Fun Fact
Bee City, USA
Mount Vernon is proud to be a Bee City, USA! That means we’re committed to creating a sustainable habitat for pollinators. This involves increasing the abundance of native plants, as well as reducing the use of pesticides to create an environment where hives thrive.
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Fun Fact
History Comes to Life
Mount Vernon is home to three districts listed on the National Register of Historic Places: the Ash Park District, the Mount Vernon Commercial District, and the Cornell College District.
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A Brief History of the City of Mount Vernon
The earliest known settler came to Mount Vernon in 1837. By 1838, residents began arriving in force, with merchants setting up shop on a hill that remains the town’s primary business district. Once called Hilltop and later Pinhook, the area was renamed Mount Vernon in 1847 and incorporated in 1869.
Historically, the town has centered around education and services. In 1853, the Iowa Conference Male and Female Seminary was established, becoming Cornell College four years later. Cornell is one of only two colleges in the nation to have its entire campus listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
In the late 19th century, small industries and home craft shops dominated the hilltop business area, providing goods and services to the surrounding farmers. Today, Mount Vernon’s carefully tended Victorian-era homes and quaint business district recall an era of days gone by, but our city continues to evolve with each new resident and business that joins our community.
