Perry County, Mississippi

Coordinates: 31°10′N 88°59′W / 31.17°N 88.99°W / 31.17; -88.99
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Perry County
Perry County courthouse New Augusta
Perry County courthouse New Augusta
Map of Mississippi highlighting Perry County
Location within the U.S. state of Mississippi
Map of the United States highlighting Mississippi
Mississippi's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 31°10′N 88°59′W / 31.17°N 88.99°W / 31.17; -88.99
Country United States
State Mississippi
Founded1820
Named forOliver Hazard Perry
SeatNew Augusta
Largest townRichton
Area
 • Total650 sq mi (1,700 km2)
 • Land647 sq mi (1,680 km2)
 • Water3.0 sq mi (8 km2)  0.5%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total11,511
 • Density18/sq mi (6.8/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district4th

Perry County is a county located in the U.S. state of Mississippi. As of the 2020 census, the population was 11,511.[1] The county seat is New Augusta.[2] The county is named after the War of 1812 naval hero, Oliver Hazard Perry.

Perry County is part of the Hattiesburg, MS Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Until 1906, the county seat was the old town of Augusta, near the center of the county on the east bank of the Leaf River. At Old Augusta, the outlaw James Copeland was executed by hanging on October 30, 1857.[3] Old Augusta remains a small village today. New Augusta, two miles south of Old Augusta, was made the county seat of Perry County, because it was situated on the Mobile, Jackson & Kansas City Railroad.[4]

Geography[edit]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 650 square miles (1,700 km2), of which 647 square miles (1,680 km2) is land and 3.0 square miles (7.8 km2) (0.5%) is water.[5]

Major highways[edit]

Adjacent counties[edit]

National protected area[edit]

Demographics[edit]

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
18202,037
18302,30012.9%
18401,889−17.9%
18502,43829.1%
18602,6066.9%
18702,6943.4%
18803,42727.2%
18906,49489.5%
190014,682126.1%
19107,685−47.7%
19208,98716.9%
19308,197−8.8%
19409,29213.4%
19509,108−2.0%
19608,745−4.0%
19709,0653.7%
19809,8648.8%
199010,86510.1%
200012,13811.7%
201012,2500.9%
202011,511−6.0%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]
1790-1960[7] 1900-1990[8]
1990-2000[9] 2010-2013[10]
Perry County racial composition as of 2020[11]
Race Num. Perc.
White (non-Hispanic) 8,868 77.04%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) 2,097 18.22%
Native American 45 0.39%
Asian 29 0.25%
Pacific Islander 3 0.03%
Other/Mixed 315 2.74%
Hispanic or Latino 154 1.34%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 11,511 people, 4,623 households, and 3,347 families residing in the county.

Communities[edit]

Towns[edit]

Census-designated place[edit]

Unincorporated communities[edit]

Notable people[edit]

Politics[edit]

United States presidential election results for Perry County, Mississippi[12]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 4,500 76.06% 1,362 23.02% 54 0.91%
2016 4,135 76.12% 1,220 22.46% 77 1.42%
2012 4,137 72.30% 1,527 26.69% 58 1.01%
2008 4,067 71.80% 1,533 27.07% 64 1.13%
2004 3,747 74.49% 1,261 25.07% 22 0.44%
2000 3,026 69.42% 1,285 29.48% 48 1.10%
1996 2,178 53.72% 1,413 34.85% 463 11.42%
1992 2,538 56.39% 1,490 33.10% 473 10.51%
1988 2,983 68.62% 1,326 30.50% 38 0.87%
1984 3,098 65.30% 1,415 29.83% 231 4.87%
1980 2,255 52.90% 1,957 45.91% 51 1.20%
1976 1,527 40.99% 1,965 52.75% 233 6.26%
1972 2,689 84.14% 446 13.95% 61 1.91%
1968 227 7.08% 439 13.69% 2,541 79.23%
1964 1,775 86.42% 279 13.58% 0 0.00%
1960 274 20.39% 514 38.24% 556 41.37%
1956 347 31.55% 581 52.82% 172 15.64%
1952 511 39.52% 782 60.48% 0 0.00%
1948 25 2.85% 87 9.92% 765 87.23%
1944 44 5.24% 796 94.76% 0 0.00%
1940 18 2.13% 828 97.87% 0 0.00%
1936 16 2.12% 737 97.88% 0 0.00%
1932 15 2.77% 523 96.49% 4 0.74%
1928 277 49.46% 283 50.54% 0 0.00%
1924 55 12.09% 383 84.18% 17 3.74%
1920 69 20.00% 271 78.55% 5 1.45%
1916 32 7.11% 395 87.78% 23 5.11%
1912 4 1.27% 257 81.85% 53 16.88%

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Census - Geography Profile: Perry County, Mississippi". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 14, 2023.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ The Notorious Copeland Gang.
  4. ^ Perry County, Mississippi Genealogy and History
  5. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on September 28, 2013. Retrieved November 6, 2014.
  6. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 6, 2014.
  7. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved November 6, 2014.
  8. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 6, 2014.
  9. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved November 6, 2014.
  10. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved September 5, 2013.
  11. ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 16, 2021.
  12. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved February 7, 2018.

External links[edit]

31°10′N 88°59′W / 31.17°N 88.99°W / 31.17; -88.99