Editing Mount Vernon, Illinois

{{Use American English|date=March 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Mount Vernon, Illinois
| official_name =
| native_name =
| native_name_lang =
| settlement_type = [[List of cities in Illinois|City]]
| image_skyline = File:Mount Vernon, Illinois.jpg
| imagesize =
| image_alt =
| image_caption = Town Center of Mount Vernon
| image_flag =
| image_seal =
| etymology =
| nickname = The King City, The Festival City
| motto = Mount Vernon, City of Opportunity<ref>{{cite web|title=Jefferson County History|url=http://www.jeffersoncountyillinois.com/history|website=Jefferson County IL Website|publisher=Jefferson County|access-date=August 4, 2015|archive-date=December 16, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181216123825/http://www.jeffersoncountyillinois.com/history|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| anthem =
| image_map = File:Jefferson County Illinois Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Mount Vernon Highlighted.svg
| mapsize =
| map_alt =
| map_caption = Location of Mount Vernon in Jefferson County, Illinois.
| pushpin_map = Illinois#USA
| pushpin_label = {{nowrap|Mount Vernon}}
| pushpin_relief  = yes
| coordinates = {{coord|38|19|02|N|88|55|02|W|display=inline,title}}
| coor_pinpoint =
| coordinates_footnotes = <ref name=gnis/>
| grid_name =
| grid_position =
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = United States
| subdivision_type1 = State
| subdivision_name1 = Illinois
| subdivision_type2 = County
| subdivision_name2 = [[Jefferson County, Illinois|Jefferson]]
| subdivision_type3 = Townships
| subdivision_name3 = [[Mt. Vernon Township, Jefferson County, Illinois|Mount Vernon]], [[Shiloh Township, Jefferson County, Illinois|Shiloh]], [[Dodds Township, Jefferson County, Illinois|Dodds]], [[McClellan Township, Jefferson County, Illinois|McClellan]]
| subdivision_type4 =
| subdivision_name4 =
| established_title = Founded
| established_date = 1817
| established_title7 =
| established_date7 =
| extinct_title =
| extinct_date =
| founder =
| named_for =
| seat_type =
| seat =
| seat1_type =
| seat1 =
| government_footnotes =
| government_type =
| governing_body =
| leader_party =
| leader_title = Mayor
| leader_name = John Lewis
| leader_title1 = Mayor
| leader_name1 =
| total_type =
| unit_pref = Imperial
| area_footnotes = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2020">{{cite web|title=2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_place_17.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=March 15, 2022}}</ref>
| area_total_km2 = 37.97
| area_total_sq_mi = 14.66
| area_land_km2 = 37.77
| area_land_sq_mi = 14.58
| area_water_km2 = 0.21
| area_water_sq_mi = 0.08
| area_water_percent =
| area_metro_footnotes =
| area_metro_km2 =
| area_metro_sq_mi =
| area_rank =
| elevation_footnotes = <ref name=gnis/>
| elevation_ft = 518
| population_as_of = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_footnotes =
| population_total = 14600
| pop_est_as_of =
| pop_est_footnotes =
| population_est =
| population_rank =
| population_density_km2 = 386.56
| population_density_sq_mi = 1001.17
| population_metro_footnotes =
| population_metro =
| population_density_metro_km2 =
| population_density_metro_sq_mi =
| population_density =
| population_density_rank =
| population_blank1_title =
| population_blank1 =
| population_density_blank1_km2 =
| population_density_blank1_sq_mi =
| population_blank2_title =
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| population_density_blank2_km2 =
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| demographics1_title1 =
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| demographics_type2 =
| demographics2_footnotes =
| demographics2_title1 =
| demographics2_info1 =
| timezone1 = [[Central Time Zone|CST]]
| utc_offset1 = −6
| timezone1_DST = [[Central Time Zone|CDT]]
| utc_offset1_DST = −5
| timezone2 =
| utc_offset2 =
| timezone2_DST =
| utc_offset2_DST =
| postal_code_type = [[ZIP code|ZIP Code(s)]]
| postal_code = 62864
| postal2_code_type =
| postal2_code =
| area_code_type =
| area_codes = [[Area code 618|618]]
| geocode =
| iso_code =
| blank_name = [[Federal Information Processing Standards|FIPS code]]
| blank_info = 17-51180
| blank1_name = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info = 2395129<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2395129}}</ref>
| blank2_name = [[Public Transit]]
| blank2_info = [[South Central Transit]]
| website = {{Official website|http://mtvernon.com}}
| footnotes =
}}

'''Mount Vernon''' is a city in [[Jefferson County, Illinois]], United States, and its [[county seat]].<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|access-date=June 7, 2011|title=Find a County|publisher=National Association of Counties}}</ref> The population was 14,600 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]]. Mount Vernon is the principal city of the [[Mount Vernon, Illinois micropolitan area]], which includes all of Jefferson and [[Hamilton County, Illinois|Hamilton]] counties.

