Editing Mount Vernon, Washington (section)

===Early days===
[[File:Mount Vernon, Washington, in 1880.png|thumb|Mount Vernon in 1880]]
Jasper Gates and Joseph Dwelley first settled on the banks of the [[Skagit River]], where the city of Mount Vernon now lies, in 1870. Later on, Harrison Clothier came to the community in 1877 to teach school and join in business with a former student, E.G. English. They were later recognized as the city's founders and pioneer businessmen. A post office was established in November 1877 with Clothier appointed postmaster. The city was named after [[Mount Vernon]], the plantation estate and resting place of [[George Washington]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Phillips |first=James W. |title=Washington State Place Names |url=https://archive.org/details/washingtonstatep00phil |url-access= registration |year=1971 |publisher=University of Washington Press |isbn=0-295-95158-3}}</ref> The two men laid out the city's first plan while the area was still heavily timbered.<ref name="history">''An Illustrated history of Skagit and Snohomish Counties : their people, their commerce and their resources : with an outline of the early history of the state of Washington''. Chicago, Illinois: Interstate Publishing Company, 1906. Print.</ref>

Mount Vernon's first industry was logging; camps were set up to log the townsite. The community grew quickly following the loggers, and hotels and saloons opened up along the Skagit River next to English & Clothiers' store. While poised to grow, river access to the community was stymied by a massive and ancient [[log jam]] in the river which prevented large ships from being able to port. Mail carriers instead had to paddle canoes down-stream to nearby [[Skagit City, Washington|Skagit City]] which enjoyed a brief period of prosperity thanks to this obstacle. The mining activity at nearby Ruby Creek spurred growth for a short time in 1880, gaining the city a new hotel, but little else was accomplished when the mines proved to be shallow. More logging operations were established but were not profitable due to the low price of logs at the time. By 1881, Mount Vernon's permanent population was a modest 75.<ref name="history"/>

Growth in the 1880s was steady. In 1882, the Odd Fellows Lodge was established, followed by the first newspaper in 1884, ''The Skagit News''. The first church, [[Baptist]], was also established in 1884 but would not build a permanent building for several years. In November 1884, Mount Vernon's future was secured when it was chosen for the new Skagit County seat, taking the designation from [[La Conner, Washington|La Conner]]. The Odd fellows building, built the following year, served the county's needs until a permanent building was built.<ref name="history"/>