Editing Mount Vernon, Washington (section)

===Railroad and growth into the 20th century===
Mount Vernon's growth was helped by its central location in reference to the mining, logging and farming communities of the eastern and central parts of the county as well as its access to Puget Sound. The only thing it was lacking was a railroad connection to the outside world, especially, [[Everett, Washington|Everett]], [[Seattle]] and [[Vancouver, B.C.]] A committee was appointed in 1889 to negotiate with railroads on line placement. Their efforts paid off when the [[Great Northern Railway (U.S.)|Great Northern Railway]] agreed to lay their line through the city. This was completed in 1891. The city was also in the process of convincing the [[Seattle, Lake Shore and Eastern Railway]] to come to Mt. Vernon. This deal fell through after the railroad was acquired by [[Northern Pacific Railway]] who chose to lay tracks further east through [[Sedro-Woolley, Washington|Sedro-Woolley]] in 1896.<ref name="history"/>

The railroad's arrival caused great commotion in Mount Vernon, bringing hundreds of new businesses and residents. Mount Vernon was officially incorporated on July 5, 1893. That same year, a large brick courthouse was built on Main street, which still stands today. Due to the area's stable economy, Mount Vernon never boomed in the 1890s like many other speculative settlements in the region, all vying for a railroad terminus. The city experienced its first of many fires in 1891 when several blocks along the waterfront were destroyed. The same year the city's riverfront eroded taking away Front Street and the west side of Main Street.<ref>"The History of Mount Vernon Washington From the City of Mount Vernon 2005 Comprehensive Plan" [http://www.mountvernonwa.gov/DocumentCenter/View/845 Downtown and Waterfront Master Plan-June 11, 2008]
 [http://livemountvernon.com/AboutMountVernon/History/tabid/508/Default.aspx Live Mount Vernon website] Retrieved November 30, 2017.</ref> The boost from the railroad's construction quickly replaced these buildings. 1891 also saw the construction of several large civic structures such as a large brick schoolhouse on the hill above the city as well as the Mount Vernon Opera House, designed by Peacock & Dalton.

Growth slowed considerably after the [[Panic of 1893]]. Following a large flood in 1894, the first [[levee|dike]] was built along the Skagit River. Another great fire in 1900 wiped out all of Mount Vernon's original structures including English & Clothiers' store and the Ruby Hotel. Fire would destroy more downtown businesses in 1903. The city finally received a water system in 1902 after a failed attempt in 1894.<ref name="history"/>