A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | CH | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9
Perry County | |
|---|---|
 Saville Covered Bridge in Saville Township, October 2010 | |
 Flag | |
 Location within the U.S. state of Pennsylvania | |
 Pennsylvania's location within the U.S. | |
| Coordinates: 40°24′N 77°16′W / 40.4°N 77.27°W | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Pennsylvania |
| Founded | March 22, 1820 |
| Named for | Oliver Hazard Perry |
| Seat | New Bloomfield |
| Largest Borough | Marysville |
| Area | |
| • Total | 556 sq mi (1,440 km2) |
| • Land | 551 sq mi (1,430 km2) |
| • Water | 4.1 sq mi (11 km2) 0.7% |
| Population (2020) | |
| • Total | 45,842 |
| • Density | 82/sq mi (32/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| Congressional district | 12th |
| Website | www |
Perry County is a county in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. As of the 2020 census, the population was 45,842.[1] The county seat is New Bloomfield.[2] The county was created on March 22, 1820, and was named for Oliver Hazard Perry, a hero of the War of 1812, who had recently died.[3] It was originally part of Cumberland County and was created in part because residents did not want to travel over the mountain to Carlisle, the county seat of Cumberland County. Landisburg became the temporary county seat before New Bloomfield was ultimately chosen. The county is part of the South Central Pennsylvania region of the state.[a]
Perry County is included in the Harrisburg–York–Lebanon combined statistical area. The county is served by the 717/223 area codes.
In 2010, the center of population of Pennsylvania was located in the eastern end of Perry County.[4] Green Park, an unincorporated village located in northeastern Tyrone Township, serves as Perry County's midpoint between the Conococheague Mountain in the west and the Susquehanna River to the east.[5]
Geography
The county terrain is formed by the folded Appalachian Mountain ridges which run from southwest to northeast across the county. The terrain slopes to the northeast,[6] with its highest point on the Blue Mountain Ridge, which delineates the border between Perry and Cumberland counties. The ridge peaks at 0.83 miles (1.34 km) NE from Perry County's southmost corner; it measures 2,269 ft (692 m) ASL.[7] The county is drained by the south-flowing Susquehanna River, which forms almost all of its eastern boundary. The Juniata River enters Perry County from Juniata County near Millerstown, and flows southeast to its confluence with the Susquehanna River near Duncannon. The county also contains several creeks, runs, and lakes,[8] which provide recreational and fishing[9] opportunities, formerly powered mills throughout the county[10] and provided transport venues. To this day, canoeing and kayaking are forms of recreation which utilize the Shermans Creek and other waters in the county.[11]
The county has a total area of 556 square miles (1,440 km2), of which 551 square miles (1,430 km2) is land and 4.1 square miles (11 km2) (0.7%) is water.[12]
The Appalachian Trail runs through the town of Duncannon. The county is also famous for being the northern head of the Tuscarora Trail.
Perry County has a hot-summer humid continental climate (Dfa) and average monthly temperatures in New Bloomfield range from 28.5 °F in January to 73.2 °F in July. The hardiness zone is 6b except in Marysville where it is 7a ( Archived June 18, 2021, at the Wayback Machine). Common trees include red maple,[13] Virginia pine, oak, eastern white pine,[14] eastern hemlock,[15] birch, shagbark hickory,[16] and juniper, though American sycamore, ironwood (ex: Hop-hornbeam, American Hornbeam), sugar maple, black walnut, elm, alder, black cherry, black locust, and sassafras are also fairly common.[17][18][19][20][21][22] Mosses of various species are common sights, especially on fallen tree logs, along streams, on tree trunks,[23] and in sidewalk cracks, usually growing in shaded areas. Ferns also grow along streams and in shaded areas, and are also commonly seen in Perry County woodlands.
