Mount Vernon, Missouri, is a great place to raise a family.

Locals are friendly, laid-back and very proud to have a history of earning top state honors for student performance in their schools.

Each October, the population of Mount Vernon (4,500) swells tenfold for a tradition they call Apple Butter Makin’ Days. On the courthouse square, they set up huge copper kettles over open fires and cook apple butter for tens of thousands of visitors.

Baseball fans here split their loyalty between the Royals and Cardinals; Kansas City and St. Louis are both within an afternoon’s drive. Branson is also close by and offers a huge variety of family entertainment from theme parks to music shows.

• What’s here: Process cheese
• Part of Schreiber since 1997