Perry is a city in
Dallas County Dallas County may refer to:
Places in the USA:
* Dallas County, Alabama, founded in 1818, the first county in the United States by that name
* Dallas County, Arkansas
* Dallas County, Iowa
* Dallas County, Missouri
* Dallas County, Texas, the nin ...
,
Iowa
Iowa () is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States, bordered by the Mississippi River to the east and the Missouri River and Big Sioux River to the west. It is bordered by six states: Wisconsin to the northeast, Illinois to the ...
, United States, along the
North Raccoon River
The Raccoon River is a U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map accessed May 26, 2011 tributary of the Des Moines River in central Iowa in the United States. As measured using the longes ...
. The population was 7,836 at the time of the
2020 Census.
It is part of the
Des Moines
Des Moines () is the capital and the most populous city in the U.S. state of Iowa. It is also the county seat of Polk County. A small part of the city extends into Warren County. It was incorporated on September 22, 1851, as Fort Des Moines, ...
–
West Des Moines
West Des Moines is a city in Polk, Dallas, Warren, and Madison counties in the U.S. state of Iowa. A majority of the city is located in Polk County, a minority of the city is located in Dallas County, and small portions extend into Warren and Ma ...
Metropolitan Statistical Area
In the United States, a metropolitan statistical area (MSA) is a geographical region with a relatively high population density at its core and close economic ties throughout the area. Such regions are neither legally Incorporated town, incorporate ...
.
Formerly a major railroad junction, Perry is home to the Historic Hotel Pattee, with themed rooms including many related to the railroad.
History
Perry was laid out as a town in 1869. The original townsite was bounded by Estella Street on the south, 8th Street on the east, 3rd Street on the west, & Dewey Avenue on the north.
Geography
Perry is located at (41.840107, -94.099978).
According to the
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The Census Bureau is part of the ...
, the city has a total area of , of which is land and is water.
Climate
According to the
Köppen Climate Classification
The Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. It was first published by German-Russian climatologist Wladimir Köppen (1846–1940) in 1884, with several later modifications by Köppen, notabl ...
system, Perry has a
hot-summer humid continental climate
A humid continental climate is a climatic region defined by Russo-German climatologist Wladimir Köppen in 1900, typified by four distinct seasons and large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot (and often humid) summers and freezing ...
, abbreviated "Dfa" on climate maps.
Demographics
2010 census
At the
2010 census there were 7,702 people, 2,792 households, and 1,920 families living in the city. The population density was . There were 3,180 housing units at an average density of . The
racial makup of the city was 79.1% White, 1.8% African American, 0.5% Native American, 0.8% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 14.1% from other races, and 3.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 40.0%.
Of the 2,792 households 37.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.0% were married couples living together, 12.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 7.3% had a male householder with no wife present, and 33.0% were non-families. 28.2% of households were one person and 13.9% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.71 and the average family size was 3.29.
The median age was 33.3 years. 29.8% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.9% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 25.3% were from 25 to 44; 22.3% were from 45 to 64; and 13.8% were 65 or older. The gender makeup of the city was 50.0% male and 50.0% female.
2000 census
At the
2000 census there were 7,633 people, 2,831 households, and 1,942 families living in the city. The population density was . There were 2,994 housing units at an average density of . The
racial makup of the city was 82.84% White, 1.06% African American, 0.33% Native American, 0.75% Asian, 0.18% Pacific Islander, 13.19% from other races, and 1.65% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 24.54%.
Of the 2,831 households 34.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.1% were married couples living together, 10.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.4% were non-families. 26.3% of households were one person and 14.0% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.64 and the average family size was 3.13.
The age distribution was 27.3% under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 29.5% from 25 to 44, 18.2% from 45 to 64, and 16.0% 65 or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.0 males.
The median household income was $35,429 and the median family income was $41,771. Males had a median income of $27,610 versus $21,839 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,935. About 8.9% of families and 12.2% of the population were below the
poverty line
The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for t ...
, including 15.6% of those under age 18 and 9.4% of those age 65 or over.
Economy
In April 2018, a video showcasing Perry's economy in 1979 and 1980 was released by Iowa State University.
A major employer in Perry is the
Tyson Foods
Tyson Foods, Inc. is an American multinational corporation, based in Springdale, Arkansas, that operates in the food industry. The company is the world's second-largest processor and marketer of chicken, beef, and pork after JBS S.A. It annually ...
pork plant.
Education
The
Perry Community School District
The Perry Community School District is a rural public school district headquartered in Perry, Iowa.
The district is mostly in northern Dallas County, with a smaller area in Boone County, and a small portion of Greene County. The district se ...
operates local area public schools.
