Perry County

Perry County was established by the State of Arkansas in 1840 from Conway County lands south of the Arkansas River. The county is named for War of 1812 hero Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry. Neighboring counties include Conway County, Faulkner County, Pulaski County, Saline County, Garland County, and Yell County.

History

Perry County was created in December 1840 out of territory south of the Arkansas River previously administered by Conway County.

Geography

About half of 551 square mile Perry County is part of the Ouachita National Forest. The land is covered by extensive forests and the Ouachita Mountains, with clearings and pastureland devoted to raising cattle, hogs, and poultry. Rice and soybeans are also grown in the county.

Law, government, and politics

The county judge is Baylor House. The Perry County Courthouse in Perryville is on the National Register of Historic Places.

Places of interest

The county has a number of places of interest including the Heifer Project International Learning and Livestock Center, Harris Brake Wildlife Management Area, Lake Nimrod, Lake Sylvia, and the Fourche LaFave River.

Demographics

According to the U.S. Census Bureau Perry County's population in 2000 was 10,209.

• 1980 - 7,240
• 1990 - 7,969
• 2000 - 10,209
• 2005 - 10,468

Communities

Perry County has one incorporated city within its boundaries: Perryville. Incorporated towns in the county are Adona, Bigelow, Casa, Fourche, Houston, and Perry.

Other populated places in Perry County:

• Antioch
• Aplin
• Ava
• Bellevue (historical)
• Bunker Hill
• Camp Pershing (historical)
• Cherry Hill
• Copperas Gap (historical)
• Deberrie
• Dixie (historical)
• Fourche Junction
• Graytown
• Hollis
• Homewood
• Kenney (historical)
• Ledwidge
• Little Italy
• Moab (historical)
• New Dixie
• Nimrod
• Nogal
• Oak Grove
• Orchard (historical)
• Pleasant Valley
• Ragsdale
• Rankin (historical)
• Satuma
• Stony Point
• Sweet Home
• Thornburg
• Toad Suck
• West Aplin
• Williams Junction