Mount Vernon, New York facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mount Vernon, New York
City
Looking northeast at statue and Community Church of the Circle in Mount Vernon on a cloudy afternoon
Flag Seal
Location within Westchester County and the state of New York
Country	United States
State	New York
County	Westchester
Incorporated (as a village)	1853
Reincorporated (as a city)	1892
Government
• Type	Mayor-Council
Area
• Total	4.41 sq mi (11.42 km2)
• Land	4.39 sq mi (11.38 km2)
• Water	0.02 sq mi (0.04 km2)
Elevation	108 ft (33 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	73,893
• Density	16,824.45/sq mi (6,495.76/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (Eastern)
Area code(s)	914
FIPS code	36-49121
GNIS feature ID	0957917

Mount Vernon is a city in Westchester County, New York, United States. It is a close neighbor to New York City, located just north of the the Bronx. In 2020, Mount Vernon had about 73,893 people living there. This makes it the 24th largest city in New York State. It is also the city with the largest number of African-American residents in the state. Many people from Jamaica have also moved to Mount Vernon since 1962.

Mount Vernon has two main parts. The south side of the city is more like a busy city area. The north side is mostly made up of homes. The main business area of Mount Vernon is on the south side. Here you can find City Hall, the main post office, the public library, and other important city buildings.

History of Mount Vernon

South Fourth Avenue in the 1890s

Former trolley company building on the South Side

The area where Mount Vernon is today was first settled in 1664. Families from Connecticut moved here as part of the Town of Eastchester. Mount Vernon became a village in 1853 and then a city in 1892. Early on, a group called the New York Industrial Home Association No. 1 helped build homes for working people.

The city is named after George Washington's home, Mount Vernon in Virginia. This is similar to how the nearby area of Wakefield was named after Washington's birthplace.

In 1894, people in Mount Vernon voted on whether to join a new, bigger "City of Greater New York". Cities like Brooklyn and Long Island City voted to join. But Mount Vernon and nearby Yonkers voted against it. So, these two cities stayed independent.

The Mount Vernon Public Library opened in 1904. It was a gift to the city from Andrew Carnegie. Today, it offers many services like education, culture, and computer access. The Mount Vernon Trust Company, a large bank, also opened in 1903.

During the 1960s, many African Americans from the southern United States moved to Mount Vernon. They were looking for better jobs and schools. At the same time, some white Americans moved to Mount Vernon from the Bronx and Manhattan. They saw Mount Vernon as a good place to live and travel to work. This led to different parts of the city having different populations. The Metro-North Railroad tracks became a kind of dividing line. The area south of the tracks became mostly African-American. The area north of the tracks remained mostly white.

Over the years, Mount Vernon has had several mayors. In 1984, Ronald Blackwood became the first mayor of Afro-Caribbean background in any New York State city. In 2019, Shawyn Patterson-Howard made history. She became the first black woman mayor of Mount Vernon. She was also the first black woman mayor in all of Westchester County.

In recent years, Mount Vernon has grown its economy. It has changed from a city of homes and small businesses to a place with more regional trade. Between 2000 and 2006, the city's economy grew a lot.

Places to Visit

St. Paul's Church is a special place in Mount Vernon. It is known as a National Historic Site.

Other important places in Mount Vernon that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places include:

• First United Methodist Church
• John Stevens House
• Trinity Episcopal Church Complex
• United States Post Office on First Street
• The old Con Edison Westchester County HQ, now Westchester County Social Services.

Geography of Mount Vernon

The corner of Gramatan Avenue and Grand Street in Fleetwood

Where Mount Vernon Is Located

Mount Vernon is located at 40.914060 degrees north and -73.830507 degrees west. It is the third-largest city in Westchester County and also the most crowded. The city covers about 11.4 square kilometers (4.4 square miles). Only a small part, about 0.04 square kilometers (0.02 square miles), is water.

Mount Vernon shares its borders with several other places. To the north are Bronxville and New Rochelle. To the east are Pelham and Pelham Manor. The Hutchinson River and parts of the Bronx (like Eastchester and Wakefield) are to the south. To the west are Yonkers and the Bronx River.

City Elevation

The elevation of Mount Vernon at City Hall is about 33 meters (108 feet). This is because the city is located between the Bronx River to the west and the Hutchinson River to the east. On a clear day, you can see the Throgs Neck Bridge from many parts of the city. At night, you can see the bridge's lights. The city's official seal, made in 1892, shows what were thought to be the highest points in Mount Vernon at that time. However, it was later found that the highest point is on New York Route 22, North Columbus Avenue, near the Bronxville border.

Mount Vernon Neighborhoods

Map of Mount Vernon's neighborhoods

The Circle at Lincoln and Gramatan Avenues

Mount Vernon is usually divided into four main areas: Downtown, Mount Vernon Heights, North Side, and South Side.

Downtown Mount Vernon

Downtown Mount Vernon has a shopping area along Gramatan Avenue and Fourth Avenue, which locals call "The Avenue." It also has the Petrillo Plaza transit hub, where many buses meet. This area is where the city's main government buildings are located.

