Editing Perry County, Pennsylvania (section)

==Geography==
{{Main|Geography of Pennsylvania#The Mountains}}
In 2010, the center of population of Pennsylvania was located in the eastern end of Perry County.<ref>{{cite web|title=Centers of Population by State: 2010|url=https://www.census.gov/geo/reference/docs/cenpop2010/CenPop2010_Mean_ST.txt|publisher=US Census Bureau|access-date=April 22, 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140103082820/http://www.census.gov/geo/reference/docs/cenpop2010/CenPop2010_Mean_ST.txt|archive-date=January 3, 2014}}</ref> [[Green Park, Pennsylvania|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>{{cite web|last=Hain|first=H. H.|title=History of Perry County, Pennsylvania|url=https://archive.org/stream/historyofperryco00hain/historyofperryco00hain_djvu.txt|publisher=Hain-Moore Co.|access-date=October 14, 2011}}</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>{{Cite web |url=https://www.daftlogic.com/sandbox-google-maps-find-altitude.htm |title="Find an Altitude/Perry County PA" - Google Maps (accessed 25 May 2019) |access-date=May 25, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190521043409/https://www.daftlogic.com/sandbox-google-maps-find-altitude.htm |archive-date=May 21, 2019 |url-status=dead }}</ref> with its highest point on the Blue Mountain Ridge, which delineates the border between Perry and Cumberland counties. The ridge peaks at {{convert|0.83|mi|km}} NE from Perry County's southmost corner; it measures {{convert|2,269|ft|m|abbr=on}} ASL.<ref>[https://www.peakbagger.com/peak.aspx?pid=7565 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">{{cite web |title=About the Appalachian Region |url=https://www.arc.gov/about-the-appalachian-region/ |publisher=Appalachian Regional Commission |access-date=23 June 2024}}</ref> and it is identified as part of the "Midlands" by Colin Woodard in his book ''[[American Nations|American Nations: A History of the Eleven Rival Regional Cultures of North America]]''.<ref name="NYT_CW">{{cite web |last1=Woodard |first1=Colin |title=The Maps That Show That City vs. Country Is Not Our Political Fault Line |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/30/opinion/urban-rural-united-states-regions-midterms.html |work=New York Times |access-date=30 July 2018}}</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, Pennsylvania|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>{{Citation|last=SusquehannaMan|title=English: A lake.|date=February 7, 2018|url=https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:A_lake_in_Kennedy%27s_Valley,_Perry_County_PA.jpg|access-date=March 10, 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180510135740/https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:A_lake_in_Kennedy%27s_Valley,_Perry_County_PA.jpg|archive-date=May 10, 2018}}</ref> which provide recreational and fishing<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.fishidy.com/map/us/pennsylvania/sherman-creek|title=Sherman Creek PA Fishing Reports, Map & Hot Spots|last=Fishidy Inc.|website=www.fishidy.com|access-date=March 10, 2018|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180311140606/https://www.fishidy.com/map/us/pennsylvania/sherman-creek|archive-date=March 11, 2018}}</ref> opportunities, formerly powered mills throughout the county<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://millpictures.com/mills.php?millid=215|title=Roddy/Waggoner's Mill - Perry Co. - Pennsylvania|website=millpictures.com|access-date=March 10, 2018|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180311081223/http://millpictures.com/mills.php?millid=215|archive-date=March 11, 2018}}</ref> and provided transport venues. To this day, canoeing and kayaking are forms of recreation which utilize the [[Shermans Creek_(Pennsylvania)|Shermans Creek]] and other waters in the county.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://vimeo.com/42950697|title=Kayaking Shermans Creek, PA|website=Vimeo|access-date=March 10, 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180510135740/https://vimeo.com/42950697|archive-date=May 10, 2018}}</ref>

