Mount Vernon is a rural community with a thriving dining scene
Mount Vernon has a “cool vibe.” That’s the best way residents like Kathy Johnson, a co-owner of The Loading Dock restaurant, can describe the place. It’s a rural area, but its downtown is active, and Johnson says people there appreciate good food. Its school system receives high marks, and its history is seen at places like the Fire Station Museum. Those amenities are more common in bigger cities, but the community of around 2,500 people has helped Mount Vernon grow into a place people want to be. “We’re like a big family here,” Johnson says. “We’re a small town, but everyone takes care of each other.”
New Traditional brick homes with grassy yards sit along wide roads
Most area housing is found in town, but there are also properties in the region’s more remote areas. There are several New Traditional brick homes and older traditional houses with front porches. The median sale price is around $215,000, well below the national median, but the community’s homes can be slightly more expensive than other parts of the Mount Pleasant Metro Area. City streets are loosely placed in a grid-like pattern, particularly the residential roads south of Main Street. Roads are usually wide, making walking possible even though there are few sidewalks. Parking along the curb is a common occurrence. The grassy yards often have small or medium trees and bushes or hedges along the side of the property. Outside of the city limits, woods and farmland surround the roads. A lithium plant is coming to the region south of Interstate 30 and is expected to create around 120 jobs when it opens in 2026.
Local restaurants like The Loading Dock keep residents full
Local restaurants congregate around Plaza on the Square, and chains and fast-food eateries line Interstate 30. The Loading Dock lets customers create their own sandwiches and charcuterie boards. “It’s relaxing and inviting,” Johnson says of the restaurant’s space, a former glove factory with an industrial look. “We have two seating areas with couches, and we have tables where you can sit and talk or plug in your devices and do some work. We have a little bit of everything.” The Chophouse serves upscale cuisine in a 1912 building. Tag’s Hometown Bar & Grill puts a Southern twist on typical sports bar food. The community has Brookshire’s and Dollar General locations along Texas State Highway 37.
Mount Vernon Independent School District gets high Niche grades
Students are zoned for the Mount Vernon Independent School District. They can attend Mount Vernon Elementary School, which holds a B-plus Niche grade. Mount Vernon Middle School earns an A-minus score. Mount Vernon High School offers dual enrollment classes with Northeast Texas Community College. It receives a B rating.
Starting in 2026, Texas’ school choice voucher program will send eligible families about $10,000 toward private school tuition. The nearest private schools are in Mount Pleasant, just over 15 miles away; Mount Pleasant Christian Academy, for kindergarten through 12th grade, receives a B-plus from Niche.
Tour historic homes and museums, or play sports at Little Creek Park
Several homes from the late 1800s and early 1900s have been preserved and are on display, including the Henry Clay Thruston House, built in 1868; The dogtrot-style home — featuring a large, open breezeway running through its center — was owned by a former Civil War soldier and offers tours. At the Fire Station Museum are Franklin County artifacts spanning a 10,000-year period, including art from the Caddo tribe that once inhabited the area, a bird egg collection, and an exhibit dedicated to football legend Don Meredith, who was born and raised in the city. First Baptist Church Mount Vernon has congregated in the area since 1849; Its current building was constructed in 1998.
Dupree Park, a nature preserve, has signposts pointing out its wildlife, including songbirds and butterflies. Little Creek Park features basketball courts, baseball fields, tennis courts, a splash zone and playground equipment. Plaza on the Square is the town’s social hub. It has a gazebo, hosts community events, and is surrounded by local businesses. “Downtown at night is beautiful,” Johnson says. The nearby Franklin County Sports Complex has nine baseball diamonds plus soccer and football fields.
October brings the Mount Vernon Food and Wine Festival and CountryFest
Each October, two significant events come to town. One, the Mount Vernon Food and Wine Festival, celebrates with live music, wine tastings and cooking demos; The other is CountryFest, which blends a stew cook-off with family-friendly activities. During the summer, the Mount Vernon Farmers Market is held at Little Creek Park.
Access to U.S. Route 67 and I-30, plus Titus Regional Medical Center
U.S. Route 67 cuts through the city’s downtown and is known locally as Main Street, while Interstate 30 runs parallel a few miles south. A railroad crosses through town a few blocks south of Main Street, heading east and west. The area is about 15 miles from Mount Pleasant and close to 100 miles from Downtown Dallas. Mount Pleasant’s Titus Regional Medical Center has nearly 175 beds. Dallas Fort Worth International Airport is around 120 miles away. Tornadoes and other severe storms occasionally impact the area.
