, with the one closest to Vernon Center listed first.
    • Bondsville
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Bondsville is located in Hampshire County (MA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bondsville
    • Granby
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Granby is located in Hampshire County (MA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Granby
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 6,262 people
    • South Hadley
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • South Hadley is located in Hampshire County (MA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Hadley
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 17,539 people
    • Belchertown
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Belchertown is located in Hampshire County (MA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belchertown
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 15,103 people
    • Southampton
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Southampton is located in Hampshire County (MA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Southampton
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 6,162 people
  • Worcester County (MA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Vernon Center, with the one closest to Vernon Center listed first.
    • Fiskdale
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Fiskdale is located in Worcester County (MA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fiskdale
    • Old Sturbridge Village
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Old Sturbridge Village is located in Worcester County (MA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Sturbridge Village
    • Globe Village
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Globe Village is located in Worcester County (MA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Globe Village
    • Southbridge
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Southbridge is located in Worcester County (MA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Southbridge
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 16,788 people
    • Sturbridge
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Sturbridge is located in Worcester County (MA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sturbridge
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 9,561 people
    • West Warren
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • West Warren is located in Worcester County (MA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Warren
    • Warren
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Warren is located in Worcester County (MA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Warren
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 5,203 people

For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Vernon Center, see our County-by-County Page for Vernon Center.

Cemeteries Near Vernon Center ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Vernon Center.

This is a new section and is likely to have errors. If you find an error, such as a missing cemetery or we have the wrong name, please let us know. If you know of them, we would also appreciate learning about previous or alternate names.

Although we don't have the information ourselves, if you need information about a burial or interment, photos, transcripts, how to contact the cemetery or local authorities, please visit our list of websites on our Genealogy Helper Page for Vernon Center - one of the links might be able to help.

If not found below, our Cemetery List for Vernon Center covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.

The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Vernon Center, with the one closest to Vernon Center listed first.

  • Elmwood Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
  • Southwest Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • Mt. Hope Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
  • Old Vernon Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
  • St. Bernards Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
  • Grove Hill Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
  • St. Johns Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • St. Bridgets Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Quarryville Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • McKinstry Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • East Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Beth Sholom Memorial Park
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Continue List   (543 more) ...
    • Ellington Center Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Wapping Community Church Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
    • New Wapping Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)

Nearby Communities in 1895 ...

We've built the following list with information that came from an Atlas published by Rand McNally in 1895. The Atlas had details such as the population of the community (which appears to have come from the 1890 Census) and whether there was a post office and/or railroad service available. We also indicate if the community no longer exists and is now historic.<3>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, Vernon Center had a post office and no railroad service.

These communities are listed based on their distance from Vernon Center, with the one closest to Vernon Center listed first.

  • Vernon
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • Windermere
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
    • Windermere is located in Tolland County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Windermere
  • Rockville
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
  • Manchester Green
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
    • Manchester Green is located in Hartford County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Manchester Green
  • Quarryville
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Quarryville is located in Tolland County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quarryville
  • Buckland
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Buckland is located in Hartford County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buckland
  • Manchester
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Ellington
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Windsorville
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Windsorville is located in Hartford County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Windsorville
  • Wapping
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
    • Wapping is located in Hartford County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wapping
  • Highland Park
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Highland Park is located in Hartford County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Highland Park
  • Bolton
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...

We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Vernon Center. See our List of 1890's Communities around Vernon Center.

Newspapers Published in Vernon Center ...

An ongoing effort between the Library of Congress and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) has resulted in the National Digital Newspaper Program (NDNP).

To share their results, the partnership has created the Chronicling America website. The goal of this partnership is to assemble a database about the current and historic newspapers of the United States. This includes a growing collection of scanned images from selected papers. All of it available to the public on their website.

Using information that we've taken from the Chronicling America website, we've identified 314 newspapers that have been published in the area around Vernon Center.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Vernon Center, there are papers which were published within 14 miles [22.5 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Vernon Center.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we like to start with the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These helpful websites offer the information directly or else point to where you can find it. Their information is open to everyone.

To help you get started, the following links will take you to the pages that are relevant to Vernon Center:

Footnotes ...

<1>While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program.
<2>The Find-a-Grave website is an excellent research tool with information about a cemetery's location and interments. They also offer a forum for their members which can provide additional help. More information about Find-a-Grave can be found on their website: findagrave.com.
<3>We use the term 'Historic' broadly and it generally means that the community no longer exists. However, it can also mean that the community might still exist, but was significantly larger or had a more 'official' existence in the past than it does now. Unfortunately our sources of data have proven to be unreliable. If you can provide us with more specific information about Vernon Center, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<4>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'point-to-point' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Vernon Center) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.