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Perry County, Ohio

Coordinates: 39°44′N 82°14′W / 39.74°N 82.24°W / 39.74; -82.24
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Not to be confused with Perry, Ohio.

Perry County, Ohio
County
Perry County Courthouse
Perry County Courthouse
Flag of Perry County, Ohio
Flag
Official seal of Perry County, Ohio
Seal
Map of Ohio highlighting Perry County
Location within the U.S. state of Ohio
Coordinates: 39°44′N 82°14′W / 39.74°N 82.24°W / 39.74; -82.24
Country United States
State Ohio
FoundedMarch 1, 1818[1]
Named afterOliver Hazard Perry
SeatNew Lexington
Largest CityNew Lexington
Area
 • Total
412 sq mi (1,070 km2)
 • Land408 sq mi (1,060 km2)
 • Water4.5 sq mi (12 km2)  1.1%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
35,408 Decrease
 • Density86/sq mi (33/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district12th
Websitewww.perrycountyohio.net

Perry County is a county located in the U.S. state of Ohio. As of the 2020 census, the population was 35,408.[2] Its county seat is New Lexington.[3] It was established on March 1, 1818, from parts of Fairfield, Washington and Muskingum counties. The county is named for Oliver Hazard Perry, a hero of the War of 1812.[4] Perry County is included in the Columbus, OH Metropolitan Statistical Area. One of the poorest counties in the state, this is where the lawsuit challenging Ohio's school funding system, DeRolph v. State, began.

Geography

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According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 412 square miles (1,070 km2), of which 408 square miles (1,060 km2) is land and 4.5 square miles (12 km2) (1.1%) is water.[5]

Adjacent counties

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National protected area

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Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18208,429—
183013,97065.7%
184019,34438.5%
185020,7757.4%
186019,678−5.3%
187018,453−6.2%
188028,21852.9%
189031,15110.4%
190031,8412.2%
191035,39611.2%
192036,0982.0%
193031,445−12.9%
194031,087−1.1%
195028,999−6.7%
196027,864−3.9%
197027,434−1.5%
198031,03213.1%
199031,5571.7%
200034,0788.0%
201036,0585.8%
202035,408−1.8%
2023 (est.)35,551[6]0.4%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790-1960[8] 1900-1990[9]
1990-2000[10] 2020 [2]

Racial and ethnic composition

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Perry County, Ohio – Racial and ethnic composition
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) Pop 1980[11] Pop 1990[12] Pop 2000[13] Pop 2010[14] Pop 2020[15] % 1980 % 1990 % 2000 % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 30,784 31,345 33,473 35,170 33,595 99.20% 99.33% 98.22% 97.54% 94.88%
Black or African American alone (NH) 64 57 73 92 90 0.21% 0.18% 0.21% 0.26% 0.25%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 16 45 93 86 94 0.05% 0.14% 0.27% 0.24% 0.27%
Asian alone (NH) 19 18 33 37 67 0.06% 0.06% 0.10% 0.10% 0.19%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH) x [16] x [17] 1 6 0 x x 0.00% 0.02% 0.00%
Other race alone (NH) 28 11 7 14 85 0.09% 0.03% 0.02% 0.04% 0.24%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) x [18] x [19] 246 458 1,225 x x 0.72% 1.27% 3.46%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 121 81 152 195 252 0.39% 0.26% 0.45% 0.54% 0.71%
Total 31,032 31,557 34,078 36,058 35,408 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

2020 census

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As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 35,408. The median age was 41.0 years. 23.9% of residents were under the age of 18 and 17.7% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 100.3 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 99.0 males age 18 and over.[20][21]

The racial makeup of the county was 95.2% White, 0.3% Black or African American, 0.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% Asian, <0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 0.3% from some other race, and 3.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 0.7% of the population.[21]

19.5% of residents lived in urban areas, while 80.5% lived in rural areas.[22]

There were 13,592 households in the county, of which 31.9% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 51.3% were married-couple households, 17.3% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 22.2% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 24.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[20]

