History

The roots of Mount Vernon date back to 1817 when Zadok Casey, a Methodist preacher and farmer, settled in the area to be known as Jefferson County.

Soon after his arrival Casey entered politics, first becoming a State representative in 1822 and finishing as a State Senator in 1862. In between he also served as the Lieutenant Governor of Illinois.

In the early part of the 1800's Jefferson County was carved out of parts of Edwards and White Counties. Mount Vernon began with a few simple structures on land donated by Casey. It was originally to be called Mount Pleasant but, after heated discussion, the name was changed to Mount Vernon in honor of George Washington. It was common at that time to name towns after Revolutionary War Heroes. In 1819 it was named the Jefferson County seat.
 
Like many communities at this time the arrival of the railroad contributed much to their development. In Mount Vernon's case that occurred in 1872.
 
By 1880, Jefferson County had a population of 20,686. The major industries were mills, foundries, breweries, brick makers, carpenters and harness makers.

In 1888, disaster struck. A tornado, known then as a cyclone, ripped through Mount Vernon killing 30, leaving 1250 homeless and destroying more than 500 buildings including the Jefferson County Courthouse.
 
Relief came from across the region and the country. Clara Barton, founder of the American Red Cross, brought $150,000 in supplies. Doctors from as far away as Evansville, IN came to help. When clean up concluded Mount Vernon and Jefferson County residents set forth to rebuild.
 
By 1893, they were well on their way. That year an Opera House, boasted as being the finest in Southern Illinois, opened. In 1904 the Carnegie Library opened. It was these accomplishments and others that gained Mount Vernon the nickname "King City".

In 1914, a business came to town that would change Mount Vernon again. The Mount Vernon Car Manufacturing Co., or Car Shops, would become the area's largest employer for the next 63 years.
 
Car Shops made railroad cars of all types and by 1912 more than 50 cars a day rolled out of the assembly plant. During World War I it employed more than 2300 people. The Car Shops ended production in the 1950's.