Editing Perry County, Indiana

{{short description|County in Indiana, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
| county          = Perry County
| state           = Indiana
| ex image           = Old Perry County Courthouse in Rome.jpg
| ex image size      = 220px
| ex image cap       = [[Old Perry County Courthouse (Rome, Indiana)|Old Perry County Courthouse]] in [[Rome, Indiana|Rome]]
| flag             = Flag of Perry County, Indiana.svg
| seal             =
| founded year     = 1814
| founded date     = November 1
| seat wl          = Tell City
| largest city wl  = Tell City
| area_total_sq_mi = 386.29
| area_land_sq_mi  = 381.73
| area_water_sq_mi = 4.56
| area percentage  = 1.18%
| census yr        = 2020
| pop              = 19170
| pop_est_as_of    = 2023
| population_est   = 19209 {{increase}}
| density_sq_mi    = auto
| density_km2      = 
| time zone        = Central
| footnotes = Indiana county number 62
| web              = http://www.perrycounty.in.gov/
| named for        = [[Oliver Hazard Perry]]
| district = 8th }}

'''Perry County''' is a [[County (United States)|county]] located in the [[Southwestern Indiana|southwestern]] part of the [[U.S. state]] of [[Indiana]]. As of 2020, the population was 19,170.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/perrycountyindiana/PST045222|title=Quickfacts: Perry County, Indiana|access-date=June 6, 2023|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> The [[county seat]] is [[Tell City, Indiana|Tell City]].<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|access-date=June 7, 2011|title=Find a County|publisher=National Association of Counties}}</ref> It is the hilliest county as well as one of the most forested counties in Indiana as it features more than {{convert|60,000|acre|km2}} of [[Hoosier National Forest]]. The Ohio River Scenic Byway along [[Indiana State Road 66]] runs along the southern border of the county while [[Interstate 64]] traverses the northern portion of the county. Connecting the two is [[Indiana State Road 37]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pickperry.com/images/maps-aerials/perry-road-map.jpg |title=Archived copy |access-date=June 22, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120326002135/http://www.pickperry.com/images/maps-aerials/perry-road-map.jpg |archive-date=March 26, 2012 }}</ref>

The county features three incorporated communities: [[Tell City, Indiana|Tell City]] (2009 population 7,473), [[Cannelton, Indiana|Cannelton]] (2009 population 1,130) and [[Troy, Indiana|Troy]] (2009 population 379). Each is located in [[Troy Township, Perry County, Indiana|Troy Township]] which is situated along the south western corner of the county.

Coordinated efforts with County officials led to the acquisition of an abandoned rail line that has since been reactivated as the County-owned Hoosier Southern Rail Road. Managed by the Perry County Port Authority, the {{convert|22|mi|km|adj=on}} short-line rail road connects the Perry County River Port with the Norfolk Southern Rail Road.

==Climate and weather==
{{climate chart
|[[Tell City, Indiana]]
|24|39|3.38
|27|45|3.18
|35|55|4.46
|44|66|4.49
|54|75|5.22
|63|84|4.34
|68|88|4.50
|66|86|3.81
|59|80|3.39
|47|69|2.98
|38|56|4.05
|29|44|4.02
|float=right
|units=imperial
|clear=both
|source=The Weather Channel<ref name="weather">{{cite web
  |url=http://www.weather.com/weather/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/USIN0657
  |title=Monthly Averages for Tell City, Indiana
  |access-date=January 27, 2011
  |publisher=The Weather Channel
}}</ref>}}
In recent years, average temperatures in Tell City have ranged from a low of {{convert|24|°F}} in January to a high of {{convert|88|°F}} in July, although a record low of {{convert|-17|°F}} was recorded in January 1985, and a record high of {{convert|106|°F}} was recorded in September 1954. Average monthly precipitation ranged from {{convert|2.98|in}} in October to {{convert|5.22|in}} in May.<ref name="weather"/>

==Government==
{{see also|Government of Indiana}}
The county government is a constitutional body, and is granted specific powers by the [[Constitution of Indiana]], and by the [[Indiana Code]].