There were 14,962 housing units, of which 9.2% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 74.7% were owner-occupied and 25.3% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.0% and the rental vacancy rate was 5.0%.[20]

2010 census

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As of the 2010 United States census, there were 36,058 people, 13,576 households, and 9,738 families living in the county.[23] The population density was 88.4 inhabitants per square mile (34.1/km2). There were 15,211 housing units at an average density of 37.3 units per square mile (14.4 units/km2).[24] The racial makeup of the county was 97.9% white, 0.3% black or African American, 0.2% American Indian, 0.1% Asian, 0.1% from other races, and 1.4% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 0.5% of the population.[23] In terms of ancestry, 25.4% were German, 14.9% were Irish, 10.4% were English, and 9.6% were American.[25]

Of the 13,576 households, 35.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.3% were married couples living together, 11.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 28.3% were non-families, and 22.8% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.63 and the average family size was 3.06. The median age was 38.6 years.[23]

The median income for a household in the county was $42,388 and the median income for a family was $50,489. Males had a median income of $39,305 versus $31,112 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,916. About 14.2% of families and 18.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.4% of those under age 18 and 8.6% of those age 65 or over.[26]

2000 census

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As of the census[27] of 2000, there were 34,078 people, 12,500 households, and 9,350 families living in the county. The population density was 83 people per square mile (32 people/km2). There were 13,655 housing units at an average density of 33 units per square mile (13/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 98.54% White, 0.22% Black or African American, 0.28% Native American, 0.10% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.09% from other races, and 0.76% from two or more races. 0.45% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 12,500 households, out of which 36.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.1% were married couples living together, 9.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.2% were non-families. 21.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.70 and the average family size was 3.13.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 28.1% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 29.1% from 25 to 44, 22.3% from 45 to 64, and 12.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 98.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.4 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $34,383, and the median income for a family was $40,294. Males had a median income of $31,664 versus $21,147 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,674. About 9.4% of families and 11.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.2% of those under age 18 and 12.70% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

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Perry County tended to be a swing county prior to 2016. Bill Clinton was the last Democrat to win this county, a distinction shared with 16 other Ohio counties, in 1996. In 2020, Donald Trump won the largest percentage of votes in the county of any Republican nominee since the party's founding, a feat surpassed by more than two percentage points in 2024.

United States presidential election results for Perry County, Ohio[28]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2024 13,062 76.81% 3,800 22.35% 143 0.84%
2020 12,357 74.10% 4,098 24.57% 221 1.33%
2016 10,228 67.73% 4,138 27.40% 735 4.87%
2012 7,627 50.78% 7,033 46.82% 360 2.40%
2008 7,721 50.02% 7,261 47.04% 455 2.95%
2004 7,856 51.72% 7,257 47.78% 76 0.50%
2000 6,440 50.20% 5,895 45.95% 493 3.84%
1996 4,606 37.00% 5,819 46.75% 2,022 16.24%
1992 4,712 34.78% 4,972 36.70% 3,863 28.52%
1988 6,602 56.28% 5,011 42.72% 118 1.01%
1984 7,548 65.09% 3,961 34.16% 88 0.76%
1980 5,725 53.77% 4,383 41.16% 540 5.07%
1976 5,637 46.44% 6,268 51.64% 233 1.92%
1972 6,716 62.13% 3,728 34.49% 365 3.38%
1968 4,815 44.96% 4,811 44.92% 1,084 10.12%
1964 3,895 33.26% 7,816 66.74% 0 0.00%
1960 7,658 59.60% 5,191 40.40% 0 0.00%
1956 7,511 64.56% 4,123 35.44% 0 0.00%
1952 7,425 58.46% 5,275 41.54% 0 0.00%
1948 5,692 51.78% 5,264 47.89% 36 0.33%
1944 7,339 59.24% 5,050 40.76% 0 0.00%
1940 8,656 55.46% 6,953 44.54% 0 0.00%
1936 6,826 43.24% 8,508 53.90% 451 2.86%
1932 7,225 49.34% 6,714 45.85% 704 4.81%
1928 8,551 64.39% 4,653 35.04% 75 0.56%
1924 7,592 58.11% 3,702 28.34% 1,771 13.56%
1920 7,685 54.82% 5,917 42.21% 416 2.97%
1916 3,953 47.85% 3,860 46.73% 448 5.42%
1912 1,739 21.60% 3,147 39.08% 3,166 39.32%
1908 4,304 49.48% 3,885 44.67% 509 5.85%
1904 4,883 60.32% 2,846 35.16% 366 4.52%
1900 4,180 52.59% 3,599 45.28% 170 2.14%
1896 3,989 48.63% 4,112 50.13% 102 1.24%
1892 3,359 47.11% 3,430 48.11% 341 4.78%
1888 3,528 49.16% 3,474 48.40% 175 2.44%
1884 3,222 48.19% 3,114 46.57% 350 5.23%
1880 2,676 42.84% 3,187 51.02% 384 6.15%
1876 2,084 40.22% 2,810 54.24% 287 5.54%
1872 1,907 46.67% 2,172 53.16% 7 0.17%
1868 1,725 46.48% 1,986 53.52% 0 0.00%
1864 1,824 49.52% 1,859 50.48% 0 0.00%
1860 1,605 43.51% 1,950 52.86% 134 3.63%
1856 1,385 37.19% 1,847 49.60% 492 13.21%
United States Senate election results for Perry County, Ohio1[29]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2024 11,626 69.32% 4,492 26.78% 654 3.90%

