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Perry County, Pennsylvania

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Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox U.S. county

Perry County is a county in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. As of the 2020 census, the population was 45,842.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The county seat is New Bloomfield.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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.<ref>Early History of Perry County Template:Webarchive</ref> It was originally part of Cumberland County and was created in part because residents did not want to travel over the mountain to Carlisle, the county seat of Cumberland County. Landisburg became the temporary county seat before New Bloomfield was ultimately chosen. The county is part of the South Central Pennsylvania region of the state.Template:Efn Perry County is included in the Harrisburg–York–Lebanon combined statistical area. The county is served by the 717/223 area codes.

Geography

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Template:Main In 2010, the center of population of Pennsylvania was located in the eastern end of Perry County.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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 to the east.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The county terrain is formed by the folded Appalachian Mountain ridges which run from southwest to northeast across the county. The terrain slopes to the northeast,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> with its highest point on the Blue Mountain Ridge, which delineates the border between Perry and Cumberland counties. The ridge peaks at Template:Convert NE from Perry County's southmost corner; it measures Template:Convert ASL.<ref>Blue Mountain-Perry/Cumberland High Point, Pennsylvania (PeakBagger.com, accessed 25 May 2019)</ref> Perry County is one of the 423 counties served by the Appalachian Regional Commission,<ref name="ARC">Template:Cite web</ref> and it is identified as part of the "Midlands" by Colin Woodard in his book American Nations: A History of the Eleven Rival Regional Cultures of North America.<ref name="NYT_CW">Template:Cite web</ref>

The county is drained by the south-flowing Susquehanna River, which forms almost all of its eastern boundary. The Juniata River enters Perry County from Juniata County near Millerstown, and flows southeast to its confluence with the Susquehanna River near Duncannon. The county also contains several creeks, runs, and lakes,<ref>Template:Citation</ref> which provide recreational and fishing<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> opportunities, formerly powered mills throughout the county<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and provided transport venues. To this day, canoeing and kayaking are forms of recreation which utilize the Shermans Creek and other waters in the county.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The county has a total area of Template:Convert, of which Template:Convert is land and Template:Convert (0.7%) is water.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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. [1] The hardiness zone is 6b except in Marysville where it is 7a ( Template:Webarchive). Common trees include red maple,<ref>Template:Citation</ref> Virginia pine, oak, eastern white pine,<ref>Template:Citation</ref> eastern hemlock,<ref>Template:Cite webTemplate:Dead linkTemplate:Cbignore</ref> birch, shagbark hickory,<ref>Template:Citation</ref> and juniper, though American sycamore, ironwood (ex: Hop-hornbeam, American Hornbeam), sugar maple, black walnut, elm, alder, black cherry, black locust, and sassafras are also fairly common.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Mosses of various species are common sights, especially on fallen tree logs, along streams, on tree trunks,<ref>Template:Citation</ref> 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

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Major highways

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Protected areas

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Demographics

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2000 census

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As of the 2000 United States Census, there were 43,602 people, 16,695 households, and 12,320 families in the county. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 18,941 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. 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, 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 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.

File:A lake in Kennedy's Valley, Perry County PA with dormant alder trees.jpg
A lake in Kennedy's Valley, Perry County PA

2020 census

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Perry County Racial Composition<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Race Num. Perc.
White (NH) 42,838 93.4%
Black or African American (NH) 289 0.63%
Native American (NH) 50 0.11%
Asian (NH) 139 0.3%
Pacific Islander (NH) 3 0.01%
Other/Mixed (NH) 1,611 3.51%
Hispanic or Latino 912 2%

Metropolitan Statistical Area

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The United States Office of Management and Budget<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> has designated Perry County as the Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA). As of the 2010 census<ref name=CB>Template:Cite web</ref> 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 combined statistical area (CSA), which combines the populations of Perry County as well as Adams, Cumberland, 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

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Commissioners

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  • R. Frank Campbell, Chair (R)
  • Brenda L. Watson, Vice Chair (D)
  • William "Bill" Lyons, Secretary (R)

