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Perry County, Arkansas facts for kids

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Perry County
U.S. county
Perry County Courthouse (Perryville, Arkansas)
Perry County Courthouse (Perryville, Arkansas)
Map of Arkansas highlighting Perry County
Location within the U.S. state of Arkansas
Map of the United States highlighting Arkansas
Arkansas's location within the U.S.
Country  United States
State  Arkansas
Founded December 18, 1840
Named for Oliver Hazard Perry
Seat Perryville
Largest city Perryville
Area
 • Total 561 sq mi (1,450 km2)
 • Land 551 sq mi (1,430 km2)
 • Water 9.1 sq mi (24 km2)  1.6%%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 10,019
 • Density 17.859/sq mi (6.895/km2)
Time zone UTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district 2nd

Perry County is a county located in the U.S. state of Arkansas. Its population was 10,019 at the 2020 United States Census. The county seat is Perryville. The county was formed on December 18, 1840, and named for Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry, naval hero in the War of 1812.

Perry County is included in the Little Rock–North Little Rock–Conway, AR Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 561 square miles (1,450 km2), of which 551 square miles (1,430 km2) is land and 9.1 square miles (24 km2) (1.6%) is water. It is the fourth-smallest county in Arkansas by land area and third-smallest by total area.

Major highways

  • Arkansas 7.svg Highway 7
  • Arkansas 9.svg Highway 9
  • Arkansas 10.svg Highway 10
  • Arkansas 60.svg Highway 60
  • Arkansas 113.svg Highway 113
  • Arkansas 300.svg Highway 300

Adjacent counties

National protected area

  • Ouachita National Forest (part)

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1850 978 —
1860 2,465 152.0%
1870 2,685 8.9%
1880 3,872 44.2%
1890 5,538 43.0%
1900 7,294 31.7%
1910 9,402 28.9%
1920 9,905 5.3%
1930 7,695 −22.3%
1940 8,392 9.1%
1950 5,978 −28.8%
1960 4,927 −17.6%
1970 5,634 14.3%
1980 7,266 29.0%
1990 7,969 9.7%
2000 10,209 28.1%
2010 10,445 2.3%
2020 10,019 −4.1%
U.S. Decennial Census
1790–1960 1900–1990
1990–2000 2010
USA Perry County, Arkansas age pyramid
Age pyramid Perry County

2020 census

Perry County racial composition
Race Number Percentage
White (non-Hispanic) 9,069 90.52%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) 107 1.07%
Native American 43 0.43%
Asian 12 0.12%
Other/Mixed 502 5.01%
Hispanic or Latino 286 2.85%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 10,019 people, 3,668 households, and 2,824 families residing in the county.

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, there were 10,209 people, 3,989 households, and 2,939 families residing in the county. The population density was 18 people per square mile (7/km2). There were 4,702 housing units at an average density of 8 per square mile (3/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 95.62% White, 1.73% Black or African American, 0.98% Native American, 0.15% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.39% from other races, and 1.11% from two or more races. 1.18% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 3,989 households, out of which 32.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.10% were married couples living together, 8.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.30% were non-families. 23.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 2.96.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.30% under the age of 18, 7.40% from 18 to 24, 28.00% from 25 to 44, 24.50% from 45 to 64, and 14.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $31,083, and the median income for a family was $37,170. Males had a median income of $28,254 versus $21,462 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,216. About 10.50% of families and 14.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.00% of those under age 18 and 15.00% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Over the past few election cycles Perry County has trended heavily towards the GOP. The last Democrat (as of 2020) to carry this county was Bill Clinton in 1996.

United States presidential election results for Perry County, Arkansas
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 3,479 75.19% 1,012 21.87% 136 2.94%
2016 3,008 69.86% 1,049 24.36% 249 5.78%
2012 2,581 65.54% 1,187 30.14% 170 4.32%
2008 2,743 64.10% 1,352 31.60% 184 4.30%
2004 2,435 54.95% 1,921 43.35% 75 1.69%
2000 2,114 52.76% 1,648 41.13% 245 6.11%
1996 1,143 32.83% 1,873 53.79% 466 13.38%
1992 1,162 33.16% 1,906 54.39% 436 12.44%
1988 1,627 52.01% 1,470 46.99% 31 0.99%
1984 2,047 58.82% 1,404 40.34% 29 0.83%
1980 1,459 45.79% 1,606 50.41% 121 3.80%
1976 832 26.48% 2,310 73.52% 0 0.00%
1972 1,445 63.88% 810 35.81% 7 0.31%
1968 740 32.31% 634 27.69% 916 40.00%
1964 1,048 43.90% 1,320 55.30% 19 0.80%
1960 501 36.17% 789 56.97% 95 6.86%
1956 572 43.87% 719 55.14% 13 1.00%
1952 502 38.32% 802 61.22% 6 0.46%
1948 201 18.42% 731 67.00% 159 14.57%
1944 285 28.64% 710 71.36% 0 0.00%
1940 206 20.81% 783 79.09% 1 0.10%
1936 249 21.69% 899 78.31% 0 0.00%
1932 123 8.34% 1,347 91.38% 4 0.27%
1928 474 42.59% 636 57.14% 3 0.27%
1924 260 32.91% 386 48.86% 144 18.23%
1920 592 43.31% 738 53.99% 37 2.71%
1916 439 31.05% 975 68.95% 0 0.00%
1912 163 16.89% 522 54.09% 280 29.02%
1908 445 39.63% 608 54.14% 70 6.23%
1904 356 41.40% 477 55.47% 27 3.14%
1900 293 38.45% 459 60.24% 10 1.31%
1896 217 24.08% 678 75.25% 6 0.67%


Tourism

Perry County is known for its Fourche River Days Festival held each year in April which includes a Car, Truck, & Motorcycle show, Live music, Vendors and children's activities. Perry County is also known for its annual Goat Festival held in the Fall drawing thousands of tourists from around the country. Perry County is also the location of Heifer Ranch, an arm of Heifer International, a nonprofit which provides food and agricultural training for people all across the globe.

Communities

Cities

Towns

Census-designated places

Other unincorporated communities

Townships

Townships in Arkansas are the divisions of a county. Each township includes unincorporated areas; some may have incorporated cities or towns within part of their boundaries. Arkansas townships have limited purposes in modern times. However, the United States Census does list Arkansas population based on townships (sometimes referred to as "county subdivisions" or "minor civil divisions"). Townships are also of value for historical purposes in terms of genealogical research. Each town or city is within one or more townships in an Arkansas county based on census maps and publications. The townships of Perry County are listed below; listed in parentheses are the cities, towns, and/or census-designated places that are fully or partially inside the township.

Notable people

  • Mary Elizabeth Bentley (born 1961), Republican member of the Arkansas House of Representatives since 2015
  • Len E. Blaylock (1918-2012), Republican politician from Nimrod in Perry County
  • Bob Dorough (1923-2018), American bebop and jazz pianist most recognizable from Schoolhouse Rock! fame.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Condado de Perry (Arkansas) para niños

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