==History==
{{Unreferenced section|date=April 2010}}

===19th century===
[[Image:Mount Vernon, Illinois City Hall.JPG|thumb|right|City Hall]]
[[Image:5th District Appellate Court.JPG|thumb|right|5th District Appellate Court]]
Mt. Vernon was founded in 1817 by [[Zadok Casey]], who was elected to the State Senate in 1822 and was elected lieutenant governor in 1833.<ref name="ZadokCaseyCongress">{{cite web |title=Biographical Directory of the United States Congress|url=http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=C000230 |website=Biographical Directory of the United States Congress |access-date=June 25, 2018}}</ref> He served in the U.S. Congress between 1833 and 1843.<ref name="ZadokCaseyCongress" /> The town was named for [[George Washington]]'s plantation, [[Mount Vernon]], which was named for [[Edward Vernon]], a British naval hero.<ref>{{Cite web |title=History {{!}} Jefferson County, Illinois |url=http://www.jeffersoncountyillinois.com/history |access-date=June 22, 2023 |website=www.jeffersoncountyillinois.com |archive-date=December 16, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181216123825/http://www.jeffersoncountyillinois.com/history |url-status=dead }}</ref>

When the town was founded, there was no road to it. Travelers had to get there by either following the high ground from the north or crossing the swamps from the south. In the early 19th century the [[Goshen Road]] crossed Illinois in a northwesterly direction from [[Old Shawneetown, Illinois]] to the [[Goshen Settlement]], near what is now [[Edwardsville, Illinois|Edwardsville]]. This road was the main road in Illinois. When Mt. Vernon was first settled, the Goshen Road made a wide arc across [[Jefferson County, Illinois|Jefferson County]], crossing Casey Creek and the [[Big Muddy River|Big Muddy]] north of Mt. Vernon, avoiding the swamps to the south, but bypassing Mt. Vernon. The road entered the county at its southeast corner. It passed through, or near, what are now [[Opdyke, Illinois|Opdyke]], East Salem, Idlewood, [[Dix, Illinois|Dix]] and [[Walnut Hill, Illinois|Walnut Hill]]. However, it was apparent to the early settlers that the town would fail without roads. In 1820–1821, Ben Hood and Carter Wilkey built a bridge over Casey Creek, to the southeast of town.  This bridge was near the present bridge on [[Illinois Route 142]]. A road was built from there northwest, over ground that is now impassable, toward the old cemetery behind the modern Bethel Cemetery. Deep cuts through the old cemetery attest to the location of the road. From there the road probably followed modern [[Illinois Route 37|Route 37]] into town, somewhere shifting from 10th Street on west to 12th Street.

After the state capital was moved to [[Vandalia, Illinois|Vandalia]] in 1819, it became apparent that a road to Vandalia was needed. A party was sent out to the northwest to mark the road. In 1823, Thomas D. Minor and William Maxwell built the "Vandalia Road", now called the "Old Centralia Road." It runs northwest out of Mt. Vernon to [[Walnut Hill, Illinois|Walnut Hill]]. Although legend says that this road is crooked because of the drunken state of the surveyors, the path is probably just the natural path of a pioneer road following the terrain. After the bridge and the Vandalia Road were built, Mt. Vernon was "on the map." The bridge across Casey Creek and the Vandalia Road provided a much shorter path across Jefferson County than the original Goshen Road. The new Goshen Road soon captured most of the traffic, and Mt. Vernon became an important stop on the road west.

In 1836, Joshua Grant came to Mt. Vernon from [[Christian County, Kentucky]] with several of his sons and daughters. His family was a wealthy slave-owning family, most of whom soon moved to [[Arkansas]], probably because slavery was illegal in Illinois. Joshua left behind several daughters and one son, Angus McNeil Grant, who soon became important in the development of the town. "Upon his arrival, there were but four or five houses in the place, and from that time to the present (1883) he has constantly and ably exerted himself in securing to it the full development of its resources." Angus M. Grant's brother, Joshua Jr. taught school in Mt. Vernon in 1838. Some sources cite him as the first schoolteacher in the town.

In 1848, in accordance with the new constitution of Illinois, the Illinois Supreme Court first Grand Division was relocated to Mt. Vernon.<ref>{{cite web |title=Law Practice of Abraham Lincoln |url=http://www.lawpracticeofabrahamlincoln.org/reference/reference%20html%20files/court%20structure.html |website=Law Practice of Abraham Lincoln |access-date=June 25, 2018}}</ref> There were three divisions total comprised for the first (southern), second (central) and third (northern) areas of the state.<ref>{{cite web |title=Illinois Supreme Court Historical Timeline |url=http://www.illinoiscourthistory.org/timeline |website=Illinois Supreme Court Historic Preservation Commission |access-date=June 25, 2018 |archive-date=August 31, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180831164601/http://illinoiscourthistory.org/timeline |url-status=dead }}</ref> The [[5th District Appellate Court]] was constructed in 1854 and is still in use as the Appellate Court House. When the Supreme Court was in session, the important lawyers in Illinois, including [[Abraham Lincoln]], gathered in Mt. Vernon to argue their cases. The lawyers gathered at the Mt. Vernon Inn, owned by Angus McNeil Grant and his in-laws, the Andersons. This building has been on the [[National Register of Historic Places]] since July 2, 1973.<ref>{{cite web|title=National Register of Historic Places|url=http://nrhp.focus.nps.gov/|website=National Register of Historic Places|publisher=United States Government|access-date=October 3, 2014|archive-date=July 25, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080725123211/http://nrhp.focus.nps.gov/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In the 1870s, Mt. Vernon for a time prohibited the sale of alcohol. A village called "East Mt. Vernon" was organized in 1877 to allow the sale of alcohol. A court fight eventually held that the village was organized illegally. Mt. Vernon then voted alcohol back in, and the area of East Mt. Vernon was annexed into the city.

On February 19, 1888, a tornado cut a path a half mile wide through Mt. Vernon, killing 37 people and destroying more than 450 houses. The Jefferson County Courthouse was destroyed. This event was one of the first disasters to which the [[American Red Cross]] responded. [[Clara Barton]] herself directed the relief efforts.

