Mount Vernon is a Best Hometown! Ohio Magazine Spotlights Our City’s Spirit and Progress
We’ve always known it, and now it’s official again: Mount Vernon is one of the Buckeye State’s very best places to live, work, play and visit!
Announced in August, Mount Vernon is honored to be recognized as one of Ohio Magazine's prestigious Best Hometowns for 2025–2026. This well-deserved recognition, prominently featured in the magazine’s most recent November/December 2025 issue, celebrates communities that excel in providing an exceptional quality of life. The editors, who selected Mount Vernon after a rigorous evaluation process that included site visits and reviews across six key categories—Community Spirit, Education, Entertainment, Health and Safety, Business Environment, and Culture and Heritage—found that our city stands out in multiple vital areas.
Honoring History, Embracing the Arts
One of the factors that most impressed the magazine was Mount Vernon's strong sense of Culture and Heritage coupled with forward-thinking leadership. The city has mastered the art of honoring its rich past while actively planning for a vibrant future. Our downtown is a shining example of this commitment, featuring stunning preserved architecture and a welcoming, active environment.
Crucially, Mount Vernon has cultivated a truly vibrant arts scene that brings big-city entertainment to a small-town setting. The presence of three major performing arts venues, including the restored historic stages like the Woodward Opera House and the Knox Memorial, provide a cultural anchor for the entire region. Beyond the theaters, events like the annual Mount Vernon Music & Arts Festival showcase the deep creative spirit that defines our community, making it a hub for both local and regional performers and artists.
A World-Class Park Reborn
Perhaps the most compelling testament to Mount Vernon’s innovative spirit is the Ariel-Foundation Park. Located on the former site of the Pittsburgh Plate Glass factory, this 250-acre civic park is a world-class example of adaptive reuse. Instead of letting history fade, the community transformed industrial remnants into a magnificent natural retreat.
Ariel-Foundation Park now boasts three lakes open for fishing and kayaking, serene labyrinth paths, and the iconic Rastin Observation Tower, which allows visitors to climb 140 feet for panoramic views of the area. The park's success illustrates the powerful Community Spirit that rallies residents and local partners to pursue ambitious projects that enhance public life and green space.
The Foundation of a Great Community
While the arts and parks often grab the headlines, the "Best Hometown" designation confirms that Mount Vernon excels across the board. The judges praised the city’s overall livability, including its robust Business Environment, its focus on Health and Safety through local institutions, and the quality of local Education.
In the words of Mayor Matthew Starr, "This recognition helps get the word out that Mount Vernon really is a great place to call home."
This feature in Ohio Magazine is more than just an award; it’s a confirmation of the hard work, civic pride, and friendly nature of every resident. We encourage everyone—locals, visitors, and those considering a move—to explore what makes Mount Vernon a genuinely outstanding place to live, work, and visit. Come experience the community spirit and forward momentum that officially makes us one of Ohio’s best!
