Editing Mount Vernon, Missouri

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
|name                     = Mount Vernon, Missouri
|settlement_type          = [[City]]
|nickname                 = 
|motto                    =

<!-- Images -->
|image_skyline            = File:Lawrence County MO Courthouse 20151022-120.jpg
|image_caption            = Lawrence County Courthouse, October 2015
|image_flag               = 
|image_seal               =

<!-- Maps -->
|image_map                = Lawrence_County_Missouri_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Mount_Vernon_Highlighted.svg
|map_caption              = Location of Mount Vernon, Missouri
|image_map1               = 
|mapsize1                 = 
|map_caption1             =

<!-- Location -->
|subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
|subdivision_name         = United States
|subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_name1        = [[Missouri]]
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Missouri|County]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[Lawrence County, Missouri|Lawrence]]
|government_footnotes     = 
|government_type          = [[mayor-Council government|Mayor/Council]]
|leader_title             = [[Mayor]]
|leader_name              = David Eden
|leader_title1            = 
|leader_name1             = 
|established_title        = 
|established_date         =

<!-- Area -->
|unit_pref                = Imperial
|area_footnotes           = <ref name="TigerWebMapServer">{{cite web|title=ArcGIS REST Services Directory|url=https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/Places_CouSub_ConCity_SubMCD/MapServer|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=August 28, 2022}}</ref>
|area_magnitude           = 
|area_total_km2           = 10.62
|area_land_km2            = 10.62
|area_water_km2           = 0.00
|area_total_sq_mi         = 4.10
|area_land_sq_mi          = 4.10
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.00

<!-- Population -->
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_est           = 
|pop_est_as_of            = 
|population_footnotes     = 
|population_total         = 4526
|population_density_km2   = 426.20
|population_density_sq_mi = 1103.90
<!-- General information -->
|timezone                 = [[North American Central Time Zone|Central (CST)]]
|utc_offset               = -6
|timezone_DST             = CDT
|utc_offset_DST           = -5
|elevation_footnotes      = 
|elevation_m              = 369
|elevation_ft             = 1211
|coordinates              = {{coord|37|6|0|N|93|49|5|W|region:US-MO|display=inline,title}}
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 65712
|area_code                = [[Area code 417|417]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 29-50672<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2008-01-31|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref>
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 0722909<ref name="GR3">{{cite web|url=http://geonames.usgs.gov|access-date=2008-01-31|title=US Board on Geographic Names|publisher=[[United States Geological Survey]]|date=2007-10-25}}</ref>
|website                  = {{URL|mtvernon-cityhall.org}}
|footnotes                = 
|pop_est_footnotes        = 
}}
 
'''Mount Vernon''' is a city in and the [[county seat]] of [[Lawrence County, Missouri|Lawrence County]], [[Missouri]], United States.  As of the 2020 census, its population was 4,526.

==History==
Mount Vernon was [[plat]]ted in 1845.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://shsmo.org/manuscripts/ramsay/ramsay_lawrence.html| title=Lawrence County Place Names, 1928–1945 (archived)| publisher=The State Historical Society of Missouri| access-date=26 October 2016| url-status=bot: unknown| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160624071704/http://shsmo.org/manuscripts/ramsay/ramsay_lawrence.html| archive-date=24 June 2016}}</ref> The city was named after [[Mount Vernon]], the estate of [[George Washington]].<ref>{{cite book | url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_RfAuAAAAYAAJ | title=How Missouri Counties, Towns and Streams Were Named | publisher=The State Historical Society of Missouri | author=Eaton, David Wolfe | year=1916 | pages=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_RfAuAAAAYAAJ/page/n81 184]}}</ref> A post office called Mount Vernon has been in operation since 1846.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.postalhistory.com/postoffices.asp?task=display&state=MO&county=Lawrence | title=Post Offices| publisher=Jim Forte Postal History | access-date=26 October 2016}}</ref>

