Perry County, Arkansas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Perry County
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Perry County Courthouse (Perryville, Arkansas)
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Location within the U.S. state of Arkansas
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 Arkansas's location within the U.S. |
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| 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)
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| • 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 in the state of Arkansas. In 2020, about 10,019 people lived here. The main town and county seat is Perryville.
Perry County was created on December 18, 1840. It was named after Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry. He was a famous naval hero from the War of 1812. The county is part of the larger Little Rock area. This area is called the Metropolitan Statistical Area. This means it's a region with a big city and many smaller towns connected to it.
Contents
Exploring Perry County's Geography
Perry County covers a total area of about 561 square miles. Most of this area, about 551 square miles, is land. The remaining 9.1 square miles (about 1.6%) is water. It is one of the smallest counties in Arkansas.
Main Roads in Perry County
Several important roads run through Perry County. These highways help people travel around the county and to other parts of Arkansas.
Highway 7
Highway 9
Highway 10
Highway 60
Highway 113
Highway 300
Neighboring Counties
Perry County shares its borders with several other counties.
- Conway County (to the north)
- Faulkner County (to the northeast)
- Pulaski County (to the east)
- Saline County (to the southeast)
- Garland County (to the southwest)
- Yell County (to the west)
Protected Natural Areas
A part of the Ouachita National Forest is located within Perry County. This is a large protected area of forests and mountains.
Perry County's Population Over Time
| Historical population | |||
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| 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% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 10,184 | −2.5% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790–1960 1900–1990 1990–2000 2010 |
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In 2020, there were 10,019 people living in Perry County. Most of the people living here are White. There are also smaller groups of Black or African American, Native American, Asian, and people of mixed backgrounds. About 2.85% of the population is Hispanic or Latino.
Fun Things to Do in Perry County (Tourism)
Perry County is a rural area located in the Ouachita Mountains. It's a great place for outdoor adventures. Much of the county is part of the Ouachita National Forest.
You can find many cool spots in the National Forest here. These include the Flatside Wilderness Area and the Ouachita National Recreation Trail. You can also visit Flatside Pinnacle Mountain and the Lake Sylvia Recreation Area. There are also many lakes and rivers for fishing and boating. Some popular spots are Nimrod Lake, Harris Brake Lake, and Toad Suck Park.
If you love history, check out the Perry County Museum. It's in Perryville's Historic Commercial District. The museum has exhibits about the county's past. The Hollis Country Store in Hollis is another neat historical stop. It's listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Perry County's most famous event is the Arkansas Goat Festival. It happens every fall and brings in thousands of visitors. Perry County is also home to Heifer Ranch. This is part of Heifer International, a group that helps people around the world. They teach about farming and provide animals to families in need.
Towns and Communities in Perry County
Perry County has several cities, towns, and smaller communities.
Cities in Perry County
- Adona
- Perryville (This is the county seat, where the main government offices are.)
Towns in Perry County
Census-Designated Places
Other Small Communities
These are smaller places that are not officially cities or towns.
- Ava
- Cherry Hill
- Fourche Junction
- Hollis
- Nimrod
- Toad Suck
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.
Famous People from Perry County
Some notable people have come from Perry County.
- Mary Elizabeth Bentley (born 1961) is a Republican politician. She has been a member of the Arkansas House of Representatives since 2015.
- Len E. Blaylock (1918–2012) was a Republican politician from Nimrod.
- Bob Dorough (1923–2018) was an American jazz pianist. He is well-known for his music in Schoolhouse Rock!, an educational TV series.
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Perry (Arkansas) para niños
