Billing itself as “One of Ohio’s Most Likeable Communities,” Mount Vernon is a small city located about fifty miles northeast of Columbus. Fairly secluded among the central Ohio farmlands, the community fosters a charming small-town atmosphere. The Downtown district is full of mom-and-pop storefront businesses as well as historic landmarks like the Woodward Opera House surrounding the Cooper Water Fountain in the Public Square.

The city is home to Mount Vernon Nazarene College and Kenyon College sits just east of town; collectively, the two institutions enroll around 4,000 students and employ hundreds of locals, heavily influencing the local culture. Every summer, the Knox County Fair sets up shop on the north side of town, drawing crowds from all across the region.