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Mount Vernon, Ohio
East High Street Historic District, Mount Vernon
East High Street Historic District, Mount Vernon
Motto(s): 
"One of Ohio's Most Likable Communities"
Location of Mount Vernon, Ohio
Location of Mount Vernon, Ohio
Country United States
State Ohio
County Knox
Area
 • Total 9.76 sq mi (25.27 km2)
 • Land 9.57 sq mi (24.80 km2)
 • Water 0.18 sq mi (0.48 km2)
Elevation
1,001 ft (305 m)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total 16,990
 • Estimate 
(2019)
16,769
 • Density 1,751.51/sq mi (676.26/km2)
Time zone UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
43050
Area code(s) 740
FIPS code 39-53102
GNIS feature ID 1056436
Website mountvernonohio.org

Mount Vernon is a city in Knox County, Ohio, United States. It is located 40 miles (64 km) northeast of Columbus. The population was 16,990 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Knox County.

History

The community was platted in 1805, and named after Mount Vernon, the plantation owned by George Washington.

On January 1959 a severe flood caused 500 homes to be evacuated and caused $5 million in damage. In August 2006, an F0 tornado touched down on the west side of town. It demolished a barn at the local 84 Lumber, and the resulting debris blew across the road to the DeCosky GM car dealership. It caused at least $150,000 of damage.

Historic sites

The Woodward Opera House, the oldest opera theater of its kind in the United States, is located downtown. The theater is currently under major renovation and will, upon its completion, be transformed into a local cultural and performing-arts center.

The Knox County Historical Society, with a building and extensive exhibits, makes its headquarters on Harcourt Road in Mount Vernon. Exhibits feature information about Daniel Decatur Emmett, Paul Lynde, The Cooper Company and other subjects.

Geography

Kokosing River Mount Vernon Ohio
The Kokosing River in Mount Vernon in 2006.

Mount Vernon is located at 40°23′34″N 82°28′52″W / 40.39278°N 82.48111°W / 40.39278; -82.48111 (40.392738, −82.481151).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 9.60 square miles (24.86 km2), of which 9.41 square miles (24.37 km2) is land and 0.19 square miles (0.49 km2) is water. The city lies in the Glaciated Allegheny Plateau and is surrounded by rolling hills and valleys.

The Kokosing River and U.S. Route 36 pass through the city.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1810 314
1820 403 28.3%
1830 1,021 153.3%
1840 2,363 131.4%
1850 3,711 57.0%
1860 4,202 13.2%
1870 4,876 16.0%
1880 5,249 7.6%
1890 6,027 14.8%
1900 6,638 10.1%
1910 9,087 36.9%
1920 9,237 1.7%
1930 9,370 1.4%
1940 10,122 8.0%
1950 12,185 20.4%
1960 13,284 9.0%
1970 13,373 0.7%
1980 14,362 7.4%
1990 14,550 1.3%
2000 15,256 4.9%
2010 16,990 11.4%
2019 (est.) 16,769 −1.3%
Sources:

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 16,990 people, 7,110 households, and 4,016 families living in the city. The population density was 1,805.5 inhabitants per square mile (697.1/km2). There were 7,836 housing units at an average density of 832.7 per square mile (321.5/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 95.3% White, 1.1% African American, 0.2% Native American, 1.1% Asian, 0.7% from other races, and 1.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.8% of the population.

There were 7,110 households, of which 28.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.4% were married couples living together, 13.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.4% had a male householder with no wife present, and 43.5% were non-families. 38.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.19 and the average family size was 2.88.

The median age in the city was 37.2 years. 21.8% of residents were under the age of 18; 13.7% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 23.2% were from 25 to 44; 24% were from 45 to 64; and 17.3% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 46.5% male and 53.5% female.

Economy

Mount Vernon was the birthplace of Cooper Industries. There is a large industrial complex in the western part of the city that manufactures and repairs products for the gas and oil power generation industries. It was acquired by Rolls-Royce North America, and in 2014 Siemens bought the Mount Vernon plant. Facing a declining market, Siemens announced major reductions in employment in October 2016 and in 2018 announced their Mount Vernon facility would close by 2019.

Ariel Corporation, a major manufacturer of reciprocating natural gas (and other gasses) compressors, is also located in Mount Vernon. Its history is tied to that of Cooper Industries in that Jim Buchwald, one of the founders of Ariel, was a former engineer for Cooper Industries Mount Vernon.

Two universities in Mount Vernon and nearby Gambier, Ohio provide hundreds of jobs to the local residents. Mount Vernon is home to Mount Vernon Nazarene University and Gambier is home to Kenyon College.

Education

Colleges and universities

  • Kenyon College (located in nearby Gambier)
  • Mount Vernon Nazarene University
  • Central Ohio Technical College

High schools

  • Mount Vernon High School (Ohio)
  • Knox County Career Center

Notable people

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Mount Vernon (Ohio) para niños

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