The
Roman Catholic Diocese of Des Moines
The Diocese of Des Moines ( la, Diœcesis Desmoinensis) is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Catholic Church in the southwestern quarter of the U.S. state of Iowa. It is a suffragan see in the ecclesiastical province of t ...
operates St. Patrick School in Perry. The school was dedicated on February 21, 1921. The local Catholic high school is
Dowling Catholic High School
Dowling Catholic High School is a Catholic secondary school in the central United States, in West Des Moines, Iowa, within the Diocese of Des Moines.
As of the 2013-14 school year, the school had an enrollment of 1,431 students and 94.6 classroom ...
in
West Des Moines
West Des Moines is a city in Polk, Dallas, Warren, and Madison counties in the U.S. state of Iowa. A majority of the city is located in Polk County, a minority of the city is located in Dallas County, and small portions extend into Warren and Ma ...
.
Media
*
KDLS-FM
KDLS-FM (105.5 MHz) is a commercial FM radio station licensed to Perry, Iowa, and serving the Des Moines metropolitan area. It airs a Regional Mexican music radio format, known as "La Ley 105.5 FM." (La Ley translates to "The Law.")
KDLS-FM is ...
*
KDLS (AM)
KDLS (1310 AM broadcasting, AM) is a commercial radio station serving the Perry, Iowa area. Until February 2010, the station broadcast Timeless Favorites. After the shutdown of Timeless Favorites at that same month, the station has broadcast prim ...
*
KICG
KICG (91.7 FM) is a radio station licensed to Perry, Iowa, United States. The station airs a Classical music format as part of Iowa Public Radio's Classical network, and is currently owned by Iowa State University of Science and Technology. Acce ...
Notable people
*
William Bell (1902–1971), premier American tuba player and teacher
*
Sam Brinton
Samuel Otis Brinton is an American nuclear engineer and LGBTQ activist. They served as the deputy assistant secretary of Spent Fuel and Waste Disposition in the Office of Nuclear Energy from June to mid-December 2022.
Brinton left the positi ...
(born 1988), nuclear engineer and LGBTQ activist
*
George W. Clarke (1906–2006), Washington State Legislator
*
Gertrude Mary Cox
Gertrude Mary Cox (January 13, 1900 – October 17, 1978) was an American statistician and founder of the department of Experimental Statistics at North Carolina State University. She was later appointed director of both the Institute of Statist ...
(1900–1978), influential American statistician
*
Dan Grimm (1941–2018), American football offensive lineman in the
NFL for the
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are a professional American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The Packers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC North, North division. It ...
,
Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta. The Falcons compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) South division. The Falcons joined th ...
,
Baltimore Colts
The Baltimore Colts were a professional American football team that played in Baltimore from its founding in 1953 to 1984. The team now plays in Indianapolis, as the Indianapolis Colts. The team was named for Baltimore's history of horse breed ...
, and
Washington Redskins
The Washington Commanders are a professional American football team based in the Washington metropolitan area. The Commanders compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) N ...
*
V. T. Hamlin (1900–1993), cartoonist and creator of ''
Alley Oop
''Alley Oop'' is a syndicated comic strip created December 5, 1932, by American cartoonist V. T. Hamlin, who wrote and drew the strip through four decades for Newspaper Enterprise Association. Hamlin introduced a cast of colorful characters an ...
''
V.T. Hamlin Collection in University of Missouri Special Collections
* Dwight D. Opperman (1923–2013), CEO of West Publishing, later known as Thomson Reuters
Thomson Reuters Corporation ( ) is a Canadian multinational media conglomerate. The company was founded in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, where it is headquartered at the Bay Adelaide Centre.
Thomson Reuters was created by the Thomson Corpora ...
* Jessica Reznicek (born 1981), Catholic Worker Movement
The Catholic Worker Movement is a collection of autonomous communities of Catholics and their associates founded by Dorothy Day and Peter Maurin in the United States in 1933. Its aim is to "live in accordance with the justice and charity of Jesus ...
and environmental activist
See also
* Raccoon River Valley Trail
Raccoon River Valley Trail (RRVT) is a rail trail running from Waukee, Iowa, to Jefferson, Iowa. In 2013, an additional north loop was completed on the RRVT, making the RRVT nearly of paved trails and having a paved interior loop of more than . ...
* BRR - Bicycle Ride to Rippey
* ''Sports Illustrated 40th Anniversary Swimsuit Special: American Beauty'' (2004)
*
References
External links
Perry Online
The Perry News
Comprehensive Statistical Data and more about Perry
Raccoon Valley Radio
{{authority control
Cities in Dallas County, Iowa
Cities in Iowa
Des Moines metropolitan area
1869 establishments in Iowa
Populated places established in 1869