The Mt. Vernon Car Manufacturing Company opened in 1889 after moving from Litchfield, Illinois.  This relocation may have been an outgrowth of the relief efforts following the tornado. The [[Louisville and Nashville Railroad]] hauled in some 1,900 carloads of supplies for reconstruction of the town. Somehow, this effort translated into a major business building railroad cars, at first building about ten cars per day. By 1909, the car shops were producing 25 cars per day, employing more than 1000 workers, with a payroll of $60,000 per month.

===20th and 21st centuries===
During World War II, portions of the "Car Shops", as they had to come to be known, were converted over to wartime production, including the production of bomb casings.  Around 1939, a portion of the car shops was purchased by Precision Engineering, which originally built components for locomotives. During the 1970s, this company purchased old diesel/electric railroad locomotives, which it scrapped out or refurbished. Today, the plant thrives as a hub for [[National Railway Equipment Company]]<ref>[http://www.nationalrailway.com/nre-mt-vernon Nationalrailway.com] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141122054250/http://www.nationalrailway.com/nre-mt-vernon |date=November 22, 2014 }}</ref> which rebuilds and services diesel electric locomotives for rail lines across the globe.

In 1954, the car shops closed, causing a temporary jump in unemployment throughout the city and the 108 communities called "home" by its former employees.

The [[Interstate Highway System]] was built in the late 1950s and 1960s. The [[Concurrency (road)|concurrency]] of [[Interstate 57|I-57]] and [[Interstate 64 in Illinois|I-64]] is along the western border of the ridgeline which divides the [[Big Muddy River]] and [[Casey Creek (Illinois)|Casey Creek]]. The [[stack interchange]] on the southwest side of town complements the historic Casey Creek bridges, allowing much shorter travel times through the swamps to the east and south.

In April 2007, Mount Vernon voters elected the first female mayor<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.register-news.com/news/local_news/chesley-wins-mayoral-race/article_6af85a8f-1781-58b3-ace6-b0b5e660f010.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20150117163523/http://www.register-news.com/news/local_news/chesley-wins-mayoral-race/article_6af85a8f-1781-58b3-ace6-b0b5e660f010.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 17, 2015|access-date=January 9, 2015|title=Chesley Wins Mayoral Race|publisher=[[Mt. Vernon Register-News]]}}</ref> of the city, Mary Jane Chesley. She was sworn into office on May 7, 2007.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.register-news.com/news/king-city-swears-in-first-woman-mayor-three-council-members/article_78a599cd-a40f-53d1-b267-b97798e531fe.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20150117163529/http://www.register-news.com/news/king-city-swears-in-first-woman-mayor-three-council-members/article_78a599cd-a40f-53d1-b267-b97798e531fe.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 17, 2015|access-date=January 9, 2015|title=King City Swears In First Woman Mayor|publisher=[[Mt. Vernon Register-News]]}}</ref>

==Geography==
According to the 2010 census, Mount Vernon has a total area of {{convert|13.151|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which {{convert|13.07|sqmi|sqkm|2}} (or 99.38%) is land and {{convert|0.081|sqmi|sqkm|2}} (or 0.62%) is water.<ref name="census-g001">{{cite web
  |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/1600000US1751180
  |title=G001 - Geographic Identifiers - 2010 Census Summary File 1
  |access-date=December 27, 2015
  |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]
  |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213085357/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/1600000US1751180
  |archive-date=February 13, 2020
  |url-status=dead
  }}</ref>

The community is about {{convert|65|mi|km}} east of [[St. Louis, Missouri]].<ref>Botelho, Greg and Nick Valencia. "[https://edition.cnn.com/2015/01/02/us/kentucky-plane-crash/index.html 7-year-old survives plane crash that kills 4 in Kentucky]." ''[[CNN]]''. January 2, 2015. Retrieved on January 5, 2015.</ref>

Mt. Vernon is located on high ground between [[Casey Creek (Illinois)|Casey Creek]] and the [[Big Muddy River]], which join south of the town in what is now [[Rend Lake]]. In pre-settlement times the area around these waterways was a swamp, a heavily forested area that was waist-deep in water during much of the winter and during wet summers. Mt. Vernon was thus often surrounded by water and swamp on three sides.

High ground was located to the north of Mt. Vernon. A ridge ran between the Big Muddy River and Casey Creek north toward what is now [[Dix, Illinois|Dix]].

There are high places both west and east of Mt. Vernon from which one can see the town as a forested point of high ground jutting out into the bottoms. These high places are: from the west, near the [[Woodlawn, Jefferson County, Illinois|Woodlawn]] interchange off Interstate 64 and from the east, on Old Fairfield Road near Summersville School, with the highest point located on Old Route 15 right before it merges with New Route 15, near [[Bluford, Illinois|Bluford]].

