1870Government
== History ==
=== Early days ===
Jasper Gates and Joseph Dwelley first settled on the banks of the Skagit River, where the city of Mount Vernon now lies, in 1870.
1877Education
Later on, Harrison Clothier came to the community in 1877 to teach school and join in business with a former student, E.G.
1880Economy
The mining activity at nearby Ruby Creek spurred growth for a short time in 1880, gaining the city a new hotel, but little else was accomplished when the mines proved to be shal...
1881History
By 1881, Mount Vernon's permanent population was a modest 75.
1882Government
In 1882, the Odd Fellows Lodge was established, followed by the first newspaper in 1884, The Skagit News.
1884Government
The first church, Baptist, was also established in 1884 but would not build a permanent building for several years.
1889Infrastructure
A committee was appointed in 1889 to negotiate with railroads on line placement.
1891Architecture
This was completed in 1891.
1893Government
Mount Vernon was officially incorporated on July 5, 1893.
1894Disaster
Following a large flood in 1894, the first dike was built along the Skagit River.
1896Infrastructure
This deal fell through after the railroad was acquired by Northern Pacific Railway who chose to lay tracks further east through Sedro-Woolley in 1896.
1900Disaster
Another great fire in 1900 wiped out all of Mount Vernon's original structures including English & Clothiers' store and the Ruby Hotel.
1902History
The city finally received a water system in 1902 after a failed attempt in 1894.
1903Disaster
Fire would destroy more downtown businesses in 1903.
1912Architecture
The line opened on August 31, 1912, with passenger trips to Bellingham every two hours during the day and freight operating at night.
1917Military
Plagued by a weakening economy, the onset of America's entrance into World War I in 1917, and numerous infrastructure failures that led to line closures for months at a time, ex...
1920Infrastructure
The completion of the Pacific Highway between Seattle and Bellingham in 1920 posed a great threat to the still incomplete interurban line.
1926Architecture
== Culture ==
The Historic Lincoln Theatre on First Street in downtown Mount Vernon was originally built in 1926 as a vaudeville and silent movie house.
1930Architecture
After a series of accidents and bridge wash outs, passenger service on the money-losing line was permanently suspended in June 1930.
1969Architecture
In 1969, Interstate 5 was built through downtown, severing it from most of the residential district and opening the farm lands north of the city to urban development, where many...
2000History
Between the 2000 and 2020 census, Mount Vernon grew by 34.3%, and is a prominent location in Northwestern Washington, connected to neighboring communities via I-5 and Amtrak (wi...
2004Architecture
== Transportation ==
Mount Vernon's main transportation hub is Skagit Station, built in 2004, which is served by Amtrak and bus operators.
2007Disaster
In the spring of 2007, the city council authorized the mayor to purchase a mobile flood wall from Norway-based company AquaFence, the first such flood wall sold in the United St...
2010History
=== 2010 census ===
As of the 2010 census, there were 31,743 people, 11,342 households, and 7,443 families residing in the city.
2017Disaster
During Thanksgiving 2017 the city, as well as Lyman and Hamilton, experienced flooding; and again on November 15, 2021.
2019Disaster
A permanent flood wall was completed in 2019.
2023Government
Incumbent Mayor of Mount Vernon Peter Donovan started his first term on December 23, 2023, succeeding three-term mayor Jill Boudreau.
2024Architecture
The city's public library was relocated to a new multi-use community center that opened in September 2024 at a cost of $56 million.
2027Government
The directly elected mayor serves a four-year term, with the next election being set to occur on November 4, 2027.