Mount Vernon Heights

Mount Vernon Heights is known for its "rolling hills of homes" because it is on higher ground. This area also has a busy shopping street called Sandford Boulevard (6th Street). This street, also known as "Sandford Square," attracts shoppers from Mount Vernon and nearby towns. Many new businesses have opened here since the 1980s, and the area is still growing.

North Side of Mount Vernon

Fleetwood Welcome Sign

The North Side of Mount Vernon is very diverse, meaning people from many different backgrounds live there. This part of the city includes five neighborhoods: Chester Heights, Estate Manor/Aubyn Estates, Fleetwood, Huntswood, and Oakwood Heights. In Fleetwood, you can see many large apartment buildings along Gramatan Avenue, which runs through the center of town.

South Side of Mount Vernon

Church housed in a former synagogue on the South Side

The South Side of Mount Vernon is next to The Bronx and looks a lot like New York City. It includes the neighborhoods of Parkside, South Side, and Vernon Park. You'll find many industrial businesses in Parkside. The rest of South Side Mount Vernon has many multi-family homes, apartment buildings, and shops.

Important places on the South Side include Brush Park, Hutchinson Field, the Boys and Girls Club, and St. Paul's Church National Historic Site.

Population Information

In 2010, the city had 67,292 people. About 61.3% of the people were Black, 18.5% were White, and 14.3% were Hispanic or Latino (of any race).

Economy

Mount Vernon's three biggest employers are the Mount Vernon city school district, Michael Anthony Jewelers, and Mount Vernon Hospital.

The city has a large business area. Industries here include electronics, engineering, high tech, and manufacturing. These are mostly found in the Southside part of the city.

Mount Vernon also has a special "Empire Zone" in its southern area. This zone helps encourage businesses and industries to grow there.

Parks and Recreation

The grandstand at Memorial Field. The aging structure was finally demolished in May 2018.

Mount Vernon has many parks, both big and small. One of the most notable is Willson's Woods Park. This park is 23 acres and is owned by the county. It has a wave pool, water slides, and a water playground. There are also places for picnics and fishing.

Court System

The Mount Vernon city court is part of the New York State Unified Court System. It has three full-time judges who are elected for ten years. There is also one part-time judge appointed by the mayor. These judges handle many types of cases. This includes serious criminal cases, all misdemeanor cases, civil cases involving money up to $15,000, and cases about landlords and tenants. They also handle small claims and traffic law matters. The court is located in the public safety building, next to City Hall.

Education

Hamilton Elementary

The Mount Vernon City School District has 11 elementary schools, two middle schools, two high schools, and one alternative high school.

Westchester Community College also has a campus downtown, offering college classes.

City Services

Fire Department

The City of Mount Vernon Fire Department (CMVFD) protects the city. They have four firehouses and respond to about 8,000 emergency calls each year. The department uses four engine companies, two ladder companies, and one rescue company.

Police Department

As of 2021, the Mount Vernon Police Department has 184 officers.

Healthcare

Mount Vernon Hospital is 115 years old and has 121 beds. It is part of the Montefiore Health System. The hospital provides care for people staying overnight, critical care, and outpatient services. It is well-known for its Chronic Wound Treatment and Hyperbaric Center, which is very advanced. The hospital also offers other services like the Family Health and Wellness Center.

Mount Vernon Hospital is one of four hospitals in the county that offers programs in medicine, nursing, and surgery. The hospital's emergency room treats 25,000 patients every year. It is being expanded to double its size, adding more private treatment rooms and improving the waiting area.

Around the hospital, there are many medical offices and clinics. These provide healthcare to people living in Mount Vernon, parts of Yonkers, and the northern Bronx.

Places of Worship

Mount Vernon's old motto was "A City That Believes." This is shown by the many places of worship in the city, representing over 25 different religious groups.

For example, Grace Baptist Church was started in 1888 by a few women who had once been enslaved. Their names were Emily Waller, Matilda Brooks, Helen Claiborne, Sahar Bennett, and Elizabeth Benson.

Transportation

Mount Vernon is a busy place for commuters. A study in 2005 found that over 5,000 people travel through the area daily. About 3,600 use the Westchester County Bee-Line Bus System, and 1,500 use the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's Metro-North Railroad train service.

• Petrillo Plaza, near the Metro-North's Mount Vernon East station, is the main hub for the Bee-Line Bus System in Mount Vernon. Mount Vernon's taxi services also operate from Petrillo Plaza.
• Several Bee-Line Bus routes serve Mount Vernon, including 7, 40, 41, 42, 43, 52, 53, 54, 55, and the summer-only 91.
• A New York City Bus route (MTA) also serves a small part of Mount Vernon along the city border.
• The Metro-North train has two lines that serve Mount Vernon. The north-south Harlem Line stops at Mount Vernon West and Fleetwood. The west-east New Haven Line stops at Mount Vernon East in downtown.
• The New York City Subway also has stations just south of Mount Vernon's border. The 2 5 trains train ends at 241st Street in Wakefield. The 5 train train ends at Dyre Avenue in Eastchester. Both are a short walk from Southside Mount Vernon.

Famous People from Mount Vernon

See also

In Spanish: Mount Vernon (Nueva York) para niños