Perry County is a county in the

Commonwealth A commonwealth is a traditional English term for a political community founded for the common good. Historically, it has been synonymous with "republic". The noun "commonwealth", meaning "public welfare, general good or advantage", dates from the ...

of Pennsylvania. As of the 2020 census, the population was 45,842. The county seat is New Bloomfield. 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. It was originally part of Cumberland County and was created in part because residents did not want to travel over the mountain to

Carlisle Carlisle ( , ; from xcb, Caer Luel) is a city that lies within the Northern England, Northern English county of Cumbria, south of the Anglo-Scottish border, Scottish border at the confluence of the rivers River Eden, Cumbria, Eden, River C ...

, the county seat of Cumberland County.

Landisburg Landisburg is a borough in Perry County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 220 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Harrisburg–Carlisle Metropolitan Statistical Area. History Landisburg was platted in 1793. The community was ...

became the temporary county seat before New Bloomfield was ultimately chosen. Perry County is included in the Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA Metropolitan 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. 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 The Susquehanna River (; Lenape: Siskëwahane) is a major river located in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States, overlapping between the lower Northeast and the Upland South. At long, it is the longest river on the East Coast of the ...

to the east.

Geography

The county terrain is formed by the folded

Appalachian Mountain The Appalachian Mountains, often called the Appalachians, (french: Appalaches), are a system of mountains in eastern to northeastern North America. The Appalachians first formed roughly 480 million years ago during the Ordovician Period. They ...

ridges which run from southwest to northeast across the county. The terrain slopes to the northeast, with its highest point on the Blue Mountain Ridge, which delineates the border between Perry and Cumberland counties. The ridge peaks at 0.83 mile (1.33 km) NE from Perry County's southmost corner; it measures 2,269' (692m) ASL. The county is drained by the south-flowing

, which forms almost all of its eastern boundary. The

Juniata River The Juniata River () is a tributary of the Susquehanna River, approximately long,U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map , accessed August 8, 2011 in central Pennsylvania. The river is ...

enters Perry County from

Juniata County Juniata County is a county in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. As of the 2020 census, the population was 23,509. Its county seat is Mifflintown. The county was created on March 2, 1831, from part of Mifflin County and named for the Juniata Riv ...

near Millerstown, and flows southeast to its confluence with the Susquehanna River near Duncannon. The county also contains several creeks, runs, and lakes, which provide recreational and fishing opportunities, formerly powered mills throughout the county and provided transport venues. To this day, canoeing and kayaking are forms of recreation which utilise the Sherman Creek and other waters in the county. The county has a total area of , of which is land and (0.7%) is water. 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 A hardiness zone is a geographic area defined as having a certain average annual minimum temperature, a factor relevant to the survival of many plants. In some systems other statistics are included in the calculations. The original and most wide ...

is 6b except in Marysville where it is 7a

Common trees include Acer rubrum, red maple, Virginia pine, oak,

eastern white pine ''Pinus strobus'', commonly called the eastern white pine, northern white pine, white pine, Weymouth pine (British), and soft pine is a large pine native to eastern North America. It occurs from Newfoundland, Canada west through the Great Lakes ...

, eastern hemlock, birch,

shagbark hickory ''Carya ovata'', the shagbark hickory, is a common hickory in the Eastern United States and southeast Canada. It is a large, deciduous tree, growing well over tall, and can live more than 350 years. The tallest measured shagbark, located in Sa ...

, and

juniper Junipers are coniferous trees and shrubs in the genus ''Juniperus'' () of the cypress family Cupressaceae. Depending on the taxonomy, between 50 and 67 species of junipers are widely distributed throughout the Northern Hemisphere, from the Arcti ...

, though American sycamore, ironwood, sugar maple,

black walnut ''Juglans nigra'', the eastern American black walnut, is a species of deciduous tree in the walnut family, Juglandaceae, native to North America. It grows mostly in riparian zones, from southern Ontario, west to southeast South Dakota, south t ...

