Mount Vernon

Mount Vernon Municipal Water Report Info

Mount Vernon was founded in 1817 by Zadok Casey, who later served in the State Senate (1822) and as Lieutenant Governor (1833). He represented Illinois in Congress from 1833 to 1843. The town bears the name of George Washington's estate, which itself honored British naval hero Edward Vernon.

After Illinois relocated its capital to Vandalia in 1819, the need for a direct road became evident. Once constructed, the Vandalia Road put Mount Vernon "on the map," leading to its official incorporation. The Casey Creek bridge and new road created a significantly shorter route across Jefferson County than the original Goshen Road, making Mount Vernon a critical stopover point.

In 1848, the Illinois Supreme Court relocated to Mount Vernon at what is now 14th and Main Streets. The 5th District Appellate Court, established in 1854, still operates from its historic courthouse listed on the National Register of Historic Places. During Supreme Court sessions, prominent attorneys including Abraham Lincoln gathered at the Mount Vernon Inn, a building that has held National Register status since July 1973.

On February 19, 1888, a devastating tornado carved a half-mile wide path through Mount Vernon, claiming 37 lives and destroying over 450 homes plus the county courthouse. This disaster marked one of the American Red Cross's first major relief operations, with Clara Barton personally directing recovery efforts.

The Mount Vernon Car Manufacturing Company began operations in 1889 after relocating from Litchfield. This development may have stemmed from post-tornado reconstruction activities, as the Louisville and Nashville Railroad delivered nearly 1,900 carloads of rebuilding supplies. Initially producing about 10 railroad cars daily, by 1909 output had increased to 25 cars per day with over 1,000 employees and a monthly payroll of $60,000.

During WWII, portions of the "Car Shops" converted to wartime production. Around 1939, Precision Engineering acquired part of the facility to manufacture train components. Today, the plant thrives as a National Railway Equipment Company hub, rebuilding diesel-electric locomotives globally and expanding with innovative hybrid train technology.

In 1954, the car shops closed, temporarily increasing unemployment throughout the region. The later construction of the Interstate Highway System, particularly the convergence of I-57 and I-64 along the western ridgeline, improved transportation access. In April 2007, Mount Vernon elected its first female mayor, Mary Jane Chesley, who took office on May 7, 2007.