Missouri Real Estate & Relocation Guide

Mount Vernon, Missouri

Population: 4,017

Located in Lawrence County


Home of the Apple Butter Makin' Days

Mt. Vernon is a unique community. It possesses, within its city boundaries, everything that is "small-town" America: from public gatherings on the lawn of the historic courthouse to friends and family gatherings at more than a half-dozen parks found throughout the town. Mt. Vernon even offers a 25-cent city taxi service.

The people of Mt. Vernon have always rallied around the concept of "growing together." At the same time they honor tradition, they are also embracing the future. Mt. Vernon, being rich in history, is also a growing city. Located on one of America's major east-west corridors, Mt. Vernon continues to draw interest from industrial and commercial prospects throughout the region and abroad. In addition, community leaders work hard to keep the town's traditions intact.

Yet no matter how much Mt. Vernon grows in the future, it will always honor it's past. There are many details about Mt. Vernon that make it the great town that it has become.

Size & Population
Mt. Vernon is within driving distance to the Ozarks, Branson, Springfield and Joplin, Missouri to name just a few. The 2000 census put Mt. Vernon's population at 4,017. Small enough to know your neighbors, yet large enough to hold events such as Apple Butter Makin' Days.

Mt. Vernon Climate
Moderate temperatures prevail most of the time in Mt. Vernon and southwest Missouri. The average temperature for January, the coldest month, is approximately 15 - 52 degrees, and the normal for August, the hottest month, is approximately 72 - 95 degrees. The growing season begins in March and ends in late October. Average yearly rainfall is 41.1 inches a year, and the snowfall average is about 13.5 inches a year.

Apple Butter Makin' Days, one of Missouri's most popular festivals, has been held on the courthouse square in Mt. Vernon each October since 1967. The main attraction is apple butter, cooked using century-old methods in huge copper kettles over open fires. That craft is demonstrated on the southeast corner of the courthouse lawn starting shortly after dawn and continuing until early to mid-afternoon each day of the festival.

The sale of apple butter has helped fund numerous charitable projects. While the cooking of apple butter is the prime attraction of Apple Butter Makin' Days, other activities compliment the event and provide entertainment and fun for those who attend. Businesses decorate their store windows with displays of antique furniture and collectibles, and some people still dress in costumes of the era.

The juried festival also includes games, food and entertainment for all ages. The festival draws an estimated 40,000 to 45,000 people for the three day weekend!

Courtesy http://www.mtvernonchamber.com