Image courtesy of Mt. Vernon Grand.

Mt. Vernon, named after the first president himself, is an excellent, small city between Columbus and Cleveland. There is a lot to do, and with those two sprawling metropolises within an hour’s drive, you will never run out of places to go and things to do in Mt. Vernon! Although it is a smaller city in Ohio, it has a well-developed and fun culture that’s formed around its historic district, upon which stands the Woodward Opera House. 

The historic district is a fantastic place to visit, and the city around it is well developed with a fair amount of restaurants and shops where you can explore. Not to mention the nature preserves and the parks that ring the city. There is much to learn about this lively small town in Ohio! Read on for a glimpse of what it has to offer. 

Here’s what you should know about moving to Mt. Vernon:

• History of Mt. Vernon
• Facts and figures about Mt. Vernon
• Local favorite things to do in Mt. Vernon
• And more!

History of Mt. Vernon

Before Moving to Mt. Vernon, Get to Know the History of Your New Home

Named after George Washington’s estate, Mt. Vernon was established in 1805 and has grown comfortably since. It is a part of Knox County, which was established shortly after, in 1808. Mt. Vernon became a village in 1830, a town in 1845, and then a city in 1880, a title which it proudly maintains to this day. The officials in Mt. Vernon work hard to maintain its historic downtown by renovating facades and keeping the buildings up-to-date, creating a beautiful and scenic district. 

Located about an hour away from Columbus, Mt. Vernon has benefited from the sprawling capital’s economic and industrial development. The growth of the capital’s infrastructure throughout the years has prompted Mt. Vernon’s growth into the 16,000-strong city that it is today. 

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Mt. Vernon by the Numbers

Learn About Mt. Vernon’s Economy, Demographics, and What It’s Really Like to Live Here

Mt. Vernon’s Population

Mt. Vernon is home to around 16,600 residents. The median age is 35.3, which is slightly younger than the median age of the country: 37.4. There are around 2.3 people per Mt. Vernon household, a little lower than the US average of 2.6. 

Mt. Vernon’s Demographics

The great majority of Mt. Vernon’s residents are white. The median cost of a home in this area is $158,000, which is much lower than the average across the whole state, which is around $375,000.

Mt. Vernon’s Schooling

The Mt. Vernon School District is a larger district with six elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school. They strive to bring excellent education to the children of Mt. Vernon, serving around 3,600 students across all of their schools. The US News ranked Mt. Vernon High School 6,800 out of almost 18,000 schools nationally, and 269 out of almost 700 schools in the state of Ohio.

Things to do in Mt. Vernon

Mt. Vernon is snuggled in almost the exact midway point of Cleveland and Columbus. All that means — both cities are close enough to take a quick road trip and explore. Both Columbus and Cleveland are full of places to eat, fun experiences, and beautiful spots, making Mt. Vernon a wonderful place to settle down. Just a bit further afield is Pittsburgh, another great spot for a weekend getaway. 

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Get to Know Mt. Vernon Like a Local

Where People Shop, Dine, and Hang Out in Mt. Vernon

Don’t think that just because Mt. Vernon is sandwiched between those two cities that it hasn’t developed a scene of its own! Both aforementioned cities shout it out as a weekend destination and that’s because Mt. Vernon rocks. There are places to eat, places to drink, places to have a good time, and places to take a walk on a trail. It’s got so much to do and, conversely, both Cleveland and Columbus are perfect weekend getaways. Living in Mt. Vernon you get to experience the big city exactly how much you want. 

North Main Cafe

Enjoy a cup of coffee at Mt. Vernon’s premier cafe

108 N Main St | Mt. Vernon | north-main-cafe.com

If you’re a coffee drinker or like to hang out in a cute, relaxing restaurant where the staff and the customers are pleasant, North Main is the place to be! They’ve been in business for many years serving the residents of Mt. Vernon, and they make sure to take care of their customers. They will provide an excellent experience regardless if you’ve just moved to Mt. Vernon and are a first-time customer, or if you’ve been living there for years. 

North Main Cafe is the place to go when you want to hang out for a few hours, either doing some remote work or reading a book, or catching up with a friend. Their interior is spacious and well-decorated, making you feel at ease and comfortable while you sip their coffee and, perhaps, indulge in a pastry or two. The pricing on both food and drink is very reasonable, and a great addition to your weekly routine. 

The decorations at North Main Cafe deserve a shoutout, making both employees and customers feel good and at ease whenever they visit or work. This is a great place to start your day and a great place to go for coffee o’clock! 