, elm, alder, and sassafras are also fairly common.

Moss Mosses are small, non-vascular flowerless plants in the taxonomic division Bryophyta (, ) '' sensu stricto''. Bryophyta (''sensu lato'', Schimp. 1879) may also refer to the parent group bryophytes, which comprise liverworts, mosses, and hor ...

es of various species are common sights, especially on fallen tree logs, along streams, on tree

trunk Trunk may refer to: Biology * Trunk (anatomy), synonym for torso * Trunk (botany), a tree's central superstructure * Trunk of corpus callosum, in neuroanatomy * Elephant trunk, the proboscis of an elephant Computing * Trunk (software), in rev ...

s, 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

- 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 Little Buffalo State Park is a Pennsylvania state park on in Centre and Juniata Townships, Perry County, Pennsylvania in the United States. The park is a historical destination as well as a recreational destination. Visitors to the park can cr ...

* 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

2000 census

As of the

2000 United States Census The United States census of 2000, conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2000, to be 281,421,906, an increase of 13.2 percent over the 248,709,873 people enumerated during the 1990 ce ...

, there were 43,602 people, 16,695 households, and 12,320 families in the county. The population density was 79.1/sqmi (30.6/km²). There were 18,941 housing units at an average density of 34.4/sqmi (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 American(s) may refer to: * American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America" ** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America ** American ancestry, pe ...

, 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 Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognized union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children, and between t ...

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

Metropolitan Statistical Area

The United States Office of Management and Budget has designated Perry County as the Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA). As of the 2010 census 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, PA Combined Statistical Area (CSA), which combines the populations of Perry County as well as

Adams Adams may refer to: * For persons, see Adams (surname) Places United States *Adams, California *Adams, California, former name of Corte Madera, California *Adams, Decatur County, Indiana *Adams, Kentucky *Adams, Massachusetts, a New England town ...

Cumberland Cumberland ( ) is a historic county in the far North West England. It covers part of the Lake District as well as the north Pennines and Solway Firth coast. Cumberland had an administrative function from the 12th century until 1974. From 19 ...

, 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

* Brian S. Allen, Chair (R) * Gary R. Eby, Vice Chair (R) * Brenda L. Watson, Secretary (D) (as of January 2020)

Sheriff

* David Hammar, Republican (as of January 2020)

State Senate

* John DiSanto, Republican, Pennsylvania's 15th Senatorial District

State House of Representatives

Perry A. Stambaugh Perry A. Stambaugh (born March 8, 1960) is a Republican member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 86. He first took office following the 2020 Pennsylvania House of Representatives election. Stambaugh graduated from Penn State ...

, Republican, Pennsylvania's 86th Representative District

United States House of Representatives

* Fred Keller, Republican, Pennsylvania's 12th congressional district

United States Senate

* Pat Toomey, Republican * Bob Casey Jr., Democrat

Emergency services

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.

Politics

In 2016,

Donald J. Trump Donald John Trump (born June 14, 1946) is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who served as the 45th president of the United States from 2017 to 2021. Trump graduated from the Wharton School of the University of Pe ...

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.

Education

Public School Districts

* Greenwood School District (also covers parts of

). * Newport School District *

Susquenita School District Susquenita School District is a midsized, public school district located in Perry County, Pennsylvania and also includes one township in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. Susquenita School District encompasses approximately . Susquenita School District ...

(also covers parts of Dauphin County). *

West Perry School District The West Perry School District is a midsized, public school district located in western Perry County, Pennsylvania. It encompasses over , covering virtually all of the western half of the county. As one of Perry County's four school districts ...

* Fannett-Metal School District (located in Franklin County, but covers parts of Perry County).

Intermediate unit

The

Capital Area Intermediate Unit The Capital Area Intermediate Unit (CAIU) is an Intermediate Unit based in Summerdale, a suburb of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania Harrisburg is the capital city of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States, and the county seat of Dauphin Co ...