Communities

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Map of Perry County, Ohio with municipal and township labels

Villages

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Townships

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Census-designated places

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Unincorporated communities

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Ghost towns

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See also

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Media

  • Perry County has its own newspaper called the Perry County Tribune.
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Footnotes

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  1. ^ "Ohio County Profiles: Perry County" (PDF). Ohio Department of Development. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 21, 2007. Retrieved April 28, 2007.
  2. ^ a b 2020 census
  3. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. ^ "Perry County data". Ohio State University Extension Data Center. Retrieved April 28, 2007.[dead link]
  5. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on May 4, 2014. Retrieved February 10, 2015.
  6. ^ {{cite web|title=2023 Population Estimates (PEP)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2023/pep/charv?get=NAME%2CPOP&for=county%3A127&in=state%3A39&MONTH=7&YEAR=2023&UNIVERSE=R&AGE=0000&SEX=0%7Cwebsite=United States Census Bureau|access-date=February 22, 2026|df=mdy}
  7. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 10, 2015.
  8. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved February 10, 2015.
  9. ^ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 10, 2015.
  10. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved February 10, 2015.
  11. ^ "1980 Census of Population - General Social and Economic Characteristics - Ohio- Table 59 - Persons by Spanish Origin, Race, and Sex: 1980 AND Table 58 - Race by Sex: 1980" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. p. 49-67 and 27-47.
  12. ^ "1990 Census of Population - General Population Characteristics - Ohio: Table 6 - Race and Hispanic Origin" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. p. 21-95.
  13. ^ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Perry County, Ohio". United States Census Bureau.
  14. ^ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Perry County, Ohio". United States Census Bureau.
  15. ^ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Perry County, Ohio". United States Census Bureau.
  16. ^ included in the Asian category in the 1980 Census
  17. ^ included in the Asian category in the 1990 Census
  18. ^ not an option in the 1980 Census
  19. ^ not an option in the 1990 Census
  20. ^ a b c "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved January 2, 2026.
  21. ^ a b "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved January 2, 2026.
  22. ^ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved January 2, 2026.
  23. ^ a b c "DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 27, 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  24. ^ "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 27, 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  25. ^ "DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 27, 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  26. ^ "DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 27, 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  27. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  28. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved May 3, 2018.
  29. ^ "2024 Senate Election (Official Returns)". Commonwealth of Texas by county. November 5, 2024. Retrieved December 5, 2024.

Further reading

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  • Thomas William Lewis, History of Southeastern Ohio and the Muskingum Valley, 1788-1928. In Three Volumes. Chicago: S.J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1928.

39°44′N 82°14′W / 39.74°N 82.24°W / 39.74; -82.24

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