This is a very brief summary of some important events during Mt. Vernon colorful history. My main source of information for this page is from "Dakota Dateline" The Story of Mount Vernon, South Dakota
·Mt. Vernon was originally called Arlandton after the man who provided shelter for travelers who were on their way up the Fort Thompson trail.
·It became Mt. Vernon when the railroad pushed westward from Mitchell after 1881. The Post Office Department requested the change because Arlandton was too much like the already organized Arlington.
·In 1888 there was an intense blizzard that that cause great human suffering. Conditions were so bad that people froze to death a few feet from shelter.
·April 3, 1889, a great fire destroy much of the town. In all 53 buildings burned to the ground and remanding of the buildings were damage.
·In 1902 telephone service found its way to Mt. Vernon.
·Mt. Vernon was "lit-up" in 1912 when electrical lights were used for the first time.
·The first official school was opened up in January of 1883.
·A new building was built when the structure burned down the night of December 16, 1917.
·In 1941 the City Auditorium was built, this building is still used today for many different functions.