15 is a state approved education agency that offers to Perry County school districts, charter schools, private schools, and home school students, a variety of services including: a completely developed K-12 curriculum that is mapped and aligned with the Pennsylvania Academic Standards (available online), shared services, a joint purchasing program and a wide variety of special education and special needs services.

Private schools

As reported on EdNA (ED Names and Addresses) by the Pennsylvania Department of Education: * Blue Goose Children's Learning Center, Inc – Newport * Carson Long Military Institute * Clarks Run Parochial School – Blain * Community Christian Academy – Newport * Farm Lane School – Ickesburg * Fowlers Hollow School – Blain * Heritage Christian School – West Perry * Honeysuckle Ridge School – Elliotsburg * Kuddly Bear Child Care Center Inc. – Duncannon * Loysville Youth Development Center – Loysville * Manassa School – Blain * Messiah Day Care Center – Elliottsburg * Mountain View Parochial School – Ickesburg * Perry View Parochial School – Landisburg * Raccoon Valley Amish School – Millerstown * Shermans View School – Loysville * Stony Point School – Loysville * Sunset Valley School – Millerstown

Trade schools

* Central Pennsylvania Diesel Institute – Liverpool

Public libraries

* New Bloomfield Public Library * Community Library of Western Perry County * Marysville-Rye Public Library * Newport Public Library

Media

Newspapers

The county is home to four weekly newspapers, three published by

Advance Publications Advance Publications, Inc., doing business as Advance, is an American media company owned by the descendants of S.I. Newhouse Sr., Donald Newhouse and S.I. Newhouse Jr. It owns a large number of subsidiary companies, including Condé Nast, an ...

of Perry and Juniata Counties, Inc. associated with The Patriot-News of Harrisburg: Duncannon Record, The News-Sun, and Perry County Times. The Perry County Weekly is published by The Sentinel in Carlisle, Cumberland County, by Lee Enterprises of Davenport, Iowa.

Books

There are numerous historical books written about the county, available at the Council of the Arts in

Newport Newport most commonly refers to: *Newport, Wales *Newport, Rhode Island, US Newport or New Port may also refer to: Places Asia *Newport City, Metro Manila, a Philippine district in Pasay Europe Ireland *Newport, County Mayo, a town on the ...

as well as other establishments. They cover various topics of the county's past, including an historical overview of the Blain area; an account of the life of the early settlers along the Shermans Creek in three townships; and an account of a Civil War battle on Sterrett's Gap.

Communities

Under Pennsylvania law, there are four types of incorporated municipalities: cities, boroughs, townships, and, in at most two cases, towns. The following boroughs and townships are located in Perry County:

Boroughs

* Blain * Duncannon *

* Liverpool * Marysville * Millerstown * New Bloomfield (county seat) * New Buffalo *

Unincorporated communities

* Acker * Andersonburg * Alinda * Amity Hall * Aqueduct * Bailey * Bixler * Bridgeport * Centre * Center Square * Cisna Run * Couchtown * Cove * Crums Corners * Dellville * Donnally Mills * Dromgold * Elliottsburg * Erly * Eshcol * Everhartville * Falling Spring * Fort Robertson * Glenvale * Gramere * Green Park * Half Falls * Ickesburg * Juniata Furnace * Keystone * Kinkora Heights * Kistler * Little Germany * Losh Run * Loysville * Mannsville * Marklesville * McKee * Mecks Corner * Milltown * Montebello * Montgomery Ferry * Mount Patrick * Mount Pleasant * Nekoda * New Germantown * Oakgrove * Old Ferry * Perdix * Pine Grove * Pfoutz Valley * Reward * Rose Glen * Roseburg * Saville * Seyoc * Shermans Dale * Stony Point * Sundy Place * Wahneta * Walnut Grove * Wardville * Wila

Townships

* Buffalo * Carroll * Centre *

Greenwood Green wood is unseasoned wood. Greenwood or Green wood may also refer to: People * Greenwood (surname) Settlements Australia * Greenwood, Queensland, a locality in the Toowoomba Region * Greenwood, Western Australia, a suburb of Perth C ...

