Mount Vernon, Kentucky
Mount Vernon is a city of 2,398 people in Rockcastle County, Kentucky, founded in 1818.
Why visit Mount Vernon
Townapedia lists 3 museums and landmarks, 1 park or trail, 8 places to eat and 2 places to stay in and around town.
Highlights include Bennett Hiatt Log House and John Lair House.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 84°F; January lows average 24°F.
Weather in Mount Vernon
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Mount Vernon
Mount Vernon is a home rule-class city and the seat of Rockcastle County in southeastern Kentucky. The intersection of U.S. Routes 25 and 150 is located here. As of the 2020 census, Mount Vernon had a population of 2,453. Mount Vernon is part of the Richmond-Berea micropolitan area.
From the Wikipedia article Mount Vernon, Kentucky (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Museums and landmarks3
Bennett Hiatt Log House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.0 mi
Historic house in Kentucky, United States
John Lair House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.2 mi
Historic house in Kentucky, United States
Mount Vernon Commercial District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.4 mi
Parks, trails and playgrounds1
Restaurants and cafes8
Taco Bell
Fast food · Tex-Mex · 0.8 mi
1090 Richmond Street, Mount Vernon
Su-We 09:00-01:00; Th-Sa 09:00-02:00
Wendy's
Fast food · Burger · 0.9 mi
1250 Richmond Road, Mount Vernon
Mo-Th 06:00-23:00; Fr-Sa 06:00-24:00; Su 07:00-23:00
Where to stay2
Days Inn by Wyndham Renfro Valley Mount Vernon
Motel and hotel · 1.3 mi
1630 Richmond Street, Mount Vernon
History
The area was first settled by European Americans in 1790 after the American Revolutionary War, around a feature called Spout Springs. Much of the area was originally swampland. The settlement was named for George Washington's home, Mount Vernon. The Wilderness Road was constructed to this town in 1792, and this was the principal settlement when Rockcastle Co. was created in 1810.
In 1883, an L&N spur was built through the town, connecting it by rail to Louisville and Knoxville. The county's first newspaper, the Mount Vernon Signal, began publication in 1887. Although it was still a largely rural town and county in the late 20th century, the construction of I-75 in the 1970s has drawn some industry to the area. The population has increased about 50% from 1,639 in 1970.
From the History section of Mount Vernon, Kentucky on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Churches and places of worship4
Shopping3
Gas and EV charging3
Schools, colleges and libraries9
Rockcastle Academy For Academic Achievement
School · 1.4 mi
955 West Main Street, Mount Vernon
Rockcastle County Area Technology Center
School · 1.8 mi
1555 Lake Cumberland Rd, Mount Vernon
Rockcastle County High School
School · 1.8 mi
1545 Lake Cumberland Road, Mount Vernon
Healthcare1
Map of Mount Vernon
34 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 42°F | 24°F | 4.2 in | 3.1 in |
| Feb | 47°F | 27°F | 4.0 in | 4.0 in |
| Mar | 56°F | 35°F | 4.9 in | 2.0 in |
| Apr | 67°F | 44°F | 4.8 in | 0.0 in |
| May | 74°F | 54°F | 4.9 in | 0.0 in |
| Jun | 82°F | 62°F | 4.8 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 84°F | 66°F | 4.6 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 84°F | 64°F | 3.6 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 79°F | 57°F | 3.5 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 68°F | 45°F | 3.6 in | 0.0 in |
| Nov | 56°F | 35°F | 3.5 in | 0.2 in |
| Dec | 46°F | 29°F | 4.9 in | 1.6 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Mt Vernon (0 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Rockcastle County has had 27 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for severe storms.
- 2026-09-01: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides (Severe Storm)
- 2026-05-29: Severe Winter Storm (Winter Storm)
- 2026-01-24: Severe Winter Storm (Winter Storm)
- 2025-05-23: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes (Severe Storm)
- 2025-04-24: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides (Severe Storm)
- 2025-04-03: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding (Severe Storm)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
London-Corbin Airport (LOZ) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 24 miles away.
- Brodhead 5 mi northwest, about 9 min by car
- Berea 16 mi north, about 26 min by car
- London 22 mi southeast, about 35 min by car
- Lancaster 22 mi northwest, about 36 min by car
- Somerset 24 mi southwest, about 39 min by car
- Richmond 26 mi north, about 41 min by car
- Junction City 30 mi northwest, about 48 min by car
- Danville 31 mi northwest, about 50 min by car
- Irvine 31 mi northeast, about 50 min by car
- Corbin 32 mi southeast, about 52 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Mount Vernon downtown, Main at Church, Nyttend, Public domain
- U.S. Post Office, 380 Richmond Street, Mount Vernon, Kentucky,40456 - panoramio, Dwight Burdette, CC BY 3.0
- Bennett Hiatt Log House, Nyttend, Public domain
- John Lair House and Stables, Nyttend, Public domain
Page built October 30, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.