To get an idea of the history of Belle Prairie City, you have look at the history of its neighboring city, Mount Vernon. The recorded settling of the area goes back to 1817 when a Methodist preacher by the name of Zadok Casey planted his roots here. Mr. Casey was not only a preacher but a politician as well and he would go on to become a state representative in 1822 and would retire from his political career as a state senator in 1862.
The first buildings that sprouted in the area were built on land donated by Mr. Casey. There was some debate about what to call this new community. At first the town folk wanted to call itMount Pleasantbut later decided to call it Mount Vernonin honor of the first American President and Revolutionary War hero George Washington.
The arrival of the railroad in 1872 brought industry to Mount Vernon and the surrounding area to include Belle Prairie City. Industries such as breweries, mills, brick making, carpentry, and foundries all sprouted thus giving employment and a better standard of living to those living here. One significant business that opened here in 1914 was The Mount Vernon Car Manufacturing Company which specialized in making railway cars. It is reported that as many as 50 railway cars were produced each day and the factory was a major player in production during two World Wars. The railway cars were produced all the way up to the 1950s until the factory was closed.