===Climate===
{{Weather box
|location = Mount Vernon 3 NE, Illinois (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1895–present)
|single line = Y
| Jan record high F = 75
| Feb record high F = 79
| Mar record high F = 92
| Apr record high F = 91
| May record high F = 99
| Jun record high F = 105
| Jul record high F = 114
| Aug record high F = 111
| Sep record high F = 105
| Oct record high F = 96
| Nov record high F = 86
| Dec record high F = 78
| year record high F = 114
| Jan high F = 38.5
| Feb high F = 43.6
| Mar high F = 53.6
| Apr high F = 64.9
| May high F = 73.8
| Jun high F = 82.4
| Jul high F = 85.7
| Aug high F = 84.8
| Sep high F = 78.6
| Oct high F = 67.5
| Nov high F = 53.7
| Dec high F = 42.9
| year high F = 64.2
| Jan mean F = 30.1
| Feb mean F = 34.3
| Mar mean F = 43.7
| Apr mean F = 54.5
| May mean F = 64.4
| Jun mean F = 73.1
| Jul mean F = 76.5
| Aug mean F = 74.8
| Sep mean F = 67.7
| Oct mean F = 56.1
| Nov mean F = 44.0
| Dec mean F = 34.5
| year mean F = 54.5
| Jan low F = 21.7
| Feb low F = 25.0
| Mar low F = 33.8
| Apr low F = 44.1
| May low F = 55.0
| Jun low F = 63.7
| Jul low F = 67.3
| Aug low F = 64.8
| Sep low F = 56.7
| Oct low F = 44.7
| Nov low F = 34.2
| Dec low F = 26.1
| year low F = 44.8
| Jan record low F = −21
| Feb record low F = −22
| Mar record low F = -10
| Apr record low F = 17
| May record low F = 29
| Jun record low F = 36
| Jul record low F = 46
| Aug record low F = 42
| Sep record low F = 23
| Oct record low F = 18
| Nov record low F = -5
| Dec record low F = −19
| year record low F = -22
| precipitation color = green
| Jan precipitation inch = 2.60
| Feb precipitation inch = 2.62
| Mar precipitation inch = 4.00
| Apr precipitation inch = 4.96
| May precipitation inch = 5.06
| Jun precipitation inch = 4.84
| Jul precipitation inch = 3.78
| Aug precipitation inch = 3.33
| Sep precipitation inch = 3.37
| Oct precipitation inch = 3.53
| Nov precipitation inch = 3.99
| Dec precipitation inch = 2.89
| year precipitation inch = 44.97
| Jan snow inch = 3.2
| Feb snow inch = 3.1
| Mar snow inch = 1.0
| Apr snow inch = 0.0
| May snow inch = 0.0
| Jun snow inch = 0.0
| Jul snow inch = 0.0
| Aug snow inch = 0.0
| Sep snow inch = 0.0
| Oct snow inch = 0.2
| Nov snow inch = 0.4
| Dec snow inch = 2.5
| year snow inch = 10.4
| unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
| Jan precipitation days = 8.9
| Feb precipitation days = 8.3
| Mar precipitation days = 10.9
| Apr precipitation days = 11.1
| May precipitation days = 13.1
| Jun precipitation days = 10.1
| Jul precipitation days = 8.7
| Aug precipitation days = 8.4
| Sep precipitation days = 7.6
| Oct precipitation days = 8.5
| Nov precipitation days = 9.4
| Dec precipitation days = 9.5
| year precipitation days = 114.5
| unit snow days = 0.1 in
| Jan snow days = 1.8
| Feb snow days = 1.7
| Mar snow days = 0.5
| Apr snow days = 0.0
| May snow days = 0.0
| Jun snow days = 0.0
| Jul snow days = 0.0
| Aug snow days = 0.0
| Sep snow days = 0.0
| Oct snow days = 0.1
| Nov snow days = 0.3
| Dec snow days = 1.0
| year snow days = 5.4
|source 1 = [[NOAA]]<ref name = NOAA >
{{cite web
| url = https://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=pah
| title = NowData – NOAA Online Weather Data
| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
| access-date = July 26, 2021}}</ref><ref name=NCEI>
{{cite web
| url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USC00115943&format=pdf
| title = Station: MT Vernon 3 NE, IL
| work = U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991-2020)
| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
| access-date = July 26, 2021}}</ref>
}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1860= 707
|1870= 1167
|1880= 2324
|1890= 3233
|1900= 5216
|1910= 8007
|1920= 9815
|1930= 12375
|1940= 14724
|1950= 15600
|1960= 15566
|1970= 16270
|1980= 17193
|1990= 16988
|2000= 16269
|2010= 15277
|2020= 14600
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=http://www.census.gov/prod/www/decennial.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|accessdate=June 4, 2016}}</ref>
}}

As of the [[census]] of 2020, there were 14,600 people,<ref name="2020 Census tally">{{cite web |title=QuickFacts Mount Vernon city, Illinois; United States |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/mountvernoncityillinois,US/PST045219#qf-flag-D |website=United States Census Bureau |publisher=census.gov |access-date=December 3, 2021}}</ref> and the 2015-2019 data estimated 6,495 households<ref name="2020 Census tally"/> residing in the city. The 2010 population density was {{convert|1,168.7|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|adj=off}}.<ref name="GR2"/> There were 7,534 housing units.<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=September 22, 2014|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> The racial makeup of the city was 80.6% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 14.7% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.3% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 1% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.0% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], and 2.6% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 2.4% of the population.<ref name="GR2"/>

There were 6,702 households, out of which 25.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 35% of all households were [[marriage|married couples]] living together, 16.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.6% were non-families. 37.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.23 and the average family size was 2.92.<ref name="GR2"/>

In the city the population was spread out, with 24.3% under the age of 18, 6.2% from 20 to 24, and 18% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38.3 years. Males represent 46.5% of the population, and 34% of the population was male and over 18. Women were 53.5% of the population, 41% of the population being female and over 18.<ref name="GR2"/>

The median income for a household in the city was $32,549, and the median income for a family was $36,660. Males had a median income of $28,324 versus $16,497 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $21,283. About 19.9% of families and 23.7% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 35.4% of those under age 18 and 11.7% of that age 65 or over. 53.9% of households earn less than $35,000.<ref name="GR2"/>