* Howe * Jackson * Juniata * Liverpool * Miller * Northeast Madison * Oliver * Penn *

Rye Rye (''Secale cereale'') is a grass grown extensively as a grain, a cover crop and a forage crop. It is a member of the wheat tribe (Triticeae) and is closely related to both wheat (''Triticum'') and barley (genus ''Hordeum''). Rye grain is u ...

* Saville * Southwest Madison * Spring * Toboyne * Tuscarora * Tyrone * Watts * Wheatfield

Population ranking

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2010 census of Perry County. † ''county seat''

Economy

Perry County's economy is primarily

agricultural Agriculture or farming is the practice of cultivating Plant, plants and livestock. Agriculture was the key development in the rise of Sedentism, sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of Domestication, domesticated species created food ...

. Various farmers markets, roadside stands, farm produce stands, food festivals, resale farm stands, meat stores, and plant nurseries are present throughout the county. Two farms in Perry County are particularly well known, which ar
Spiral Path Farm
and Yeehaw Farm, with the latter having been spotlighted by the Washington Post. The county's area is 38.3% farmland, of which 11.09% (thus 4.24% of all land in the county) is pastureland. Perry County also hosts a wide range of non-agricultural businesses. Historically, mills were prevalent, and the county currently has 21 known non-operational mills still standing. Settlement was not allowed until 1755, and when settlement was allowed, it was not safe: in June 1755, Native Americans chased nearly all of the pioneers out, until it was considered safe to return in 1762. The first mill was ''taxed'' in 1763, though the exact date of its completion is not known. Nearly every stream's basin hosted a sawmill, providing wood for early buildings and boardwalks.

Recreation

The county has a variety of recreation facilities. There are three state parks: Fowlers Hollow State Park,

, and Big Spring State Forest Picnic Area. The Hoverter and Sholl Box Huckleberry Natural Area is found near New Bloomfield along Huckleberry Road. Carroll Township Park also offers a wide variety of athletic facilities.Perry County Administration, Services available in Perry County, 2015 Pools: Liverpool Pool (Jann Deitzler Memorial Pool), Millerstown Pool, New Bloomfield Pool, and

Pool Trails: Hawk Rock Trail and Iron Horse Trail State Game Lands: #170 Dellville, #254 New Buffalo, #256-Mecks Corner and #281 Miller Township. Hunting requires licenses from the PA Game Commission.

Gallery

File:Duncannon, PA.JPG, Duncannon, downtown view showing the Doyle. File:New Bloomfield, Pennsylvania (1913).jpg, New Bloomfield in 1913. File:Books Bridge 2.JPG, Books Covered Bridge. File:New Bloomfield, Pennsylvania (4143285489).jpg, New Bloomfield. File:Blain PA Depot.JPG, Blain Depot in Blain. File:UPSTREAM ELEVATION. - South High Street Bridge, South High Street, spanning Little Juniata Creek, Duncannon, Perry County, PA HAER PA-612-6.tif, South High Street Bridge, Duncannon. File:Little Buffalo State Park.JPG, Little Buffalo State Park, near New Bloomfield. File:An old building in Dellville, PA.jpg, An old building in Dellville (formerly a store.) File:Newport Boro HD.JPG, Downtown Newport. File:Duncannon PA Presby PHS174.jpg, Presbyterian church in Duncannon. File:Dunbar Creigh.JPG, Landisburg. File:Shagbark Hickory bark in Perry County, PA.jpg, A shagbark hickory tree near Dellville.

References

External links

Perry County official website
{{authority control 1820 establishments in Pennsylvania Counties of Appalachia Harrisburg–Carlisle metropolitan statistical area Populated places established in 1820