Adjacent counties
- Juniata County - north
- Northumberland County - northeast
- Dauphin County - east
- Cumberland County - south
- Franklin County - southwest
Major highways
Protected areas
- Big Spring State Forest Picnic Area
- Fowlers Hollow State Park
- Little Buffalo State Park
- Colonel Denning State Park (part)
- Hoverter and Sholl Box Huckleberry Natural Area
- State Game Lands Number 88
- State Game Lands Number 170
- State Game Lands Number 256
- State Game Lands Number 281
- Tuscarora State Forest (part)
Demographics
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1820 | 11,342 | — | |
| 1830 | 14,261 | 25.7% | |
| 1840 | 17,096 | 19.9% | |
| 1850 | 20,088 | 17.5% | |
| 1860 | 22,793 | 13.5% | |
| 1870 | 25,447 | 11.6% | |
| 1880 | 27,522 | 8.2% | |
| 1890 | 26,276 | −4.5% | |
| 1900 | 26,263 | 0.0% | |
| 1910 | 24,136 | −8.1% | |
| 1920 | 22,875 | −5.2% | |
| 1930 | 21,744 | −4.9% | |
| 1940 | 23,213 | 6.8% | |
| 1950 | 24,782 | 6.8% | |
| 1960 | 26,582 | 7.3% | |
| 1970 | 28,615 | 7.6% | |
| 1980 | 35,718 | 24.8% | |
| 1990 | 41,172 | 15.3% | |
| 2000 | 43,609 | 5.9% | |
| 2010 | 45,969 | 5.4% | |
| 2020 | 45,842 | −0.3% | |
| US Decennial Census[24] 1790–1960[25] 1900–1990[26] 1990–2000[27] 2010–2017[28] 2010-2020[29] | |||
2000 census
As of the 2000 United States Census, there were 43,602 people, 16,695 households, and 12,320 families in the county. The population density was 79.1 people per square mile (30.5 people/km2). There were 18,941 housing units at an average density of 34.4 units per square mile (13.3/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 98.54% White, 0.43% Black or African American, 0.12% Native American, 0.15% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.21% from other races, and 0.54% from two or more races. 0.69% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 45.8% were of German, 16.4% American, 7.8% Irish and 5.0% English ancestry. 96.8% spoke English and 1.2% Spanish as their first language.
There were 16,695 households, out of which 33.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.6% were married couples living together, 7.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.20% were non-families. 21.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.01. There is also a high population of Anabaptist communities, such as Amish and Mennonites.
The county population contained 25.5% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 29.8% from 25 to 44, 25.1% from 45 to 64, and 12.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.9 males.
2020 census
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
|---|---|---|
| White (NH) | 42,838 | 93.4% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 289 | 0.63% |
| Native American (NH) | 50 | 0.11% |
| Asian (NH) | 139 | 0.3% |
| Pacific Islander (NH) | 3 | 0.01% |
| Other/Mixed (NH) | 1,611 | 3.51% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 912 | 2% |
Metropolitan Statistical Area
The United States Office of Management and Budget[31] has designated Perry County as the Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA). As of the 2010 census[32] the metropolitan area ranked 6th most populous in the State of Pennsylvania and the 96th most populous in the United States, with its population of 549,475. Perry County is also a part of the larger Harrisburg–York–Lebanon combined statistical area (CSA), which combines the populations of Perry County as well as Adams, Cumberland, Dauphin, Lebanon and York Counties in Pennsylvania. The Combined Statistical Area ranked 5th in the State of Pennsylvania and 43rd most populous in the United States with a population of 1,219,422.
County government
Commissioners
- R. Frank Campbell, Chair (R)
- Brenda L. Watson, Vice Chair (D)
- William "Bill" Lyons, Secretary (R)
(as of January 2024)
Sheriff
- David Hammar, Republican
State Senate[33]33">edit
- Greg Rothman, Republican, Pennsylvania's 34th Senate District
State House of Representatives[33]edit
United States House of Representativesedit
United States Senateedit
Emergency servicesedit
The county's emergency services are located in the basement of the Perry County Courthouse. The 911 center's coverage area includes almost all of Perry County and portions of Juniata and Dauphin counties.
Politicsedit
In 2016, Donald J. Trump received 73.07% of the presidential vote, compared to 21.67% to Hillary Clinton, and 5.26% for candidates Gary Johnson, write-ins, Jill Stein, and Darrell L. Castle, respectively. The county has voted for the Republican in every presidential election since 1964. In 2006, Lynn Swann received 9,998 votes (69%) to 4,477 votes (31%) for Ed Rendell, making it Swann's strongest county in his defeat. Rick Santorum also received more than 60% of the Perry County vote in his defeat.[34]
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 2020 | 18,293 | 73.98% | 5,950 | 24.06% | 485 | 1.96% |
| 2016 | 15,616 | 73.07% | 4,632 | 21.67% | 1,123 | 5.25% |
| 2012 | 13,120 | 68.28% | 5,685 | 29.59% | 410 | 2.13% |
| 2008 | 13,058 | 65.79% | 6,396 | 32.22% | 394 | 1.99% |
| 2004 | 13,919 | 71.65% | 5,423 | 27.91% | 85 | 0.44% |
| 2000 | 11,184 | 69.56% | 4,459 | 27.73% | 436 | 2.71% |
| 1996 | 8,156 | 56.19% | 4,611 | 31.77% | 1,748 | 12.04% |
| 1992 | 7,871 | 51.35% | 4,086 | 26.66% | 3,370 | 21.99% |
| 1988 | 8,545 | 68.18% | 3,910 | 31.20% | 78 | 0.62% |
| 1984 | 9,365 | 71.42% | 3,692 | 28.16% | 56 | 0.43% |
| 1980 | 8,026 | 63.70% | 3,681 | 29.22% | 892 | 7.08% |
| 1976 | 7,454 | 60.50% | 4,605 | 37.38% | 261 | Zdroj:https://en.wikipedia.org?pojem=Perry_County,_Pennsylvania|