Of the population over age 25, 72.7% have no college degree. 13.6% of those over 25 have no high school diploma nor equivalent. 7.6% of the population has a bachelor's degree or higher.<ref name="GR2"/>

According to the US Census, health care services and social services employ the second most people with 1,001 estimated jobs. Accommodation and food services (restaurants) are the highest employer with 1,146 estimated jobs.<ref name="GR2"/>

===Crime===

{| class="wikitable" summary="Offenses Known to Law Enforcement"
|+ style="text-align: left;" | Crime Data as reported by MVPD within Illinois Annual Uniform Crime Report. (Offenses Known to Law Enforcement)
|-
! scope="col" | Year !! scope="col" | State !! scope="col" | Months !! scope="col" | Population !! scope="col" | Rate per 100,000 !! scope="col" | Criminal homicide !! scope="col" | Rape !! scope="col" | Robbery !! scope="col" | Aggravated assault !! scope="col" | Burglary !! scope="col" | Larceny-theft !! scope="col" | Motor vehicle theft !! scope="col" | Arson
|-
!2019
|IL
|12
|14,802
|6,438.3
|3
|18
|17
|176
|102
|608
|21
|8
|-
!2020
|IL
|12
|14,802
|5,580.3
|0
|11
|24
|136
|142
|490
|16
|7
|-
! scope="row" | 2021
|                                     IL  ||               12    ||            14,802       ||               918.8   ||  1  ||  17  ||  6  || 136 ||  74  || 434  ||  17  ||  5
|}
Illinois Annual Uniform Crime Report is an index of aggregate data for select categories of crime. It is maintained and published by Illinois State Police (ISP)<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 28, 2024 |title=Crime in Illinois Annual Uniform Crime Report |url=https://isp.illinois.gov/CrimeReporting/CrimeInIllinoisReports |access-date=June 28, 2024 |website=Illinois State Police}}</ref> 2019<ref>{{Cite web |title=CII 2019 INDEX CRIME & CRIME RATE DATA, ILLINOIS STATE POLICE |url=https://isp.illinois.gov/StaticFiles/docs/CrimeReporting/cii/cii19/CII_19_Section_I_Index_Crime.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210408020115/https://isp.illinois.gov/StaticFiles/docs/CrimeReporting/cii/cii19/CII_19_Section_I_Index_Crime.pdf |archive-date=April 8, 2021 |access-date=June 28, 2024 |website=Illinois State Police }}</ref> 2020<ref>{{Cite web |title=CII 2020 INDEX CRIME & CRIME RATE DATA, ILLINOIS STATE POLICE |url=https://isp.illinois.gov/StaticFiles/docs/CrimeReporting/cii/cii20/Index%20Crime.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211029040219/https://isp.illinois.gov/StaticFiles/docs/CrimeReporting/cii/cii20/Index%20Crime.pdf |archive-date=October 29, 2021 |access-date=June 28, 2024 |website=Illinois State Police }}</ref> 2021<ref name="ISP UCR">{{cite web |title=CII 2021 INDEX CRIME & CRIME RATE DATA, ILLINOIS STATE POLICE |url=https://isp.illinois.gov/StaticFiles/docs/CrimeReporting/cii/cii21/Index%20Crime.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240517203707/https://isp.illinois.gov/StaticFiles/docs/CrimeReporting/cii/cii21/Index%20Crime.pdf |archive-date=May 17, 2024 |access-date=June 28, 2024 |website=Illinois State Police}}</ref> 2022/2023<ref>https://ilucr.nibrs.com/Home/Index

Due to system changes in reporting, 2022 and 2023 data is incomplete/inaccurate. As of 2023, data will be reported accurately via NIBRS through Illinois State Police. Reported data must be NIBRS certified before it is allowed to be published. Illinois State Police highly prioritizes accuracy in their new system. There are plans to integrate and verify missing data into the new system over time. Missing data is still available by requesting it directly, or by FOIA.</ref>

==Economy==
Mount Vernon hosts a {{convert|48|acre|m2|adj=on}} facility for [[Continental Tire]] the Americas. It is also home to major distribution centers for [[National Automotive Parts Association|NAPA]], [[National Railway Equipment Company|National Railway Equipment]] (NREC), ALCO and IPT (subsidiaries of NREC), along with many other smaller industries which are located in or in close proximity to the city's three industrial parks. There is discussion of creating a fourth industrial park which is to be used for distribution centers in the area of the new interchange, this park would encompass {{convert|100|acre|km2}} and would be eligible for Tax Increment Financing and Enterprise Zone benefits.<ref>{{cite web|title=Mt. Vernon Enterprise Zones|url=http://mtvernon.com/newedc/enterprise.htm|website=City of Mount Vernon|access-date=September 30, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006095126/http://mtvernon.com/newedc/enterprise.htm|archive-date=October 6, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Two new TIF ([[Tax Increment Financing]]) districts have been created, one TIF is at Exit 95 and is a conservation/industrial use. Exit 94 is an Industrial Park Conservation TIF.<ref>{{cite web|title=JCDC TIF Information|url=http://www.jeffcodev.org/TaxIncrementFinancing.html|website=Jefferson County Development Corporation|publisher=JCDC|access-date=October 3, 2014|archive-date=October 6, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006071910/http://www.jeffcodev.org/TaxIncrementFinancing.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> Pepsi has built a new service and distribution center that was completed in March 2011, it is located off of the Davidson Avenue extension.

