Mt. Vernon

Mt Vernon, OH

Named after George Washington’s well-known residence, Mount Vernon was established in 1805 by three individuals Benjamin Butler, Joseph Walker, and Thomas B. Patterson. The county of Knox was formed 3 years later and included residents from Maryland, New Jersey, Virginia, and Pennsylvania.

Although it was established in 1805, Mount Vernon continued to grow…first as a village in 1830, then as a town 15 years later, and finally as a city in 1880. Its personality and charm make Mount Vernon a thriving community that blends together the progression of an enriched economy with the customs and culture of an historic past.

Even in the process of renovations, Mount Vernon maintains the numerous historical buildings in the area. For example, the nation’s earliest known freestanding opera house, the Woodward Opera House, will keep its beauty and appeal of the past. In the mid 1960s, Look Magazine considered Mount Vernon an “All American City”. Approximately 30 years later, Ohio Magazine named it “Ohio’s Most Livable Community”, a standard that it still maintains today.

One of Mount Vernon’s claim to fame is being the birthplace of Daniel Decatur Emmett. He authored one of the most well-known American songs, “Dixie”, also known as “I Wish I Was in Dixie’s Land”. This song became a favorite of President Abraham Lincoln. Mount Vernon even celebrates the annual Dan Emmett Music and Arts Festival in his honor.

In addition to the music and arts festival, Mount Vernon holds the annual Antique and Classic Car Show, the Knox County Fair, and Ohio’s Largest Garage Sale. Even the famous Kokosing Gap Trail begins its paved hiking and bike recreational trail in Mount Vernon, and makes its way almost 15 miles through the heart of central Ohio.