Interestingly, Mount Vernon got its name from George Washington’s plantation. Much like Wakefield in the Bronx was named after Washington’s birthplace. Mount Vernon, New York, is a city steeped in history. It sits in Westchester County. The city is an inner suburb just north of the Bronx.
Mount Vernon was first settled in 1664. Families from Connecticut established it as part of the Town of Eastchester. It wasn’t until 1853 that Mount Vernon became a village. Then in 1892, it was incorporated as a city. The New York Industrial Home Association No. 1 drove early development. This cooperative built homes for tradesmen and employees. They catered to persons of small means.
In 1894, Mount Vernon voters considered joining a new “City of Greater New York.” Brooklyn, Long Island City, and Staten Island voted to join Manhattan and The Bronx. However, Mount Vernon and Yonkers voted against consolidation. Thus, they remain independent to this day.
The Mount Vernon Public Library opened in 1904. Andrew Carnegie gifted it to the city. It’s now part of the Westchester Library System. The library offers educational, cultural, and computer services. All county residents can use them. The Mount Vernon Trust Company opened in 1903. It became the largest bank in Westchester County. It even had branches in the east and west sections of the city.
During the 1960s, Mount Vernon faced division and segregation. Many African Americans migrated from the South. They sought better jobs and education. Simultaneously, white Americans moved from the Bronx and Manhattan. They saw Mount Vernon as a new “bedroom community.” Rising crime in New York City fueled this “white flight”. The New Haven Line railroad tracks split Mount Vernon. The area south of the tracks became predominantly African-American. The north side became largely white.
In recent years, Mount Vernon has transitioned. It moved from a city of homes and small businesses to a city of regional commerce. Between 2000 and 2006, Mount Vernon’s economy grew significantly. It was one of the fastest-growing cities in the New York metropolitan area.
Mount Vernon offers several notable sites. St. Paul’s Church is a National Historic Site. Other places are on the National Register of Historic Places. They include the First United Methodist Church and the John Stevens House. Also listed are the Trinity Episcopal Church Complex and the U.S. Post Office on First Street. The former Con Edison Westchester County HQ is now a social services building.
Mount Vernon is divided into four sections. These are Downtown, Mount Vernon Heights, North Side, and South Side. Downtown Mount Vernon features the Gramatan Avenue shopping district. Locals call it “The Avenue”. Petrillo Plaza is a transit hub. It houses the city’s central government. Mount Vernon Heights boasts elevated terrain. It’s known as “the rolling hills of homes.” This area is home to the city’s commercial corridor. It is located along Sandford Boulevard. Mount Vernon’s North Side is ethnically diverse. The South Side resembles New York City.
Mount Vernon has produced many notable people. These include actors Denzel Washington and Michael O’Keefe. The screenwriter David Chase also lived here. He created “The Sopranos” and “Mad Men”. The movie “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind” was filmed in Mount Vernon. Scenes were shot in Hutchinson Field and on Gramatan Avenue.