===Top employers===
{| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible"
|+2023 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report<ref>{{Cite web |date=April 30, 2023 |orig-date=April 30, 2023 |title=2023 (Annual Audit) City of Mt. Vernon, Illinois Comprehensive Annual Financial Report |url=https://www.mtvernon.com/media/ov0gy5vz/2023-2024-annual-audit.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240520154801/https://www.mtvernon.com/media/ov0gy5vz/2023-2024-annual-audit.pdf |archive-date=May 20, 2024 |access-date=June 28, 2024 }}</ref>
!Employer
!# of Employees
|-
|[[Continental AG|Continental Tires the Americas]]
|3,496
|-
|[[Walgreens]] Distribution Center
|2,138
|-
|[[SSM Health|Good Samaritan Hospital]]
|1,484
|-
|[[National Railway Equipment Company]]
|376
|-
|Crossroads Community Hospital
|290
|-
|[[Mount Vernon City Schools, District 80]]
|283
|-
|[[Rend Lake College]]
|261
|-
|Spero Family Services
|197
|-
|Jefferson County (government)
|178
|-
|[[Mt. Vernon Township High School (Illinois)|Mt. Vernon Township High School]]
|171
|}
The Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (Audit) contains supplemental opinions and audit information from an Independent audit firm. The independent audit firm in 2023 was Roth&Co, a Chicago-based audit firm. Data for prior years located below.

{| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+'''2022'''<ref>{{Cite web |date=April 30, 2022 |orig-date=April 30, 2022 |title=2022 (Annual Audit) City of Mt. Vernon, Illinois Comprehensive Annual Financial Report |url=https://www.mtvernon.com/media/a5joxwxu/2021-2022-annual-audit.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240518160342/https://www.mtvernon.com/media/a5joxwxu/2021-2022-annual-audit.pdf |archive-date=May 18, 2024 |access-date=June 28, 2024 }}</ref>
|-
! Employer
! # of Employees
|-
| [[Continental AG|Continental Tires the Americas]]
|3,496
|-
| [[Walgreens]] Distribution Center
|2,138
|-
| [[SSM Health|Good Samaritan Hospital]]
|1,484
|-
| [[National Railway Equipment Company]]
|376
|-
| Crossroads Community Hospital
|290
|-
| [[Mount Vernon City Schools, District 80]]
|283
|-
|[[Rend Lake College]]
|261
|-
|Spero Family Services
|197
|-
|Jefferson County (government)
|178
|-
| [[Mt. Vernon Township High School (Illinois)|Mt. Vernon Township High School]]
|171
|-
|City of Mount Vernon (government)
|139
|-
|Kroger
|130
|-
|Peoples National Bank
|102
|-
| [[Genuine Parts Company|Genuine Parts/NAPA]] Distribution Center
|90
|-
|Durham Bus Service
|84
|-
| Orthopaedic Center of Southern Illinois
|78
|-
|Medline Physicians Filing
|77
|-
| Magnum Steel Works
|50
|}

{| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+2021<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tate |first=Steven |date=April 30, 2021 |orig-date=April 30, 2021. End of Fiscal year 2021. Provided by Mt. Vernon Illinois Department of Finance |title=2021 (Annual Audit) City of Mt. Vernon, Illinois Comprehensive Annual Financial Report |url=https://www.mtvernon.com/media/sz2l11j2/2020-2021-annual-audit.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240519174920/https://www.mtvernon.com/media/sz2l11j2/2020-2021-annual-audit.pdf |archive-date=May 19, 2024 |access-date=June 28, 2024 |website= |page=190}}</ref>
|-
! Employer
! # of Employees
|-
| [[Continental AG|Continental Tires the Americas]]
|3,496
|-
| [[Walgreens]] Distribution Center
|2,138
|-
| [[SSM Health|Good Samaritan Hospital]]
|1,484
|-
| [[National Railway Equipment Company]]
|376
|-
| Crossroads Community Hospital
|290
|-
| [[Mount Vernon City Schools, District 80]]
|283
|-
|[[Rend Lake College]]
|261
|-
|Spero Family Services
|197
|-
|Jefferson County (government)
|178
|-
| [[Mt. Vernon Township High School (Illinois)|Mt. Vernon Township High School]]
|171
|-
|City of Mount Vernon (government)
|139
|-
|Kroger
|130
|-
|Peoples National Bank
|102
|-
| [[Genuine Parts Company|Genuine Parts/NAPA]] Distribution Center
|90
|-
|Durham Bus Service
|84
|-
| Orthopaedic Center of Southern Illinois
|78
|-
|Medline Physicians Filing
|77
|-
| Magnum Steel Works
|50
|}

==Arts and culture==
Mount Vernon is home to the [[Cedarhurst Center for the Arts]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cedarhurst.org/|website=Cedarhurst|access-date=September 25, 2014|title=Cedarhurst Center for the Arts}}</ref> a 90-acre visual and performing arts institution. Cedarhurst celebrates the arts year-round with visual and performing arts programs for the public. The Cedarhurst Craft Fair<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cedarhurst.org/index.php?page=craft-fair|website=Cedarhurst Craft Fair|access-date=September 25, 2014|title=CedarHurst|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006115401/http://www.cedarhurst.org/index.php?page=craft-fair|archive-date=October 6, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> is held yearly in early September on the grounds. In addition to its programs on property, the Mitchell Museum is located on the Cedarhurst grounds.

The city is host to an event the first Saturday of each month from April through October called Market Days.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://enjoymtvernon.com/catablog-items/mt-vernon-market-days/|website=Mount Vernon Market Days}}</ref> This is an open-air market held near downtown and is similar to a craft fair or flea market.

