Mount Vernon is located in
Franklin County (of which it is the county seat) northeast of
Dallas between
Greenville and
Mount Pleasant on US 67 and Hwy 37 above I-30 near Lake Cypress Springs and Lake Bob Sandlin.
The community was first settled in the late 1830s or early 1840s, and in June 1843 the county seat was moved there from Lafayette.
The historic downtown district includes a gazebo and town square where one can shop and eat at places that have been in business since the turn of the century.
The 2000 population was reported to be 2,286.