'''County Council:''' The county council is the fiscal body of the county government and controls all the spending and revenue collection in the county. Representatives are elected from county districts. The council members serve four-year terms. They are responsible for setting salaries, the annual budget, and special spending. The council also has limited authority to impose local taxes, in the form of an income and property tax that is subject to state level approval, excise taxes, and service taxes.<ref name = inc3623>{{cite web|author=Indiana Code|url=http://www.in.gov/legislative/ic/code/title36/ar2/ch3.html |title=Title 36, Article 2, Section 3|access-date=September 16, 2008|publisher=IN.gov}}</ref><ref name = inc2102>{{cite web|author= Indiana Code |url= http://www.in.gov/legislative/ic/code/title3/ar10/ch2.pdf |title= Title 2, Article 10, Section 2 |access-date=September 16, 2008|publisher=IN.gov}}</ref>

'''Board of Commissioners:''' The executive and legislative body of the county is made of a board of commissioners. The commissioners are elected county-wide, in staggered terms, and each serves a four-year term. One of the commissioners, typically the most senior, serves as president. The commissioners are charged with managing the day-to-day functions of the county government.<ref name = inc3623/><ref name = inc2102/>

'''Court:''' The county maintains a [[small claims court]] that can handle some civil cases. The judge on the court is elected to a term of six years and must be a member of the Indiana Bar Association. The judge is assisted by a magistrate who is appointed by the judge. In some cases, court decisions can be appealed to the state level [[circuit court]].<ref name = inc2102/>

'''County Officials:''' The county has several other elected offices, including [[sheriff]], [[coroner]], [[auditor]], [[treasurer]], [[Recorder of deeds|recorder]], [[Surveying|surveyor]], and circuit [[court clerk]] Each of these elected officers serves a term of four years and oversees a different part of county government. Members elected to county government positions are required to declare [[political party|party]] affiliations and to be residents of the county.<ref name = inc2102/>

With its predominately "[[Butternut (people)|butternut]]" cultural background, Perry County has historically and ancestrally heavily favored the Democratic Party at the federal, state and local level, and had a reputation for being one of the few Democratic-leaning counties in heavily Republican Indiana. From 1960 to 2012, Republicans only carried the county in three presidential elections, those being in 1972, 1984 and 2004, all of which saw the Republicans carry Indiana by landslide margins, and the county was still one of the closest counties in the state in all three elections.

The county delivered over 60.5% of its vote to Democratic nominee Barack Obama in 2008, clocking in as the state's fourth most Democratic county that year, before giving Obama nearly 55% of the vote in 2012, being the only county in southern Indiana other than the university county of [[Monroe County, Indiana|Monroe]] to back Obama that year. The county has not backed a Democrat since, with the county delivering 56% of its vote to Republican nominee Donald Trump in 2016 and 61% of its vote to Trump the following election. The county's Republican shift was also shown in the coinciding 2020 gubernatorial election, when it backed Republican incumbent Eric Holcomb for re-election with nearly 64% of the vote, marking the first time a Republican had carried the county in a gubernatorial election since 1952.

Perry County is part of [[Indiana's 8th congressional district]] and is represented in [[United States Congress|Congress]] by [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] [[Larry Bucshon]].

{{PresHead|place=Perry County, Indiana|source=<ref>{{cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|first=David|last=Leip|website=uselectionatlas.org}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|5,549|2,970|164|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|5,345|3,203|189|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|4,556|3,062|474|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|2012|Democratic|3,403|4,316|156|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|2008|Democratic|3,202|5,141|147|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|4,137|4,131|47|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|2000|Democratic|3,461|3,823|103|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|2,554|4,427|949|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|2,973|4,829|1,580|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1988|Democratic|4,720|4,804|56|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|4,785|4,760|43|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1980|Democratic|4,350|4,540|578|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|4,088|5,620|38|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|5,204|4,277|29|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1968|Democratic|4,211|4,343|554|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|3,090|6,226|25|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1960|Democratic|4,372|4,920|16|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|4,946|4,037|10|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|4,816|4,001|15|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|3,761|4,569|24|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1944|Republican|4,087|3,996|19|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1940|Republican|4,489|4,475|14|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|3,619|4,752|248|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|3,253|5,053|51|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1928|Democratic|3,772|3,782|7|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1924|Democratic|3,240|3,895|179|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|3,864|3,560|41|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|1,762|2,089|55|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|520|1,931|1,199|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1908|Democratic|1,903|2,356|73|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1904|Democratic|2,105|2,142|59|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1900|Democratic|2,078|2,278|47|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1896|Republican|2,139|2,109|35|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1892|Democratic|1,890|2,074|120|Indiana}}
{{PresFoot|1888|Democratic|1,974|2,007|4|Indiana}}

