| Mount Vernon, Indiana | |
| Official Name: | City of Mount Vernon |
| Settlement Type: | City |
| Mapsize: | 250px |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Type1: | State |
| Subdivision Type2: | County |
| Subdivision Name2: | Posey |
| Subdivision Type3: | Township |
| Subdivision Name3: | Black |
| Leader Title: | Mayor |
| Leader Name: | Steve Loehr (R) |
| Established Title: | Founded |
| Established Date: | 1816 |
| Established Title2: | Incorporated |
| Established Date2: | 1832 |
| Established Title3: | Chartered |
| Area Land Km2: | 7.45 |
| Area Water Km2: | 0.11 |
| Area Footnotes: | [1] |
| Area Total Km2: | 7.56 |
| Area Total Sq Mi: | 2.92 |
| Area Land Sq Mi: | 2.88 |
| Area Water Sq Mi: | 0.04 |
| Area Water Percent: | 1.75 |
| Population As Of: | 2020 |
| Population Total: | 6493 |
| Population Density Km2: | 871.13 |
| Population Density Sq Mi: | 2256.08 |
| Timezone: | CST |
| Utc Offset: | -6 |
| Timezone Dst: | CDT |
| Utc Offset Dst: | -5 |
| Coordinates: | 37.9364°N -87.8958°W |
| Elevation Ft: | 413 |
| Postal Code Type: | ZIP code |
| Postal Code: | 47620 |
| Website: | http://www.mountvernon.in.gov/ |
| Area Code: | 812, 930 |
| Blank Name: | FIPS code |
| Blank Info: | 18-51732[2] |
| Blank1 Name: | GNIS feature ID |
| Blank1 Info: | 2395128 |
| Unit Pref: | Imperial |
Mount Vernon is a city in and the county seat of Posey County, Indiana, United States.[3] Located in the state's far southwestern corner, within 15miles of both the southernmost or westernmost points, it is the westernmost city in the state. The southernmost is Rockport, located along the Ohio River about 40miles to the southeast.
The population was 6,687 at the 2010 census. It is located in Black Township and is part of the Evansville, Indiana, metropolitan area, which had a 2010 population of 358,676.
Mount Vernon is the county seat and largest city in Posey County, named for General Thomas Posey, Governor of the Indiana Territory. He grew up at a plantation adjacent to George Washington's Mount Vernon. He was widely rumored to be Washington's illegitimate son, but this was dismissed by Posey's biographer, John Thornton Posey, a descendant.[4]
The first settler in Mount Vernon was Andrew McFaden in 1806, and the settlement was called McFaden's Bluff. It was platted as Mount Vernon in 1816, but continued to be known as McFadden's Bluff for some time.[5] It was named in honor of Washington's Mount Vernon. A post office called Mount Vernon has been in operation since 1818.[6]
A number of historic sites have been recognized in Mount Vernon, including the Posey County Courthouse Square, Mount Vernon Downtown Historic District, Welborn Historic District and the William Gonnerman House, all of which have been placed on the National Register of Historic Places.
According to the 2010 census, Mount Vernon has a total area of 2.86sqmi, of which 2.81sqmi (or 98.25%) is land and 0.05sqmi (or 1.75%) is water.[7]
The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Mount Vernon has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.[8]
As of the census[9] of 2010, there were 6,687 people, 2,736 households, and 1,819 families residing in the city. The population density was 2379.7PD/sqmi. There were 3,077 housing units at an average density of 1095/sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 93.4% White, 2.8% African American, 0.3% Native American, 0.4% Asian, 0.8% from other races, and 2.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.7% of the population.
There were 2,736 households, of which 32.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.4% were married couples living together, 13.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.5% had a male householder with no wife present, and 33.5% were non-families. 29.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.96.
The median age in the city was 40.2 years. 24.5% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.6% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 23.1% were from 25 to 44; 27.1% were from 45 to 64; and 16.8% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.7% male and 52.3% female.