(as of January 2024)

Sheriff

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  • David Hammar, Republican

State Senate

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  • Greg Rothman, Republican, Pennsylvania's 34th Senate District<ref name=":0">Template:Cite web</ref>

State House of Representatives

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United States House of Representatives

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United States Senate

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Emergency services

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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

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In 2016, Donald J. Trump 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.<ref name=DL/> Template:PresHead Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow |} Template:U.S. SenHead Template:U.S. SenRow Template:U.S. SenFoot

Education

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Public School Districts

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Intermediate unit

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The Capital Area Intermediate Unit 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

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As reported on EdNA (ED Names and Addresses) by the Pennsylvania Department of Education: Template:Div col

  • 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

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Trade schools

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  • Central Pennsylvania Diesel Institute – Liverpool

Public libraries

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  • New Bloomfield Public Library
  • Community Library of Western Perry County
  • Marysville-Rye Public Library
  • Newport Public Library<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Media

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Newspapers

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The county is home to four weekly newspapers, three published by Advance Publications of Perry and Juniata Counties, Inc. associated with The Patriot-News of Harrisburg: Duncannon Record, The News-Sun, and Perry County Times.<ref>[2] Template:Webarchive Perry County Times and Template:Cite web</ref> The Perry County Weekly is published by The Sentinel in Carlisle, Cumberland County, by Lee Enterprises of Davenport, Iowa.<ref>Cumberlink</ref>

Books

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There are numerous historical books written about the county, available at the Council of the Arts in Newport 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;<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and an account of a Civil War battle on Sterrett's Gap.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Author and New Bloomfield resident Roy F. Chandler wrote many books about the county.

Communities

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File:Map of Perry County Pennsylvania With Municipal and Township Labels.png
Map of Perry County, with Boroughs (red) and Townships (white)

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

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Unincorporated communities

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Townships

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Population ranking

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The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2010 census of Perry County.<ref name=CB/>

† county seat

Rank City/Town/etc. Municipal type Population (2010 Census)
1 Marysville Borough 2,534
2 Newport Borough 1,574
3 Duncannon Borough 1,522
4 † New Bloomfield Borough 1,247
5 Liverpool Borough 955
6 Millerstown Borough 673
7 Blain Borough 263
8 Landisburg Borough 218
9 New Buffalo Borough 129

Economy

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File:Concrete milkhouse which abuts the elegantly decorated, louvered barn in Duncannon, Pennsylvania LCCN2011631662.tif
A barn near Duncannon

Perry County's economy is primarily agricultural.<ref>Template:Cite web State Name: Pennsylvania/County Name: Perry/NASS County Code: 42099:

Acres of Land in Farms as Percent of Land Area in Acres: 2012, 38.3%</ref> Various farmers markets,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> roadside stands, farm produce stands,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> food festivals,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> resale farm stands, meat stores, and plant nurseries<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> are present throughout the county. Two farms in Perry County are particularly well known, which are Spiral Path Farm and Yeehaw Farm, with the latter having been spotlighted by the Washington Post.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The county's area is 38.3% farmland, of which 11.09% (thus 4.24% of all land in the county) is pastureland.<ref>Template:Cite web State Name: Pennsylvania/County Name: Perry/NASS County Code: 42099:

Acres of All Types of Pastureland as Percent of Land in Farms Acreage: 2012 (Text),"11.09"</ref>

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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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.<ref name=HA>Template:Cite book</ref>

Nearly every stream's basin hosted a sawmill, providing wood for early buildings and boardwalks.<ref name=HA/>

Recreation

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The county has a variety of recreation facilities. There are three state parks: Fowlers Hollow State Park, Little Buffalo 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.<ref>Perry County Administration, Services available in Perry County, 2015</ref>

Pools: Liverpool Pool (Jann Deitzler Memorial Pool), Millerstown Pool, New Bloomfield Pool, and Little Buffalo State Park 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.

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See also

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References

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