==Geography==
According to the 2010 census, the county has a total area of {{convert|386.29|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|381.73|sqmi}} (or 98.82%) is land and {{convert|4.56|sqmi}} (or 1.18%) is water.<ref name="census-density"/>

===Adjacent counties===
* [[Crawford County, Indiana|Crawford County]] (north/ET Border)
* [[Spencer County, Indiana|Spencer County]] (west)
* [[Dubois County, Indiana|Dubois County]] (northwest/ET Border)
* [[Meade County, Kentucky|Meade County]], Kentucky (southeast/ET Border)
* [[Breckinridge County, Kentucky|Breckinridge County]], Kentucky (South)
* [[Hancock County, Kentucky|Hancock County]], Kentucky (Southwest)

===Major highways===
* [[File:I-64.svg|25px]] [[Interstate 64]]
* [[File:indiana 37.svg|25px]] [[Indiana State Road 37]]
* [[File:indiana 62.svg|25px]] [[Indiana State Road 62]]
* [[File:indiana 66.svg|25px]] [[Indiana State Road 66]]
* [[File:indiana 70.svg|25px]] [[Indiana State Road 70]]
* [[File:indiana 145.svg|25px]] [[Indiana State Road 145]]
* [[File:Indiana 166.svg|25px]] [[Indiana State Road 166]]
* [[File:indiana 545.svg|25px]] [[Indiana State Road 545]]

===National protected area===
* [[Hoosier National Forest]] (part)

===Roads and highways===
Interstate 64 cuts across the northern portion of the county. [[Indiana State Road 66|State Road 66]], designated as the Ohio River Scenic Byway for most of its course in the county, is the most heavily traveled road by residents and visitors alike, adjacent to the three most populous towns in the county as well as most major tourist destinations. [[Indiana State Road 37|State Road 37]] connects the county to [[Bloomington, Indiana|Bloomington]] and [[Indianapolis, Indiana|Indianapolis]]. Other state roads in the county include [[Indiana State Road 62|State Road 62]], which closely parallels I-64; [[Indiana State Road 145|State Road 145]], which winds through the western parts of the county; [[Indiana State Road 166|State Road 166]], which is little more than a road to and from the hamlet of Tobinsport; [[Indiana State Road 237|State Road 237]], which connects [[Cannelton, Indiana|Cannelton]] directly to State Road 37 (also the site of a bridge on the Ohio River); a short run of [[Indiana State Road 545|State Road 545]] near [[Troy, Indiana|Troy]]; and [[Indiana State Road 70|State Road 70]] which connects State Road 37 with State Road 66.

==History==
Perry County was formed on November 1, 1814 (two years before the state of Indiana was admitted to the Union) from [[Warrick County, Indiana|Warrick]] and [[Gibson County, Indiana|Gibson]] Counties. It was named for Commodore [[Oliver Hazard Perry]] who defeated the British squadron in the decisive [[Battle of Lake Erie]] in 1813.<ref>{{cite book|author=De Witt Clinton Goodrich & Charles Richard Tuttle|publisher=R. S. Peale & co.|year=1875|location=Indiana|title=An Illustrated History of the State of Indiana|url=https://archive.org/details/anillustratedhi02tuttgoog| pages=[https://archive.org/details/anillustratedhi02tuttgoog/page/n582 570]}}</ref> The Ohio River made Perry County a focal point and settlers were drawn here due to plentiful supplies of natural resources and the area's scenic beauty.