The county has a total area of {{convert|556|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|551|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|4.1|sqmi}} (0.7%) is water.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/counties_list_42.txt|publisher=US Census Bureau|access-date=March 10, 2015|date=August 22, 2012|title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files}}</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&nbsp;°F in January to 73.2&nbsp;°F in July. [http://prism.oregonstate.edu/explorer/] The [[hardiness zone]] is 6b except in Marysville where it is 7a ( {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210618111217/https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/PHZMWeb/InteractiveMap.aspx |date=June 18, 2021 }}). Common trees include [[Acer rubrum|red maple]],<ref>{{Citation|last=SusquehannaMan|title=English: Maple|date=October 24, 2017|url=https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:A_maple_tree_in_Perry_County,_PA.jpg|access-date=March 10, 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180510135740/https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:A_maple_tree_in_Perry_County,_PA.jpg|archive-date=May 10, 2018}}</ref> [[Pinus virginiana|Virginia pine]], [[oak]], [[Pinus strobus|eastern white pine]],<ref>{{Citation|last=SusquehannaMan|title=English: Pinus strobus, Pennsylvania.|date=November 21, 2017|url=https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:A_young_eastern_white_pine_(pinus_strobus)_tree_in_Pennsylvania.jpg|access-date=March 10, 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180510135740/https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:A_young_eastern_white_pine_(pinus_strobus)_tree_in_Pennsylvania.jpg|archive-date=May 10, 2018}}</ref> [[Tsuga canadensis|eastern hemlock]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:A_hemlock_tree_in_Perry_County,_PA.jpg|title=A hemlock tree in Perry County, PA}}{{dead link|date=April 2018|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> [[birch]], [[Carya ovata|shagbark hickory]],<ref>{{Citation|last=SusquehannaMan|title=English: Hickory.|date=October 26, 2017|url=https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Shagbark_Hickory_bark_in_Perry_County,_PA.jpg|access-date=March 10, 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180510135740/https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Shagbark_Hickory_bark_in_Perry_County,_PA.jpg|archive-date=May 10, 2018}}</ref> and [[juniper]], though [[Platanus occidentalis|American sycamore]], ironwood (ex: [[Ostrya_virginiana|Hop-hornbeam]], [[Ostrya_virginiana|American Hornbeam]]), [[Acer saccharum|sugar maple]], [[Juglans nigra|black walnut]], [[elm]], [[alder]], [[Prunus_serotina|black cherry]], [[Robinia_pseudoacacia|black locust]], and [[Sassafras albidum|sassafras]] are also fairly common.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.upenn.edu/pennpress/book/toc/14089_toc.html |title=Table of Contents: Trees of Pennsylvania |website=www.upenn.edu |access-date=August 25, 2019 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180129004259/http://www.upenn.edu/pennpress/book/toc/14089.html |archive-date=January 29, 2018 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dcnr.pa.gov/Conservation/ForestsAndTrees/Pages/default.aspx|title=DCNR > Conservation > Forests and Trees|website=www.dcnr.pa.gov|access-date=December 23, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.perrycd.org/big-trees-of-perry-county|title=Perry County PA CD - Big Trees of Perry County|website=www.perrycd.org|access-date=December 23, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.paenflowered.org/apgii/fabales/fabaceae/robinia/robinia-pseudoacacia|title=Black locust - Flora of Pennsylvania|website=www.paenflowered.org|access-date=December 23, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|url=https://www.fs.usda.gov/research/treesearch/54754|title=An assessment of black locust in northern U.S. forests|website=www.fs.usda.gov|date=2017 |doi=10.2737/NRS-RN-248 |access-date=December 23, 2023 |last1=Kurtz |first1=Cassandra M. |last2=Hansen |first2=Mark H. }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://elibrary.dcnr.pa.gov/PDFProvider.ashx?action=PDFStream&docID=1742149&chksum=&revision=0&docName=sf-CommonTrees2014_online&nativeExt=pdf&PromptToSave=False&Size=3233245&ViewerMode=2&overlay=0|title=Common Trees of PA 2014|website=www.dcnr.pa.gov|access-date=December 23, 2023}}</ref> [[Moss]]es of various species are common sights, especially on fallen tree logs, along streams, on tree [[Trunk (botany)|trunk]]s,<ref>{{Citation|last=SusquehannaMan|title=English: Moss|date=July 2, 2015|url=https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Moss_in_Perry_County,_PA.jpg|access-date=March 10, 2018}}</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===
{{div col}}
* [[Juniata County, Pennsylvania|Juniata County]] - north
* [[Northumberland County, Pennsylvania|Northumberland County]] - northeast
* [[Dauphin County, Pennsylvania|Dauphin County]] - east
* [[Cumberland County, Pennsylvania|Cumberland County]] - south
* [[Franklin County, Pennsylvania|Franklin County]] - southwest
{{div col end}}

===Major highways===
{{div col}}
* {{jct|state=PA|US|11|US|15}}
* {{jct|state=PA|US|22|US|322}}
* {{jct|state=PA|PA|17}}
* {{jct|state=PA|PA|34}}
* {{jct|state=PA|PA|74}}
* {{jct|state=PA|PA|104}}
* {{jct|state=PA|PA|233}}
* {{jct|state=PA|PA|235}}
* {{jct|state=PA|PA|274}}
* {{jct|state=PA|PA|849}}
* {{jct|state=PA|PA|850}}
{{div col end}}

===Protected areas===
{{div col}}
* [[Big Spring State Forest Picnic Area]]
* [[Fowlers Hollow State Park]]
* [[Little Buffalo State Park]]
* [[Colonel Denning State Park]] (part)
* [[Hoverter and Sholl Box Huckleberry Natural Area]]
* State Game Lands Number 88
* State Game Lands Number 170
* State Game Lands Number 256
* State Game Lands Number 281
* [[Tuscarora State Forest]] (part)
{{div col end}}