There is also the Jefferson County Historical Museum and Village located within incorporated Mount Vernon. The Museum and the Village reflect life in Jefferson County from the mid 19th century to more recent years.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jchs.mvn.net/|website=Jefferson County Historical Society|access-date=September 25, 2014|title=Jefferson County Historical Village, Museum & Society; IL|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150225061629/http://www.jchs.mvn.net/|archive-date=February 25, 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The C.E.Brehm Memorial Public Library, a [[Carnegie Library]] built in 1905, is a source of information to the community and is located downtown.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtvbrehm.lib.il.us/|website=CE Brehm Memorial Library|access-date=September 25, 2014|title=Welcome to C.E. Brehm Library Online — CE Brehm Memorial Public Library|archive-date=October 6, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006102357/http://www.mtvbrehm.lib.il.us/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Beatles guitarist George Harrison bought a guitar from Fenton's Music store in Mt. Vernon in 1963 while he was visiting his sister in nearby Benton, Illinois. The guitar sold at auction for $657,000 in 2014.<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/Beatles-Rickenbacker-Guitar-Bought-in-Illinois-Fetches-657K-259725751.html|title = Beatles Rickenbacker Guitar Bought in Illinois Fetches $657K at Auction  |date = May 19, 2014|access-date = January 19, 2015|website = NBC Chicago|publisher = NBC}}</ref>

==Parks and recreation==
* Mount Vernon has multiple community parks with varying amenities.<ref>{{cite web|title=Mount Vernon Parks|url=http://www.mtvernon.com/newparkspage.htm|website=City of Mount Vernon|access-date=October 3, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141016031227/http://www.mtvernon.com/newparkspage.htm|archive-date=October 16, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Government==

===Local government===
[[File:Jefferson County Courthouse in Mount Vernon.jpg|thumb|right|[[Jefferson County Courthouse (Illinois)|Jefferson County Courthouse]]]]

The city of Mount Vernon uses a [[Council-manager government]] with a mayor.<ref name="City Government Information">{{cite web|title=City Government Information|url=http://www.mtvernon.com/city_council.htm|website=City of Mount Vernon|access-date=March 13, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150304195540/http://www.mtvernon.com/city_council.htm|archive-date=March 4, 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> The Mt. Vernon City Council meets regularly on the first and third Mondays each month.  Meetings are moved to the following Tuesday if the first or third Monday falls on a holiday.<ref name="City Government Information"/>

The elective officers of the City of Mt. Vernon shall be a Mayor, four Councilmen, a City Clerk, and a City Treasurer. At the general election for City officers to be starting in January 1969 and every four years thereafter, there shall be elected a Mayor, City
Clerk, City Treasurer, and two Councilmen. At the general election held in 1967 and every two years thereafter, two Councilmen shall be elected.<ref>Mt. Vernon City Ordinances Article 1, Section 1.1 (a)</ref> The mayor is John Lewis.<ref name="Elected Officials">{{cite web|title=Elected Officials|url=https://mtvernon.com/elected-officials|website=City of Mount Vernon|access-date=December 16, 2020}}</ref>

==Education==
[[Mount Vernon City Schools (Illinois)|Mount Vernon City Schools]] operates elementary and middle schools. There are four education centers operated by school district 80 within the city:<ref>[http://www.mtv80.org/ Home page]. Mount Vernon City Schools. Retrieved on January 5, 2015.</ref>
* Dr. Andy Hall Early Childhood Center (preschool)
* Mount Vernon City Schools Primary Center (K-3)
* J.L. Buford Intermediate Education Center (grades 4 and 5)
* Zadok Casey Middle School (grades 6–8)

Summersville Grade School of [[Summersville School District 79]] is a public grade school located on the east side of Mt. Vernon (grades K-8)<ref>{{cite web |title=Welcome to Summersville Grade School |url=https://www.summersville79.com/ |website=Home - Summersville School District 79 |access-date=March 22, 2019}}</ref>

[[Mt. Vernon Township High School (Illinois)|Mount Vernon Township High School]] is the community high school.

==Media==

===Newspapers===
* ''Mt. Vernon Morning Sentinel'' - daily newspaper located within the city that covers local, countywide, and regional news.
* ''[[Mt. Vernon Register-News]]'' - a newspaper that served Mount Vernon, and published its last edition on February 6, 2018; the following day, CNHI announced the closure of both the Register-News and the McLeansboro Times-Leader.

===Radio===
* [[WMIX (AM)]] is an AM frequency radio station operating at 940&nbsp;kHz hosting a talk radio format.
* [[WMIX-FM]] is an FM radio station with a country music format on 94.1&nbsp;MHz.
* [[WDML]] is an FM radio station with an adult rock & roll format on 106.9&nbsp;MHz.

===Television===
* [[WPXS]] is a television station broadcasting north of Mount Vernon operating on digital channel 21 and virtual channel 13.

==Infrastructure==
===Transportation===
====Roads and highways====
* {{jct|state=IL|I|57}} runs north and south and is local
* {{jct|state=IL|I|64}} runs east and west and is local
* {{jct|state=IL|IL|37}} runs north and south and is local
* {{jct|state=IL|IL|15}} runs east and west and is local
* {{jct|state=IL|IL|142}}
* {{jct|state=IL|IL|148}}

====Airports====
* The [[Mount Vernon Airport]] has a 6,500-foot main runway, fixed-base operation, terminal building and storage hangars. Charter and private aviation services are provided, as well as refueling. The facility offers Shell 100 and Jet A fuels and pilot lounge with weight and exercise room, shower and snooze rooms, wireless internet in the airport terminal, complimentary refreshments, courtesy shuttle, as well as overnight hangar reservations.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtvernonairport.com/|website=Mt. Vernon Airport|access-date=September 30, 2014}}</ref>
* [[MidAmerica St. Louis Airport|MidAmerica Airport]], a cargo airport approximately 45 miles from Mt. Vernon, located in Mascoutah, Illinois along [[Interstate 64 in Illinois|Interstate 64]].