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1820= 2330
|1830= 3369
|1840= 4655
|1850= 7268
|1860= 11847
|1870= 14801
|1880= 16997
|1890= 18240
|1900= 18778
|1910= 18078
|1920= 16692
|1930= 16625
|1940= 17770
|1950= 17367
|1960= 17232
|1970= 19075
|1980= 19346
|1990= 19107
|2000= 18899
|2010= 19338
|2020= 19170
|estyear=2023
|estimate=19209
|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2023">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/data/tables.html|title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=April 2, 2024}}</ref>
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=U.S. Decennial Census|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=July 10, 2014}}</ref><br />1790-1960<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=July 10, 2014}}</ref> 1900-1990<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/in190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=July 10, 2014}}</ref><br />1990-2000<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=July 10, 2014}}</ref> 2010<ref name="census-quickfacts">{{cite web|url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/18/18123.html|title=Perry County QuickFacts|access-date=September 25, 2011|publisher=United States Census Bureau|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160218073557/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/18/18123.html|archive-date=February 18, 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>
}}

As of the [[2010 United States Census]], there were 19,338&nbsp;people, 7,476&nbsp;households, and 5,020&nbsp;families residing in the county.<ref name="census-dp1">{{cite web
  |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US18123
  |title=DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data
  |access-date=July 10, 2015
  |publisher=United States Census Bureau
  |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213015130/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US18123
  |archive-date=February 13, 2020
  |url-status=dead
  }}</ref> The population density was {{convert|50.7|PD/sqmi}}. There were 8,495 housing units at an average density of {{convert|22.3|/sqmi}}.<ref name="census-density">{{cite web
  |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY10/0500000US18123
  |access-date=July 10, 2015
  |title=Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County
  |publisher=United States Census Bureau
  |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200212200301/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY10/0500000US18123
  |archive-date=February 12, 2020
  |url-status=dead
  }}</ref> The racial makeup of the county was 96.0% white, 2.4% black or African American, 0.4% Asian, 0.2% American Indian, 0.3% from other races, and 0.8% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.0% of the population.<ref name="census-dp1"/> In terms of ancestry, 37.8% were [[Germans|German]], 14.4% were [[Irish people|Irish]], 11.6% were [[Americans|American]], and 8.7% were [[English people|English]].<ref name="census-dp2">{{cite web
  |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0400000US18%7c0500000US18123
  |title=DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates
  |access-date=July 10, 2015
  |publisher=United States Census Bureau
  |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200214002408/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0400000US18%7C0500000US18123
  |archive-date=February 14, 2020
  |url-status=dead
  }}</ref>

Of the 7,476&nbsp;households, 30.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.7% were married couples living together, 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 32.9% were non-families, and 28.7% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.91. The median age was 40.4 years.<ref name="census-dp1"/>

The median income for a household in the county was $47,697 and the median income for a family was $55,497. Males had a median income of $42,017 versus $26,301 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,806. About 6.7% of families and 10.4% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 15.9% of those under age 18 and 6.8% of those age 65 or over.<ref name="census-dp3">{{cite web
  |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0400000US18%7c0500000US18123
  |title=DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates
  |access-date=July 10, 2015
  |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]
  |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200214003208/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0400000US18%7C0500000US18123
  |archive-date=February 14, 2020
  |url-status=dead
  }}</ref>

==Cities, towns, and unincorporated communities==

===Cities and towns===
* [[Cannelton, Indiana|Cannelton]]
* [[Tell City, Indiana|Tell City]]
* [[Troy, Indiana|Troy]]

