Get to know Mount Vernon

The city of Mount Vernon is a suburb of New York City, just north of the Bronx borough.  The city was founded in the 17th century by Anne Hutchinson.  It predates Washington’s Virginia plantation, instead being named for its green hilltop.  In 1904, Andrew Carnegie gifted the city the Mount Vernon Public Library, which still operates in the Westchester Library System today.  The city experienced divide throughout the 1960’s and into the 1970’s.  As white flight was driving white Americans to the “bedroom community” and away from the crime in New York city, African Americans simultaneously flocked from the South looking for better jobs and education.  As a result, the community became highly segregated with white residents residing on the north side of the tracks of the Metro-North Railroad, and African Americans settling on the Southside of the city.  Today the Northside is one of the most ethnically diverse neighborhoods in Westchester County.  The city experienced massive economic growth in the early 2000’s as it became a regional commerce center instead of relying merely on small businesses.  Popular attractions include St. Paul’s Church, a National Historic Site, and the annual Arts on Third Festival.  The top employers in Mount Vernon include the Mount Vernon city school district, Michael Anthony Jewelers, and Mount Vernon Hospital.  Notable residents have included Dick Clark, Denzel Washington, and Ben Gordon, all of whom were born in Mount Vernon.

Quick Facts

Population: 68,221

Median Household Income: $50,952

Median Property Value: $361,700