====Railroad service====
* [[Evansville Western Railway|Evansville Western CSX]]<ref>{{cite web|title=EVWR Website|url=http://www.evwr.com/|website=Evansville Western Railroad|access-date=October 3, 2014}}</ref>
* [[Norfolk Southern]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Norfolk Southern Website|url=http://www.nscorp.com/|website=Norfolk Southern Incorporated|access-date=October 3, 2014}}</ref>
* [[Union Pacific]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Union Pacific Website|url=http://www.uprr.com/|website=Union Pacific Railroad|access-date=October 3, 2014}}</ref>
* [[Burlington Northern Santa Fe]]<ref>{{cite web|title=BNSF Website|url=http://www.bnfs.com/|website=Burlington-Northern Santa Fe|access-date=October 3, 2014}}</ref>

====Motor freight====
* [[UPS Freight]]
* [[FedEx Freight]]
* Direct Motor Freight

====Bus service====
* [[Greyhound Lines|Greyhound]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Greyhound Bus Website|url=http://greyhound.com|website=Greyhound|access-date=October 3, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190906232014/https://www.greyhound.com/|archive-date=September 6, 2019|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* [[South Central Illinois Mass Transit District]]<ref>{{cite web|title=SCMTD Website|url=http://www.southcentraltransit.org/|website=South Central Mass Transit District|access-date=October 3, 2014}}</ref>

==Notable people==
<!-- Note:
· Only people who already have a Wikipedia article may appear here. This establishes notability.
· The article must mention how they are associated with Vernon, whether born, raised, or residing.
· The fact of their association should have a reliable source cited.
· Alphabetical by last name please
· All others will be deleted.
-->
{{div col}}
* [[Dwight Bernard]], pitcher for the [[Milwaukee Brewers]] and [[New York Mets]]
* [[Ray Blades]], left fielder for the [[St. Louis Cardinals]]; manager for the Cardinals and [[Brooklyn Dodgers]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Ray Blades|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/team/player.jsp?player_id=111051|work=Players|publisher=MLB Advanced Media, L.P.|access-date=June 30, 2012}}</ref>
* [[Paul W. Broyles]], businessman and Illinois state legislator<ref>'Illinois Blue Book 1969-1970,' Biographical Sketch of Paul W. Broyles, pg. 186-187</ref>
* [[Louis Emmerson]], 29th Governor of Illinois from 1929 to 1933
* [[Randy Fenoli]], television presenter and fashion designer
* [[Crista Flanagan]], comedic actress, roles including [[MADtv]] and [[Mad Men]]
* [[Reed Green (politician)|Reed Green]], Illinois lawyer and politician
* [[Nate Hawthorne]], former NBA player for Los Angeles Lakers and Phoenix Suns
* [[Michael Hicks (game designer)|Michael Hicks]], independent game designer and musician
* [[Walt Kirk]], University of Illinois and pro basketball player
* [[Jeane Kirkpatrick]], first woman to serve as [[United States Ambassador to the United Nations]]; graduated from [[Mt. Vernon Township High School (Illinois)|Mt. Vernon Township High School]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.register-news.com/news/former-ambassador-kirkpatrick-was-mvths-grad/article_3671d72d-ea10-57ce-9fef-d90cca010b97.html|last=Cook|first=Dennis|title=Former ambassador Kirkpatrick was 1944 MVTHS grad|newspaper=[[Mt. Vernon Register-News]]|location=Mount Vernon, Illinois|date=December 9, 2006|access-date=May 28, 2017}}{{Dead link|date=March 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
* [[Clyde Lee (Illinois politician)|Clyde Lee]], Illinois state legislator and businessman<ref>'Illinois Blue Book 1965-1966,' Biographical Sketch of Clyde Lee, pg. 242-243</ref>
* [[Ben Moses]], TV producer, writer, director, filmmaker
* [[William L. O'Daniel]], Illinois state legislator and farmer<ref>'Illinois Blue Book 2001-2002,' Biographical Sketch of William L. O'Daniel, pg. 125</ref>
* [[Charles W. Pavey]], Illinois businessman and politician
* [[Tazewell B. Tanner]], Illinois state representative, judge, and newspaper editor
* [[Kenny Troutt]], founder and CEO, Excel Communications
* [[Albert Watson (Illinois judge)|Albert Watson]], Illinois Supreme Court Justice
* [[Albert Watson, II]], US Army lieutenant general during World War II
* [[Jane Willis]], attorney, member of [[blackjack]] team featured in ''[[New York Times]]'' best-selling book ''[[Bringing Down the House (book)|Bringing Down the House]]'' and the film [[21 (2008 film)]]
* [[Mary Beth Zimmerman]], golfer
{{div col end}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}
* History of Jefferson County, Illinois, William Henry Perrin, 1883
* Mt. Vernon Illinois A Pictorial History, Thomas A. Puckett, 1991, Bradley Publishing company

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* {{Official website|http://www.mtvernon.com}}

{{Jefferson County, Illinois}}
{{Southern-Illinois}}
{{Illinois county seats}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in Jefferson County, Illinois]]
[[Category:County seats in Illinois]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1817]]
[[Category:1817 establishments in Illinois Territory]]
[[Category:Cities in Illinois]]