===Unincorporated communities===
{{div col|colwidth=15em}}
* [[Adyeville, Indiana|Adyeville]]
* [[Apalona, Indiana|Apalona]]
* [[Bandon, Indiana|Bandon]]
* [[Branchville, Indiana|Branchville]]
* [[Bristow, Indiana|Bristow]]
* [[Celina, Indiana|Celina]]
* [[Derby, Indiana|Derby]]
* [[Dexter, Indiana|Dexter]]
* [[Dodd, Indiana|Dodd]]
* [[Doolittle Mills, Indiana|Doolittle Mills]]
* [[Fosters Ridge, Indiana|Fosters Ridge]]
* [[Gatchel, Indiana|Gatchel]]
* [[Gerald, Indiana|Gerald]]
* [[Hardingrove, Indiana|Hardingrove]]
* [[Kitterman Corners, Indiana|Kitterman Corners]]
* [[Lauer, Indiana|Lauer]]
* [[Leopold, Indiana|Leopold]]
* [[Lilly Dale, Indiana|Lilly Dale]]
* [[Magnet, Indiana|Magnet]]
* [[Mount Pleasant, Perry County, Indiana|Mount Pleasant]]
* [[Oriole, Indiana|Oriole]]
* [[Ranger, Indiana|Ranger]]
* [[Rome, Indiana|Rome]]
* [[Saint Croix, Indiana|Saint Croix]]
* [[Sassafras, Indiana|Sassafras]]
* [[Siberia, Indiana|Siberia]]
* [[Terry, Indiana|Terry]]
* [[Tobinsport, Indiana|Tobinsport]]
* [[Uniontown, Perry County, Indiana|Uniontown]]
{{div col end}}

==Townships==
* [[Anderson Township, Perry County, Indiana|Anderson]]
* [[Clark Township, Perry County, Indiana|Clark]]
* [[Leopold Township, Perry County, Indiana|Leopold]]
* [[Oil Township, Perry County, Indiana|Oil]]
* [[Tobin Township, Perry County, Indiana|Tobin]]
* [[Troy Township, Perry County, Indiana|Troy]]
* [[Union Township, Perry County, Indiana|Union]]

==Education==
School districts include:<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st18_in/schooldistrict_maps/c18123_perry/DC20SD_C18123.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Perry County, IN|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|access-date=2024-06-12}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st18_in/schooldistrict_maps/c18123_perry/DC20SD_C18123_SD2MS.txt Text list]</ref>
* [[Cannelton City Schools]]
* [[Perry Central Community School Corporation]]
* [[Tell City-Troy Township School Corporation]]

==See also==
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Perry County, Indiana]]

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20120326002143/http://www.pickperry.com/index.html Perry County Development Corporation]
* [http://www.perrycountychamber.com Perry County Chamber of Commerce]
* {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/19981206152813/http://www.perrycountyindiana.org/ Perry County Convention & Visitors Bureau]}}
* [http://www.perrycountynews.com Perry County News]

==References==
{{Reflist}}
== Further reading ==
{{refbegin}}
* {{cite book|chapter=History of Perry County|pages=579&ndash;837|author1-first=Weston A.|author1-last=Goodspeed|title=History of Warrick, Spencer, and Perry Counties, Indiana|location=Chicago|publisher=Goodspeed Bros &amp; Co.|year=1885|ol=24618196M}} ({{Internet Archive|id=historyofwarrick00chic|name=History of Warrick, Spencer, and Perry Counties, Indiana}} {{HathiTrust Catalog|id=006794656|title=History of Warrick, Spencer, and Perry Counties, Indiana}})
{{refend}}
{{Geographic location
|Centre    = Perry County, Indiana
|North     =
|Northeast = [[Crawford County, Indiana|Crawford County]]
|East      = [[Meade County, Kentucky]]
|Southeast = [[Breckinridge County, Kentucky]]
|South     =
|Southwest = [[Hancock County, Kentucky]]
|West      = [[Spencer County, Indiana|Spencer County]]
|Northwest = [[Dubois County, Indiana|Dubois County]]
}}

{{Southwestern Indiana}}
{{Perry County, Indiana}}
{{Indiana}}

{{coord|38.08|-86.64|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-IN_source:UScensus1990}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Perry County, Indiana| ]]
[[Category:Indiana counties]]
[[Category:1814 establishments in Indiana Territory]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1814]]
[[Category:Southwestern Indiana]]
[[Category:Indiana counties on the Ohio River]]