[[Lawrence County Courthouse (Missouri)|Lawrence County Courthouse]] and [[Old Spanish Fort Archeological Site]] are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.nationalregisterofhistoricplaces.com/mo/lawrence/state.html | title=MISSOURI - Lawrence County | publisher=nationalregisterofhistoricplaces.com | access-date=17 March 2018}}</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|3.87|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, all land.<ref name="Gazetteer files">{{cite web|title=US Gazetteer files 2010|url=https://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2012-07-08|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110220065340/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt|archive-date=2011-02-20}}</ref>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|align=left
|1860= 441
|1870= 558
|1880= 527
|1890= 782
|1900= 1206
|1910= 1161
|1920= 1254
|1930= 1342
|1940= 1982
|1950= 2057
|1960= 2381
|1970= 2600
|1980= 3341
|1990= 3726
|2000= 4017
|2010= 4575
|2020= 4526
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}</ref>
}}
[[File:PO mural in Mount Vernon, MO.jpg|thumb|right|Mural in Mount Vernon post office]]

===2010 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name ="wwwcensusgov">{{cite web|title=U.S. Census website|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2012-07-08}}</ref> of 2010, there were 4,575 people, 1,810 households, and 1,101 families living in the city. The [[population density]] was {{convert|1182.2|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 2,013 housing units at an average density of {{convert|520.2|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 95.3% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.4% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 1.3% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.5% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.6% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 1.9% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 2.1% of the population.

There were 1,810 households, of which 31.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.5% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 14.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.0% had a male householder with no wife present, and 39.2% were non-families. 34.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.96.

The median age in the city was 40.3 years. 24.1% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.4% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 23.1% were from 25 to 44; 23.6% were from 45 to 64; and 21.7% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.6% male and 51.4% female.

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2" /> of 2000, there were 4,017 people, 1,606 households, and 1,005 families living in the city. The population density was {{convert|1,173.4|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 1,730 housing units at an average density of {{convert|505.3|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 96.61% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.67% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.92% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.27% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.55% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.97% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 1.22% of the population.

There were 1,606 households, out of which 28.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.9% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 12.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.4% were non-families. 33.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.89.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 23.3% under the age of 18, 8.6% from 18 to 24, 23.4% from 25 to 44, 21.7% from 45 to 64, and 23.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.2 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $28,628, and the median income for a family was $34,848. Males had a median income of $27,665 versus $20,234 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $16,210. About 10.5% of families and 13.7% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 24.0% of those under age 18 and 11.2% of those age 65 or over.

==Education==
Mt. Vernon R-V School District operates one elementary school, one intermediate school, one middle school, and Mt. Vernon High School.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.greatschools.org/missouri/mt-vernon/mt.-vernon-r_v-school-district/schools/ | title=Mt. Vernon R-V School District | publisher=Great Schools | access-date=17 March 2018}}</ref>

The Mount Vernon High School "Lady Mountaineers" won the Missouri Class 3A girls basketball state championship in 2010 and 2012.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mshsaa.org/ShowMeShowdownInfoCentral.aspx|title=Show Me Showdown results|publisher=Missouri State High School Activities Association website|date=2012-03-17|access-date=2012-03-18|archive-date=March 19, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120319203529/http://www.mshsaa.org/ShowMeShowdownInfoCentral.aspx|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Mount Vernon has a [[public library]], a branch of the Barry-Lawrence Regional Library.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www2.youseemore.com/blrl/contentpages.asp?loc=73 | title=Locations | publisher=Barry-Lawrence Regional Library | access-date=17 March 2018}}</ref>

==Arts and culture==
In October, the city hosts "Apple Butter Makin' Days", an annual crafts and [[food festival]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.mtvchamber.com/apple-butter-makin-days.html | title=Biggest Area Festival | publisher=Mt. Vernon Area Chamber of Commerce | access-date=17 March 2018}}</ref>

==Notable people==
* [[Julia Butterfly Hill]], environmental activist
* [[Bobby Berk]], interior design expert, ''[[Queer Eye (2018 TV series)|Queer Eye]]''

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://mtvernon-cityhall.org/ Official website]
* Historic maps of Mount Vernon in the [http://dl.mospace.umsystem.edu/mu/islandora/object/mu%3A138901 Sanborn Maps of Missouri Collection] at the [[University of Missouri]]

{{Lawrence County, Missouri}}
{{Missouri county seats}}
{{authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in Lawrence County, Missouri]]
[[Category:County seats in Missouri]]
[[Category:Cities in Missouri]]