MOUNT VERNON, OHIO

'Mount Vernon' is a city in Knox County, Ohio, United States. The population was 14,375 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Knox County. The city is named after Mount Vernon, the home of George Washington.

Contents

Geography

Demographics

Colleges and Universities

History

Local History

Residents of note

Economy

External links

Geography

Mount Vernon is located at (40.392738, -82.481151).
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 21.9 km² (8.4 mi²). 21.8 km² (8.4 mi²) of it is land and 0.1 km² (0.04 mi²) of it (0.47%) is water.
The Kokosing River and US Route 36 pass through the city.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 14,375 people, 6,187 households, and 3,730 families residing in the city. The population density was 660.7/km² (1,710.4/mi²). There were 6,713 housing units at an average density of 308.6/km² (798.7/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 96.66% White, 1.15% African American, 0.31% Native American, 0.54% Asian, 0.29% from other races, and 1.04% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.87% of the population.
There were 6,187 households out of which 28.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.8% were married couples living together, 12.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.7% were non-families. 34.2% 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 2.25 and the average family size was 2.88.
In the city the population was spread out with 23.7% under the age of 18, 10.1% from 18 to 24, 27.2% from 25 to 44, 20.7% from 45 to 64, and 18.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 86.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $29,801, and the median income for a family was $38,217. Males had a median income of $31,900 versus $21,969 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,471. About 12.7% of families and 15.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.7% of those under age 18 and 9.2% of those age 65 or over.

Colleges and Universities

★ Kenyon College (located in nearby Gambier, Ohio)

★ Mount Vernon Nazarene University

History

The community was founded in 1805 by Joseph Walker, Thomas B. Patterson and Benjamin Butler.
By 1840, 2,363 people lived in Mount Vernon.
Mount Vernon was a stop along the Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Chicago and St. Louis Railroad that connected Pittsburgh to
Chicago and St. Louis.

Local History

The Woodward Opera House, the oldest Pre-Civil War theater 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.
At 4:30 PM local time on August 3, 2006, an F0 tornado touched down on the west side of town.[1] 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.

Residents of note

★ Daniel Decatur Emmett, author of "Dixie"

★ Paul Lynde, comedian and star of stage and screen; he is buried in nearby Amity, Ohio.

★ Jim Stillwagon, American football player (b. 1949)

★ Jesse B. Thomas, Illinois' first senator and the proposer of the Missouri Compromise; chose to retire here after leaving the senate in 1829.

★ Lansford Hastings, Mount Vernon native and noted California pioneer.

★ Columbus Delano, Whig and Republican politician and lawyer.

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 is now Rolls-Royce Energy Systems, Inc., a subsidiary of Rolls-Royce North America, which is in turn, a subsidiary of Rolls-Royce plc.

External links

★ City of Mount Vernon Web Site

★ Mount Vernon News, a newspaper based in Mt. Vernon