As of the census of 2000, there were 7,478 people, 3,027 households, and 2,058 families residing in the city. The population density was 3036sp=usNaNsp=us. There were 3,312 housing units at an average density of 1344.7sp=usNaNsp=us. The racial makeup of the city was 95.85% White, 2.65% African American, 0.16% Native American, 0.23% Asian, 0.25% from other races, and 0.86% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.56% of the population.
There were 3,027 households, out of which 33.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.4% were married couples living together, 12.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.0% were non-families. 28.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 2.97.
In the city the population was spread out, with 26.1% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 27.9% from 25 to 44, 23.1% from 45 to 64, and 14.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $36,543, and the median income for a family was $49,432. Males had a median income of $40,045 versus $22,790 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,264. About 10.5% of families and 12.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.6% of those under age 18 and 13.0% of those age 65 or over.
The city has a mayor-council form of government. The mayor is elected at-large in a citywide vote. The city council consists of five members: four are elected from single-member districts and one is elected at-large.
Mount Vernon is the headquarters of a small oil refinery owned by the CountryMark agricultural cooperative. Originally built in 1940, it processes more than 20,000 barrels of local crude oil per day.
A former GE Plastics Plant is located here, now owned by Saudi Arabia Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC). Vectren Energy's A.B. Brown Generating Station is located 8 miles east the city.
Mount Vernon is home to two biofuels plants, Abengoa of Indiana and Aventine Renewable Energy. These two facilities helped make Mount Vernon an important energy exporter. The Aventine plant had been developed via partnership with Consolidated Grain and Barge, another company at the port, and was the largest operating ethanol plant east of the Mississippi River. Its nameplate was 110 million gallons of ethanol per year. It was closed in 2012, but it has since resumed operation under Valero Energy ownership.
BWX Technologies (BWXT - formerly Babcock & Wilcox) has a large facility to make large pressure vessels and large metal tubes in Mt. Vernon. This facility produced many components for commercial nuclear plants from the 1960s through 1980s. It now makes heavy-pressure vessels for both commercial and non-commercial power plants. This facility has the largest loading and unloading capacity (1000 tons) on an inland waterway within 500miles.
The Mount Vernon port is the largest port for coal shipments in the U.S. and the 7th-largest inland port. The John T. Myers Locks and Dam, located 13miles SW of Mount Vernon, was constructed to improve navigation and flood control on the Ohio River. It is important to shipping for the region's river-based industries.
Mount Vernon is left without a newspaper, with The Posey County News out of northern Posey county serving as the county's only newspaper. It is represented by the radio stations WPIW AM 1590 and WMVI FM 106.7. Mount Vernon previously (circa 1867-6/24/2020) had “ The Mount Vernon Democrat “ as the town's main newspaper until economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic led to the Mount Vernon Democrat stopping its publication with its June 24, 2020, edition. Landmark Community Newspapers acquired the Democrat in 1979. It was established in 1867 and covered Mount Vernon and the surrounding communities of Posey County, Indiana.
The city and southern half of Posey County is served by the M.S.D. of Mount Vernon which currently operates 5 schools:
The Alexandrian Public Library serves the residents of Mount Vernon, Indiana, as well as Black, Lynn, Marrs, Point, and Robinson townships (approximately 21,000 residents).
The Main Library, built in 1986, is located at 115 West Fifth Street. It has more than 100,000 items, a dozen public computers, and free Wi-Fi. In addition, a bookmobile operates to serve the area schools and outlying areas of the county.
A monthly book discussion group for adults, numerous storytimes, a Summer Reading Program, targeted programming for youth, young adult and adults are all offered free of charge to the public on a regular basis.
The Alexandrian Public Library has a varied and popular collection of local history resources and family history files in the "Indiana Room" of the Main Library. Microfilmed newspapers, contributed family documents, resources from the Posey County Historical Society, and more are available for genealogists and researchers.
Meeting rooms are available for use by the public at the library. Non-profit groups may use the rooms free of charge, and for-profit groups are charged $5/hour.
The Alexandrian Public Library is open 9am-8pm Monday through Thursday, 9am-5pm on Friday and Saturday, and 1pm-5pm on Sunday.