“Wow.  What a cute & delightful place.  Went on a Wednesday for lunch, and returned on Saturday for breakfast because we were so impressed. The buckeye mocha was amazing, as was the chai latte.  But let me tell you what impressed us most - the friendly service and the cleanest restaurant bathroom I've ever seen in my life.  We could tell they value excellence in every aspect of the establishment.” -- Yelp Review

Amato’s Mt. Vernon

Fresh pizza, pasta, and salads — perfect for any occasion

668 N Sandusky St | Mt. Vernon | amatoswoodfiredpizza.com

Amato’s is a spectacular place to get some exquisite Italian cuisine at a fair price and in a comfortably luxurious setting. Their brick-oven-fired pizzas are head and shoulders above the other fare in Mt. Vernon, and they have a selection of craft beers and wines to pair with any meal. The prices at Amato’s are very reasonable, and they have such a wide variety that everyone is sure to find something they love! 

Amato’s should be high on your list the first time you visit Mt. Vernon or right after you move in. They have dine-in or carry-out, making this a spectacular place to visit yourself and take guests when they come to visit. Anton’s is also the city’s best spot when you’ve got a craving for pizza, and its takeout menu is just as good as getting food there. They have an extensive menu of pizzas, all of them with a variety of cheeses and toppings all ordered to create a spectacular mixture of flavors on every single pie. 

Last but not least: they make everything with the freshest ingredients they can find. Their produce is locally sourced, and their dressings and sauces are all made in-house. Whenever you order a dish here you can rest assured that it is made in-house with the freshest ingredients they’ve got. 

“Our first experience eating here was absolutely wonderful. My wife and I each had a different pizza and both were to perfection. Thin slightly sweet, wood-fired crust with a very pleasing sauce and fresh mozzarella, delicious. The server was very helpful and knowledgeable about the menu and quite excellent at her job. Overall great experience. Plan on returning soon.” -- Yelp Review

Stein Brewing Company

You don't want to miss a local stop for great beers! 

109 S Main St | Mt. Vernon | steinbrewco.com

Stein Brewing Company is a go-to spot for good beer, good food, and an overall good time. They’ve been in business for many years in a variety of locations across the States, so you know they know how to make a great beer. They take great pride in their craft, and never stop working to deliver the best-quality beer they can to the people of Mt. Vernon and beyond. 

Alongside a great selection of beers on draft, they have a full kitchen, making this a great place to come for a meal as well as for a few drinks. If you or one of your friends is a big fan of beer we cannot recommend this place enough. The staff is very friendly and happy to guide you towards the draft that’s right for you, as well as the process with which they make their beer. 

While their focus is on the beer, their full kitchen and chefs cook up quite the spread of bar food that is a delight to eat. They have an award-winning chef and locally source as much of their food as they can, making it a perfect place to go for a sit-down meal. On top of that, the brewery has a fantastic location inside the historic Woodward Opera House building, which you will hear more about in just a moment! You can even pair a few drinks here with a play at the opera house, or just go in for one or the other! 

“Wonderful service, fantastic food! We arrived after making a reservation and were taken in almost right away. It was a short walk from The Grand and was a great way to cap off the evening! 10/10 highly recommend.” -- Yelp Review

Woodward Opera House

Step inside America’s oldest theater, the pride and joy of Mt Vernon

107 S Main St | Mt. Vernon | thewoodward.org

Opening its doors for the first time in 1851, the Woodward Opera House is a historical goliath in the center of Mt. Vernon’s historic downtown. It has hosted countless plays, operas, minstrel groups, and much more in its top two floors of theaters while keeping its bottom floor open for local business to sell their wares. In the middle of the 20th century, competition from newer theaters forced Woodward to close its doors. 

For almost half a century, the building stood quietly, devoid of the magic that once filled its halls. It was not until the 1970s that groups within Mt. Vernon began efforts to recognize its historical significance. In 1975, the theater was placed on the National Register of Historic Places, and since then more and more of the community has rallied together to restore it to its former glory. 

Now, the opera house is a landmark in the historic downtown and it hosts many events for the fine citizenry of Mt. Vernon. Next time you are around, make sure to check out the opera house and see if it’s got any events that catch your eye! See a local show or just take a walk through the building, admiring its unusual architecture. You won’t regret it! 

So, what do you think of Mt. Vernon? We hope you like it as much as we do! One More thing: we would be remiss not to talk about how amazing nature is outside of the city. A few minutes in any direction will get you to a beautiful park with scenic vistas and natural formations that will take your breath away.