Perry County, Ohio | |
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 Flag  Seal | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofOhio | |
 Ohio's location within theU.S. | |
| Coordinates:39°44′N82°14′W / 39.74°N 82.24°W /39.74; -82.24 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Ohio |
| Founded | March 1, 1818[1] |
| Named after | Oliver Hazard Perry |
| Seat | New Lexington |
| Largest City | New Lexington |
| Area | |
• Total | 412 sq mi (1,070 km2) |
| • Land | 408 sq mi (1,060 km2) |
| • Water | 4.5 sq mi (12 km2) 1.1% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 35,408 |
| • Density | 86/sq mi (33/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| Congressional district | 12th |
| Website | www |
Perry County is acounty located in theU.S. state ofOhio. As of the2020 census, the population was 35,408.[2] Itscounty seat isNew Lexington.[3] It was established on March 1, 1818, from parts ofFairfield,Washington andMuskingum counties. The county isnamed forOliver Hazard Perry, a hero of theWar of 1812.[4] Perry County is included in theColumbus, 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.
According to theU.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]
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1820 | 8,429 | — | |
| 1830 | 13,970 | 65.7% | |
| 1840 | 19,344 | 38.5% | |
| 1850 | 20,775 | 7.4% | |
| 1860 | 19,678 | −5.3% | |
| 1870 | 18,453 | −6.2% | |
| 1880 | 28,218 | 52.9% | |
| 1890 | 31,151 | 10.4% | |
| 1900 | 31,841 | 2.2% | |
| 1910 | 35,396 | 11.2% | |
| 1920 | 36,098 | 2.0% | |
| 1930 | 31,445 | −12.9% | |
| 1940 | 31,087 | −1.1% | |
| 1950 | 28,999 | −6.7% | |
| 1960 | 27,864 | −3.9% | |
| 1970 | 27,434 | −1.5% | |
| 1980 | 31,032 | 13.1% | |
| 1990 | 31,557 | 1.7% | |
| 2000 | 34,078 | 8.0% | |
| 2010 | 36,058 | 5.8% | |
| 2020 | 35,408 | −1.8% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[6] 1790-1960[7] 1900-1990[8] 1990-2000[9] 2020[2] | |||
| Race / Ethnicity(NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 1980[10] | Pop 1990[11] | Pop 2000[12] | Pop 2010[13] | Pop 2020[14] | % 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 orAlaska 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 orPacific Islander alone (NH) | x[15] | x[16] | 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[17] | x[18] | 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% |
As of the2010 United States census, there were 36,058 people, 13,576 households, and 9,738 families living in the county.[19] 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).[20] 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.[19] In terms of ancestry, 25.4% wereGerman, 14.9% wereIrish, 10.4% wereEnglish, and 9.6% wereAmerican.[21]
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.[19]
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 thepoverty line, including 26.4% of those under age 18 and 8.6% of those age 65 or over.[22]
As of thecensus[23] of 2000, there were 34,078 people, 12,500 households, and 9,350 families living in the county. Thepopulation 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 orAfrican American, 0.28%Native American, 0.10%Asian, 0.01%Pacific Islander, 0.09% fromother races, and 0.76% from two or more races. 0.45% of the population wereHispanic orLatino 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% weremarried 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. Theper capita income for the county was $15,674. About 9.4% of families and 11.8% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 15.2% of those under age 18 and 12.70% of those age 65 or over.
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.
| 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% |
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 2024 | 11,626 | 69.32% | 4,492 | 26.78% | 654 | 3.90% |
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Places adjacent to Perry County, Ohio | |
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Municipalities and communities ofPerry County, Ohio,United States | ||
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| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Ghost towns | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
39°44′N82°14′W / 39.74°N 82.24°W /39.74; -82.24
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